This week, we read the story of the twelve spies that were sent by Moses to scout out the Land of Israel. Ten of them brought back an evil report, saying that while the land was good, the Israelites would never manage to conquer it. Two brought back a good report, saying that while there were challenges, the Israelites would manage to prevail, with God fighting on their side. The majority prevailed; the Israelites lost heart, and spent 40 years wandering thereafter.
This weekend, my family and I are in Cape Town, South Africa, to observe the memorial for my mother-in-law, Rhoda Kadalie. She was many things -- a scholar in anthropology, a social development expert, and a political activist. She was best known, however, as a writer. In her columns, she spared no one -- always telling the truth. She was deeply critical of the government, but was also optimistic -- and in her "day job," was actually helping it achieve its goals.
Rhoda was like the two "good" spies, Joshua and Caleb. She would tell the truth, regardless of the consequences. And she believed that most problems could be overcome with the right leadership. She was never afraid to be in the minority. That is the lesson of this week's portion: that while the majority may seem like a safer option, it is the worst option when the majority is wrong. Rhoda's example continues to inspire me, and I am looking forward to sharing it with the world.
This week’s portion launches the great story of Abraham, who is told to leave everything of his life behind — except his immediate family — and to leave for “the Land that I shall show you.”
There’s something interesting in the fact that Abraham is told to leave his father’s house, as if breaking away from his father’s life — but his father, in fact, began the journey, moving from Ur to Haran (in last week’s portion). His father set a positive example — why should Abraham leave him?
Some obvious answers suggest themselves — adulthood, needing to make one’s own choices, his father not going far enough, etc.
But I think there is another answer. Abraham (known for the moment as Abram) needs to establish his own household. This is not just about making one’s own choice, but really about choosing one’s own starting point. It’s starting over.
Sometimes we start over in fundamental ways even if much that surrounds us remains the same. Sometimes the journey we have to ...
The story of Noah is familiar; the details, less so.
Noah is often seen as an ambivalent figure. He was righteous -- but only for his generation. What was his deficiency?
One answer suggests itself: knowing that the world was about to be flooded, he built an Ark for the animals and for his own family -- but did not try to save anyone else or to convince them to repent and change their ways (the prophet Jonah, later, would share that reluctance).
Abraham, later, would set himself apart by arguing with God -- with the Lord Himself! -- against the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that they should be saved if there were enough righteous people to be found (there were not).
Still, Noah was good enough -- and sometimes, that really is sufficient to save the world. We don't need heroes every time -- just ordinary decency.
Hi all -- as I noted last month, I'm going to be closing down my Locals page, at least for tips and subscriptions -- I may keep the page up and the posts as well, but I'm no longer going to be accepting any kind of payment.
Look for cancelation in the very near future. Thank you for your support!
