It was good to see Trump at the Ohel on Monday, the holy gravesite of the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous and blessed memory (as we say). I remember suggesting in 2016 that he visit; Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump went before the election.
I went myself on Election Day and had an incredible experience: the note I wrote to place on the grave was picked up by a sudden, gently breeze and placed gently on the gravesite. Later, I ran into a long-lost cousin inside.
I was a bit surprised to see Ben Shapiro with Trump. He was very anti-Trump in 2016 and still can be quite harsh in criticizing him. But he's a very identifiable Jewish figure with a huge audience and it seems to have worked for Trump.
It was good to see Trump praying, reciting the Psalms. (I forgot to recite mine yesterday, because I kept putting it off -- a reminder to do what is needed as soon as possible.) May we all merit God's blessings as we enter the new year.
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!
