In Parashat Lech Lecha we are introduced to Abraham Avinu, the father of Emuna.
There’s a pasuk in tehilim that says,
תשורי לראש אמנה
״We sing to the head of Emuna”
The Midrash says that this refers to Abraham Avinu. He taught us Emuna. We all know the story: He thought the sun was the power, but then it set; then he thought the moon was the power, but then it went. Eventually, on his own, he found G-d, and spread his knowledge to the world; So much so that he became a national threat, was imprisoned, and later thrown into a fire, for undoing the belief system of the entire word. The Rambam says that the fact that most of the word recognizes that there’s a G-d today is because of Avraham Avinu. He says the remnants of the world that still believe in pagan religions are those that Avraham Avinu didn’t reach.
He was a one-man Emunah show, spreading Emunah across the world.
But on the other hand, Avraham Avinu was also known as an Ish Hessed- a Man of kindness. He was the one that had the the four openings on his tents, let in all the wayfarers and gave them all food.... So, which came first? What was Avraham Avinu’s strength?
His Emunah or his Hessed?
Surely both are, but we’ll take one angle today.
The Rambam tells us that the ancient religions didn’t actually believe that the sun created the world. The word for sun in Hebrew is Shemesh, which also means Shamosh-aid or servant. The sun was recognized as a servant of G-d. The ancient religions all believed that G-d had workers helping, just like a king with a palace has many ministers, and workers who take care of different departments (for example one for cooking, another for cleaning). If there’s a problem in the kitchen, you don’t go to the king, you go the chef, or the chef’s officer in charge. But when Avraham Avinu saw all of the Hessed in the world, he understood that all this tremendous kindness was from G-d.
Avraham knew that he didn’t need to deal with intermediaries. He knew that Hashem is so great, and caring, and benevolent, and that He cares about every individual and is able to deal with every individual.
It was Avraham Avinu’s understanding of G-d’s kindness that brought him to his emunah. Not to the belief in a god, but to the realization the G-d controls the world and we can deal with Him directly. He had a relationship with Hashem didn’t need others. He dealt directly with G-d.
I once heard a beautiful mashal about this from Rabbi Malkiel Kotler of Lakewood. He said, think of a government. One can be a good citizen, pay taxes, and not double park, without having a relationship with the president. To be a good citizen, you don’t need to know Donald Trump.
But, the Hiddush here is that we have to understand that in G-d’s kingdom, you can’t just be a good citizen. It’s not enough to put on tefilin, keep Shabbat and do mitzvot. We believe you have to have a relationship with the king. It’s not enough to do the right thing. The King wants a direct connection with us. He wants to hear from us. He’s not disturbed or bothered.
We are עם קרובו the nation that’s close.
We’re like His relative. He’s our father. He wants us to connect with Him. That was Avraham Avinu’s understanding, and that became the Jewish people’s legacy. It says, מי גוי גדול ...בכל קראנו אליו
Who is a great nation- When we call out He’s close to us.
Avraham Avinu introduced that concept to us. G-d is not too great.
The pasuk says in Hallel, רם על כל גוים -G-d is high and lofty above the goyim,
but for us He’s right down here, close to us. He wants to talk to us, and have a relationship with us. He’s not too big to take care of your parking spot or your cake. He’s not too big for all of these little things. That’s the Hiddush of Avraham Avinu. When Avraham Avinu saw the great kindness of G-d, two things came of it:
Firstly, his Emunah got stronger, because he understood that he could deal directly with G-d.
Secondly, he saw that since G-d was so kind, he should be kind. He wanted to emulate G-d.
So his understanding of G-d’s kindness
brought out his two great points:
-His belief in G-d and desire to have a relationship with Him,
-and his desire to be kind, like G-d is kind.
Those are the two important lessons of Avraham Avinu: Hessed and Emunah.
Avraham Avinu is called Avinu-our father.
The Nefesh HaChaim tells us that just like a father gives his child all his physical traits, Avraham Avinu gives us all his spiritual traits. We get Hessed and Emunah because of Avraham Avinu.
Shabbat Shalom