I felt very blessed this week. Our eldest daughter called. This is an incredibly busy time with about 10 days left before Election Day and early voting has already commenced. She explained that she was in between meetings and had a few minutes now and knew that she would be busy the rest of the day. Usually when she calls me; she needs to vent. Sometimes she calls to ask for advice. There was a calm in this particular call. I asked her how the campaign was going. She said that she felt positive. I asked why and she gave the oddest most counter-intuitive reply. The opposing campaign just released a series of negative ads. She explained that her opponents have no good ideas for the future, and how to solve problems. Instead, he can only look backward and point to problems with my daughter’s candidate. My daughter’s campaign was to make sure her candidate continues looking forward, inspiring others that together, problems can be solved, lives can be improved and life in the district can be better. I ask if she doesn’t want to respond to the negative ads with something to disqualifying or diminishing? She laughed and said of course she does, that’s why she calls me. She needed to vent.
This Shabbat we read from Parsha VaYeira. The narrative and adventures of Avraham the Patriarch continue. While healing from his ritual circumcision, he fulfills the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim, hospitality. He negotiates with God and reduces the number of righteous people that must be found in Sodom and Gomorrah in order to prevent its destruction. The narrative of Avraham is interrupted as we read the narrative of Lot, the two Angels (the same two that had visited Avraham at the beginning of the Parsha), the destruction of the city, and the impure relationship that results when the survivors think that world has been destroyed. The narrative returns to Avraham as its focus and he and his wife Sarah give birth to a son (Yitzchak), the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael (Avraham’s firstborn son from his concubine) and the final test of his belief, the Akeidat Yitzchak – the Offering of Isaac.
During these adventures, during these tests, it is fascinating to watch Avraham deal with each new issue, each new tension and arrive at solutions. Avraham always looks forward. Avraham looked forward towards Sodom and Gomorrah while God talked to Avraham about his intention to destroy those cities. When he is commanded to banish Hagar and Ishmael, Avraham looks forward toward where they will be going and gives them food and water in order to survive the journey. When asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Avraham doesn’t look back, he looks forward, towards the mountain where the sacrifice will supposedly occur. Compare this with Lot and his family (Gen 19:12-26). Three times the angels tell Lot it’s time to leave. The first time, Lot tells his children to leave, although there is no indication that Lot and his wife intend to go. The second time, the two angels lead Lot, his wife and children out, but Lot still can’t just leave! VaYitmama – still he lingered (Gen 19:16). Even when God’s messengers grab Lot, his wife, and his daughters by the hands and lead them out of the city VaYomer saying to them: Himaleit Al Nafshecha Al Tabit Acharecha v’Al Taamod B’Chol HaKikar Hahara Himaleit Pen Tisafeh- Flee for your life! Do not look behind you nor stop anywhere in all the plain; flee to the mount lest you be swept away (Gen 19:17). Lot can’t just move on. He chooses to remain; he thinks he can reason and negotiate. He assumes, if necessary, that he can flee to a nearby city. Finally, they begin making their way towards the alternative destination, VeTabeit Ishto M’Acharav Vathi Ntziv Melach But His wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26) Ramban explains that she looked back to make sure her daughters were following. What parent would flee and have the children (little or young adult) behind them? A parent would either have the children in front of them or be holding their hand while fleeing. So what other reason was there to turn around. Like her husband, who had such a difficult time to move forward, Lot’s wife wanted to turn around one last time in order to see the life and the world she was leaving. She was merely emulating Lot. However, she did it “one more time”. From the Angels' perspective, enough was enough
Sometimes moving forward can be very difficult. It can be especially difficult if there is a lack of commitment to move forward. Sometimes even with a strong commitment to move forward, the obstacles are too overwhelming. Sometimes it can be scary to go forward by oneself even if the person knows that it is the correct path. Sometimes moving forward means sacrificing a job, or power, or popularity. Sometimes moving forward is so emotionally paralyzing because it opens a whole new series of unanticipated consequences or even anticipated consequences with unacceptable solutions. Certainly, it is important to understand the past since it helps to deal with the future. However, one must avoid being enslaved by the past. For Lot, as well as his wife, their sense of purpose was linked to life in the city: Sodom, or any city, it didn’t matter. Unlike Avraham and Sarai who “didn’t look back” but had enough faith in God and the future to look forward; Lot and his wife lacked that faith and were unable to steadfastly look forward. My daughter thanked me for listening and said that sometimes its hard to keep looking forward; it takes a lot of faith and a sense that tomorrow can really be better than today. I reminded that she needs to keep everybody pointing towards tomorrow and convince all those people who get scared by the negative ads need not be scared of the future.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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