- Clergy
- Shabbat
Our forefather Abraham was one brave dude. Sure, there’s probably a more eloquent way to extoll the attributes of courageousness exhibited by our esteemed and venerable patriarch… but let’s not mince words. How else should we describe a person who speaks up boldly against injustice, even to kings and God?
In this week’s Parsha, Vayeira, Abraham speaks out against injustice on two separate occasions. The first time is one of the most well-known stories in the Torah, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:17-19:29). When God tells Abraham of the divine will to destroy the two cities, Abraham confronts God. Though the wickedness in Sodom and Gomorrah is at a critical mass, Abraham challenges God to seek out righteous people. The end of this story is well-known too. God does not find even ten righteous people. The cities are destroyed.
Though he is ultimately unable to save Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham learns from the experience. In his challenge, he successfully lobbies God to consider a peaceful alternative. Abraham speaks truth to the highest power, and he moves it. And it will not be the last time.
A few chapters later, after a complicated start to their relationship (Genesis 20), King Abimelech takes note that Abraham has a special relationship with God, so he proposes a treaty. Abraham indicates that he will agree, but not until he speaks up to correct an earlier injustice.
וְהוֹכִ֥חַ אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־אֲבִימֶ֑לֶךְ עַל־אֹדוֹת֙ בְּאֵ֣ר הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר גָּזְל֖וּ עַבְדֵ֥י אֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃
Then Abraham reprimanded Abimelech over the well of water that the servants of Abimelech had seized (Genesis 21:25).
The ancient rabbis wrote midrash to try to make sense of the complexities in our text, so naturally they had much to say about this moment of confrontation between Abraham and Abimelech. One teaching, by Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish (Reish Lakish), speaks to me especially in our current moment.
In response to the Abraham’s reprimand of Abimeliech, Reish Lakish says that reprimand leads to peace, and that there is no true peace without reprimand. From this we learn that Abraham had to speak truth to power and point out the wrongs that were perpetrated in Abimelech’s name before there could be peace at all. Futher, if Abraham had accepted the treaty without saying anything, there could have been resentment (at best) that would undermine its long-term viability.
We live in a time where peace seems like a far-off dream, in which we witness far too much injustice. Often, it seems like we are powerless to improve the world around us… but I think we are like Abraham. We are the inheritors of his special relationship with God, and we have the same tools that he did. We, too, must use our voices against injustice when we see it, no matter to whom we must speak. Let us remember that when we speak truth to power, it bring us closer to peace. As we go forth into this Shabbat, let us rest our voices and recharge our spirits, that we may be like our forefather Abraham. May we, too, be brave!
Shabbat Shalom,
Jeff Silverstein - Rabbinic Intern