Avram Haivri: the original lonely man of faith
Our picture of Avraham Avinu is of a cordial host who invited everyone in, and must have been well-liked and respected. This is true. But there is also another aspect to the personality of Avraham. He did not live out his life as Mr. Popular but struggled against the trend of his society.
My current project is Hakthav Vehakabala on the parsha. He offers a number of interesting perspectives, including why Avram was called "Ivri." He explains the 3 (concurrent -- not mutually exclusive) definitions to the word. One is a reference to family -- Ever -- Avram's ancestor. The second refers to geography and language. Avram is identified as coming from ever hanahar,the other side of the river and speaking Hebrew.
The third approach, though, is more concerned not with where Avram is coming from but with what he stood for. Ever refers to one of two opposing sides, as in a legal dispute. The whole of civilization was on one side -- fixed in their false beliefs -- and Avram was on the other -- believing in the one true G-d. Hakthav Vehakabala declares that without a doubt, this last idea that the description of Avraham standing alone in the world on the opposing side of all the people of his generation who denied G-D, is the most most honorable description and so most fitting.
Consistent with Avraham's position as public enemy number one, Hakthav Vehakabala explains that it was no accident that Lot was taken captive during the war. Lot there is identified as ben achi Avraham. His capture was designed to lure Avraham into coming after him, so that his enemies would get to kill him. Who are these enemies? Those on the side of Amarphel, who was Nimrod. The Midrash identifies Nimrod as the area leader who sought to throw Avrahma in the furnace for refusing to capitulate to idolatry. Nimrod did not have to be open-minded about another person's point of view. Avraham only had two choices: recant the position that offended the religious sensibilities of the town or die. Avraham was willing to die, but emerged from the furnace miraculously unscathed. Avraham's brother, Haran, thought he would be saved, as well, so claimed to be on his brother's side. As he was not sincere in his belief, he was not miraculously saved. Years later, Nimrod was still seething over his humiliation at the hands of Avraham
My current project is Hakthav Vehakabala on the parsha. He offers a number of interesting perspectives, including why Avram was called "Ivri." He explains the 3 (concurrent -- not mutually exclusive) definitions to the word. One is a reference to family -- Ever -- Avram's ancestor. The second refers to geography and language. Avram is identified as coming from ever hanahar,the other side of the river and speaking Hebrew.
The third approach, though, is more concerned not with where Avram is coming from but with what he stood for. Ever refers to one of two opposing sides, as in a legal dispute. The whole of civilization was on one side -- fixed in their false beliefs -- and Avram was on the other -- believing in the one true G-d. Hakthav Vehakabala declares that without a doubt, this last idea that the description of Avraham standing alone in the world on the opposing side of all the people of his generation who denied G-D, is the most most honorable description and so most fitting.
Consistent with Avraham's position as public enemy number one, Hakthav Vehakabala explains that it was no accident that Lot was taken captive during the war. Lot there is identified as ben achi Avraham. His capture was designed to lure Avraham into coming after him, so that his enemies would get to kill him. Who are these enemies? Those on the side of Amarphel, who was Nimrod. The Midrash identifies Nimrod as the area leader who sought to throw Avrahma in the furnace for refusing to capitulate to idolatry. Nimrod did not have to be open-minded about another person's point of view. Avraham only had two choices: recant the position that offended the religious sensibilities of the town or die. Avraham was willing to die, but emerged from the furnace miraculously unscathed. Avraham's brother, Haran, thought he would be saved, as well, so claimed to be on his brother's side. As he was not sincere in his belief, he was not miraculously saved. Years later, Nimrod was still seething over his humiliation at the hands of Avraham
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