#torah thoughts

Also, I’ve found myself challenged to explain my belief in G-d a lot the past two weeks. It helps to remember that just because I can’t prove G-d’s existence clearly to an atheist, in black and white terms, doesn’t make my faith any less strong, or G-d any less powerful or meaningful or present in my life. Jacob struggled with both divine and human, not knowing from the beginning if the man was divine or human, as are we struggling, every day, believing in G-d, not letting it matter that we can’t prove G-d’s existence - having faith.

The first thing Joseph says to his brothers is, don’t feel bad about what you did to me. stopping them before they can apologize for almost taking his life. And then adding that it was up to Gd, and that something that started out terrible led to him being in the right place at the right time in the end, to feed everyone. And within five or six verses, he repeats that it was Gds actions three separate times. He’s not just telling them not to feel bad, he really means it. He told all the servants to leave the room so he could be with them, to have an honest conversation with them. Sometimes Gd’s plan for us is bigger than one scene at a time, and while we might not understand ahead of time, it’s important to look back at all the people we have held anger towards, who we might have blamed for negative moments, and think about how their actions have brought us to where we are today, and in turn to the opportunities that we have.

That is faster than I thought it was. There’s so much set up before this, about how much Joseph’s brothers hate him, and how he’s the favorite and brags all the time. But in reality, they make the decision on the spot, as he is walking toward them, they decide to hurt him. Reuven is the one to suggest throwing him into a pit instead of taking his life, all in the time it takes him to walk up to them. This really speaks to the power of not being a bystander, speaking up as soon as you hear threats are made before they escalate any further. Now being thrown into a pit doesn’t sound great either, but the Torah adds that Reuven’s intention was to return him to their father (in 22). So while a decision to save someone at the last minute might not have time to be thought a hundred percent through, it sounds better than not intervening at all.

Why the doublefold blessing here? Last week, in 13:16, we read about “the dust of the earth.” Last week, Lot moved to Sdom, before it was destroyed; and Avram’s children are said to be as numerous as the dust of the earth, and this week, Sdom is destroyed, Yitzchak is born and then almost sacrificed, and Avraham’s children are to be as numerous as the stars of the heaven and the sands of the seashore. Also in this week’s parsha, Lots daughters worry they are the last on the earth, and sleep with their father, “that we may maintain life through our father” (19:33). These two stories, Sarah laughing about starting a nation at old age (18:12-14), and Lot’s daughters worrying about how to keep humanity alive, are in the same parsha. I don’t know how I didn’t realize this until sitting down with the parsha this year. They just seem so opposite to me, so juxtaposed with one another. But as we saw last week, with there not being enough land for both Avraham and Lot, and them parting ways - this is just an extension of that story, of that theme. Of one happy story and one sad story happening at the same time. Of a limit to the amount of happiness in the world. And then we get this doublefold blessing, not only about sand but about stars. When there is also pain happening in the world, when we come close to almost sacrificing our own child, when a city was just destroyed - that makes this one son, this individual whose offspring will be so numerous, even more appreciated, even more of a blessing; not just one speck of dust among thousands of specks of dust, but also a star in the sky. 

            Rabbi Elazar said on behalf of Rabbi Chanina: Torah scholars increase peace in the world, as it is said: And all your children will be students of Hashem and your children will have abundant peace (Isaiah 54:13). . . There is abundant peace for the lovers of Your Torah, and there is no stumbling block for them. ~ Talmud Berachos 64a   Of the 63 sections (Tractates) of the Talmud, four of them end with these very words of peace. They are Tractates Berachot, Nazir, Yevamot, and Keritut. Put the first letters of each Tractate together and you have bet, nun, yud, and kaf. These four letters make us the world children and builders – alluding to the connection between the Children of Torah and the builders of peace. The Prophet Isaiah spoke these words, using these exact letters over a thousand years before the Talmud was completed.   Now more than ever it is important to remember what brings peace to our world. It is we, and not men of power who G-d gave the opportunity to effect change in this reality. Hashem charged us, and not the presidents, Prime Ministers, or even kings to make this world ideal for all mankind. Instead of raising millions, lobbying congress, convincing the media, becoming an ambassador, or leading a social movement, Hashem tells us we can all inch humanity towards peace by setting times for Torah learning.   This is what it means: * It doesn’t matter what you think peace should look like or how it should come about. We all agree that peace, on its own, is a treasured asset for all mankind. Hashem will bring us peace. It will be greater than what any of us imagine it to be. It will be something all peoples of all regions will be able to celebrate every day. It doesn’t matter what your political or social beliefs are – anything we can do to hasten an end to all conflict is good.  * It doesn’t matter how religious you are. It doesn’t even matter if you are religious at all. In fact, Rabbi Nachman teaches that it is those who are furthest away are the ones who can bring the most pleasure to Hashem by making constant improvements. Anybody, no matter where they are holding in life, has the chance to make the world a better place through his or her efforts.  * We can make great impact for our brothers and sisters living in the holy land by initiating the most simple changes to our day to day routine. We can dedicate half of our daily commute to listening to a Torah lesson on our ipod. We can learn a page of Gemara during our lunch break. We can replace just one ball game each week with any form of learning. From these small changes come earth shaking results.  * Peace is something all of us can bring one step closer to the billions of inhabitants on this earth. We don’t have to possess any power or influence of any kind. By dedicating some of our time to learning we can turn swords into plowshares without the “heavy machinery.”   From the beginning of time to today, we have seen almost every war come to an end. Conflicts cease. Enemies become allies. Nations become regions. There will be peace for Israel. Hashem promises us we will have it. The only question is, how long will it take? What price will we have to pay in terms of struggle and suffering until our great day arrives? This Gemara teaches that we have it in our ability to minimize, G-d willing, even eradicate all of these ills and bring an everlasting peace. It won’t come by negotiation, nor by pressure, and definitely not by bloodshed. We can eradicate all forms of hate by simply opening a book.     * * * Dovber Halevi is the author of Sex, Religion, and the Middle East, a book about personal holiness and happiness. He lives in Israel with his wife and three children.