‘Parsha Growth Spurts’
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Lech Lecha 5774
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great…” (Bereishis 12:2)
Rashi (quoting Pesachim 117b) explains: “I will make you into a great nation” refers to our reciting (in Shemoeh Esrei) ‘The G-d of Avrohom’; “I will bless you” refers to our reciting ‘The G-d of Yitzchok’; “I will make your name great” refers to our reciting ‘The G-d of Yaakov.’”
In the acknowledged Yeshivas Brisk in Yerushalayim, newcomers to the yeshiva must be enrolled in the yeshiva for a year learning in the Bais Medrash, before they can begin to attend the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik’s, shiur. The only exceptions to the rule are relatives of the Rosh Yeshiva’s family.
Once a witty newcomer approached the Rosh Yeshiva claiming to be his relative. His efforts to demonstrate how they were related were so convoluted that the Rosh Yeshiva dismissed him saying that they were ‘vayteh kerovim – distant relatives.’
The young man then proceeded to tell the Rosh Yeshiva the following story:
The holy Chozeh of Lublin collected many funds for various charity organizations. He would disseminate money equally to all who sought his assistance. The only exceptions were his own relatives to whom he gave more because of the obligation that one care for his relatives.
On one occasion a man took out loans to pay for his daughter’s wedding, based on the assumption that he would receive added assistance from the Chozeh because they were related. However, when he approached the Chozeh, the Chozeh felt they were merely ‘vayteh kerovim – distant relatives,’ so he only received the standard amount.
As the man dejectedly left the Chozeh, he met Rav Naftali Rophsitzer zy’a. When Rav Naftoli heard the man’s plight he told him that he should wait a few minutes until the Chozeh began davening mincha, and then he should follow his instruction.
A few minutes later when the Chozeh began Shemoeh Esrei and said “the G-d of our forefathers – the G-d of Avrohom, the G-d of Yitzchok, and the G-d of Yaakov” the man whispered ‘vayteh kerovim – distant relatives.’
After davening the Chozeh gave the man the added funds reserved for his relatives.
When he finished hearing the story Rav Yoshe Ber replied that a third or fourth cousin is considered a distant relative. But Avrohom, Yitzchok, and Yaakov aren’t relatives; they are our fathers!
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“Avram heard that his kinsmen had been taken captive, he armed his disciples… and he pursued them…” (Bereishis 14:14)
Rav Yaakov Kamentesky zt’l (Emes L’Yaakov) notes that if Avrohom had inquired whether he was halachically obligated to fight for the security of his nephew, he would have been told that one is not obligated to endanger himself to save another. However, the Avos were called “yesharim – upright” (see Avodah Zara 25a). Therefore, their modus operandi was not the laws of the Torah, but what they felt was what Hashem desired of them according to the path of yashrus.
Avrohom Avinu felt that he was responsible for the welfare of his nephew Lot because of the fact that his father Haran died in the furnace of Ur Kasdim after he claimed to believe in the G-d of Avrohom. Avrohom felt that mentschlichkeit dictated that he try to rescue Lot.
Rav Yaakov explains that the lives of the Avos were dictated by their unwavering pursuit of yashrus. This is the meaning of the Medrash (Vayikrah Rabbah 9:3) “Derech eretz kodmah l’Torah”. The Avos conducted themselves in an upstanding, decent manner (“derech eretz”) well before the Torah was given.
In Parshas Mishpatim, Hashem informed Moshe “I will give you the stone Luchos, and the Torah, and the mitzvah I have written” (Shemos 24:12). There the “Torah” refers to the stories in Chumash Bereishis which detail how the Avos conducted their lives. Torah is an expression of ‘hora’ah – teaching’, and those stories teach us vital lessons about how a Jew must conduct himself in all situations.
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“Far from me! Only what the young men have eaten… Aner Eshkol, and Mamre – they will take their portion.” (Bereishis 14:24)
The Chofetz Chaim explained that Avrohom declared “Far from me” in his refusal to take any of the spoils of war, to demonstrate that he was only stringent regarding himself. In regards to everyone else however, he allowed them to take whatever they were entitled to by rights of victory.
In general one is only allowed to assume stringencies for himself, but he cannot demand his stringencies of others.
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