15 Cheshvan
5775 / November 8, 2014
By: Rabbi Ari Leubitz
PARSHAT VAYEIRA
In this week’s Torah portion, we are
introduced to Abraham, an iconoclast who shatters the idols of his father and
brothers; a visionary who intuited ethical monotheism and most significantly,
gives birth to our faith, which offers a road map for humanity to flourish. It
is in large part because of Abraham that God desires to enter into a brit,
a covenant, with him and his progeny, the Jewish people.
After all of Abraham’s contributions to
humanity, Abraham is set to receive the most splendid of honors: a one-on-one
meeting with God. This was the moment that God showed his gratitude to Abraham,
וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו (and God appeared). And that’s it. It is left to our
imagination to envision how awe-inspiring this experience must have been for
Abraham because --the Torah is Silent.
- Why are there so many verses in this week’s Torah
reading that detail the hospitality of Abraham, while God’s Divine
revelation stands in isolation?
- What makes Abraham depart from the presence of God,
without leaving an inspirational message for us on this climax of his
spiritual journey?
Having a God experience, a spiritual
moment, or feeling God’s presence can often be just another way we indulge our
own desires. Some people long to have material wealth, while others prefer
spiritual riches. Both can be forms of satisfying our desires.
However, unlike a God encounter, a relationship
with God fills a person with a profound sense of "responsibility.”
Accountable people are "able" to "respond.” Such people are
aware of themselves and those around them. Entering into a relationship
with God increases the love and sensitivity towards the needs of others.
Increasing our sensitivity to the
needs of others is the difference between a God encounter and a God
relationship. Martin Buber - a 19th century Austrian-born Israeli Jewish philosopher - tells a personal story about how
he became more attuned to the needs of others, an event which served as the
catalyst for his spiritual ambitions.
One day while Buber was absorbed in a
mystifying God experience, he heard a knock at his door. Tearing himself away
from his spiritual ecstasy, he opened the door. There stood a stranger, who
obviously wished to be invited in. Although Buber did usher the man inside, the
stranger sensed that he had come at an awkward time. Feeling
uncomfortable, he was unable to communicate to Buber, so he apologized for
disturbing him and quickly departed. Some time later, Buber heard that a
tragedy befell this man. He realized that this man had come to him with
something pressing on his mind. Buber admitted that he really was not there for
this troubled man because he was absorbed and entranced in a God experience.
This painful realization helped Buber discover the sharp difference between
having a God experience and being in a relationship with God.
The Torah demonstrates this when Avraham is
sitting outdoors by his tent when God approaches him. At the same time he
realizes there are three “men” approaching. He interrupts his meeting with God
to run to invite the men to stop for a little respite and prepares a banquet.
Responsible people - like Abraham - are those
who are "able" to "respond.” The ability to respond to the needs
of others is God's gift to humanity. The power of covenant is expressed when we
become God's partner in caring for this world and each other.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Ari Leubitz
Head of School, Oakland Hebrew Day School
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