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May 22, 2012
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May 18, 2012
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May 17, 2012
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May 15, 2012
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May 11, 2012
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May 10, 2012
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May 9, 2012
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Jewish World Review
Oct. 26, 2007
/ 24 Mar-Cheshvan 5768
The lonely righteous
By
Rabbi Berel Wein
Sodom wasn't destroyed because of the thousands or even millions of evildoers in its midst
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Most commentators dwell upon the compassion for sinners demonstrated by our father Abraham in this week's Torah (Bible) portion. Though this message is undoubtedly the important one, as relating to the tragedy of Sodom, there is an important peripheral lesson, of perhaps equal importance, involved there as well.
And that lesson is that a few good people make all the difference in human society and in the fate of mankind.
Sodom is not destroyed because of the thousands or even millions of evildoers in its midst. It was destroyed simply because it lacked ten good people in its society. And this is G-d's message to Abraham as well. Abraham is a lonely person — he is on one side and everyone else in the world is seemingly on the other side.
Lonely people oftentimes are beset by doubts as to their course in life. "Fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong!" But history has shown us time and again that the lonely individual is proven correct and the behavior and opinions of the many are proven to be wrong and even dangerous. Abraham becomes the paradigm for the lonely righteous in a world that envies, imitates and glorifies Sodom. He is the father of the Jewish people especially in this regard.
The Jews are a small and lonely group in our world. Their values and way of life are in opposition to those of the many. Yet even our enemies admit — and in fact object to — the prevalence of our contributions, influence and vitality as regards human civilization and history.
The destruction of Sodom leaves a deep imprint on Abraham. It helps shape his attitude towards his son Isaac. He eschews the choice of the many — of Ishmael and the children of Keturah — in favor of the lonely good and pious son Isaac. That is perhaps the message of G-d to Abraham when He told him: "For through Isaac [alone] will you have true descendants."
One Isaac eventually is able to counter — in G-d's inscrutable reckoning of merits and salvation millions of evildoers — no matter how well pedigreed those evildoers claim to be. Sodom eventually is destroyed by its own innate lack of goodness and of a dearth of pious citizens. But Abraham and Isaac, small in numbers and opposed by most of the world, will continue to flourish and proclaim the values of goodness and righteousness in the general world.
The prophet Isaiah characterizes Abraham as "echad" — one, unique, alone, singular. That description is to be interpreted positively and not as a complaint or source of weakness or pessimism. In a world of the many it is the few that really matter. The Lord told us long ago in the book of Deuteronomy that we would be the fewest of all people. Yet in our influence and strength of spirit we are as numerous as are the stars in heaven.
This inner realization of ourselves and our role in G-d's plan for human existence and growth marks us as the true children of Abraham and gives us hope even in a world where Sodom appears all powerful.
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JWR contributor Rabbi Berel Wein --- Jewish historian, author and international lecturer offers a complete selection of CDs, audio tapes, video tapes, DVDs, and
books on Jewish history at www.rabbiwein.com Comment by clicking here.
© 2006, Rabbi Berel Wein
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