VAYEIRA
5767-2006
"Choosing
The Right Neighbors"
Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald
In
this week's parasha, parashat Vayeira, we learn that
after 23 years of residing in the area of Elonei Mamrei
near Hebron Abraham departs and moves south to Gerar.
Scripture records the move as follows(Genesis 20:1):
"Va'yee'sa mee'shahm Avraham ar'tzah ha'negev,
va'yay'shev bayn Ka'daysh oo'vayn Shur, va'yah'gahr
b'Gerar," Abraham journeyed from there [Elonei
Mamrei] toward the south country, and settled between
Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
Since
the Torah does not provide a reason, the various commentators
search for the cause of Abraham's move. Rashi (Rabbi
Shlomo Yitzchaki, 1040-1105, foremost commentator on
the Bible), citing the Midrash, suggests that after
the destruction of Sodom and Gemorah there were few
wayfarers in the area. Abraham, being deeply committed
to welcoming guests, moved to a place where there would
be more travelers. The Sforno (Obadiah ben Jacob, 1470-1550,
Italian Bible commentator) notes that Abraham would
have more opportunities to spread his monotheistic faith
in this new, more densely populated area.
Other
commentators suggest that Abraham felt that it was preferable
for him to live in the desert [the Negev] than to live
anywhere near the corrupt society of Sodom.
Samson
Raphael Hirsch presumes that Abraham, having been informed
that he would soon father a child, realized that he
needed to be in a proper, more nurturing environment.
He therefore moved to a place where there would be more
favorable influences.
Our
rabbis place great emphasis on the importance of choosing
a proper environment when establishing a home. Perhaps
the most famous statement concerning this issue is found
in the Midrash Tanchuma that is cited by Rashi
on Numbers 16:1. Rashi seeks to understand why Datan,
Aviram, On ben Pelet and the 250 men from the tribe
of Reuben were caught up in the rebellion of Korach
and his family. To this the rabbis of the Midrash respond:
"Oy la'rasha, v'oy lish'cheno," Woe
to the evil one, woe to his neighbor! Since the tribe
of Reuben dwelt in the southern part of the camp of
Israel in close proximity to the family of Korach, the
Reubenites were drawn into their neighbor's rebellion.
Elie
Wiesel tells a story of the prophet who came to Sodom
to call the people to repent. Because of the inhabitants'
well-known reputation for wanton wickedness, no prophet
had ever had the temerity to venture into Sodom. At
first, the Sodomites were amused by the fact that someone
would dare enter their city. But after a while, the
amusement wore off and they began to shower the prophet
with epithets and pelt him with garbage. But the prophet
persisted.
One
day, a little boy approached the prophet and asked,
"Mr. Prophet, why of all the places on earth did
you choose to come to Sodom?" The prophet responded
meekly, "When I first came to Sodom, I truly hoped
that my words would affect the people and change Sodom."
"But," said the little boy, "You see
that your words have had no effect on the people of
Sodom, and instead you have become an object of derision
and hate. Why do you continue to prophesy now?"
The prophet answered, "When I first came to Sodom,
I hoped that I would change the people of Sodom. Now
I continue to prophesy in the hope that they will not
change me!"
The
issue that Abraham faced in choosing a dwelling place
in the ancient New East is similar to the issue that
many of us face today.
How
should we, committed Jews, choose our place of residence?
Where should we dwell? It's nigh impossible to be a
tzaddik in Sodom. Surely, there is no more important
decision that we can make in our lives than choosing
the environment in which we reside and the community
in which to raise our children. The environment that
we choose must not only be a moral and ethical environment,
but also an environment that will be supportive of our
own Jewish growth.
When
we look for a home, our first priority must not be whether
it's split-level or ranch style, co-op, condo or rental.
Our first priority must be whether it will be an environment
where we can grow religiously. We must make certain
that the local synagogue is one in which we can pray
with passion and fervor, led by a rabbi who inspires.
We must make certain that the schools are appropriate
for our children and that we will be part of a community
of like-minded people who are serious about Jewish life
and Jewish growth.
Our
rabbis frequently teach (Ketubot 110a) that all
Jews should preferably dwell in the land of Israel.
In fact, some rabbis even suggest that Jews who reside
outside of Israel are likened to idol worshipers (Ketubot
110b). Nevertheless, the rabbis rule that those who
feel that their Torah study and Jewish lifestyle will
be enhanced by living outside of Israel, may do so.
In Judaism, there is no such thing as "one-size-fits-all."
There are many factors that must be seriously taken
into consideration when making this choices, not only
objective considerations, but subjective ones as well.
The community in which we choose to live has to speak
to us, nurture us and be a proper fit for us.
May
you be blessed.
