RELIGIOUS REALITY

The opening sentence of this week’s Parsha of Vayera states;

 

וירא אליו הי באלוני ממרא.

 Mamre.” “G-D revealed Himself to Avraham in the plains of 

   

  Why was it necessary for Hashem to reveal Himself to Avraham in the plains of Mamre?

  Rashi teaches us that Avraham sought advice from Mamre in respect to the act of Circumcision. 

  It is strange that Avraham should seek the advice of his friend Mamre regarding Hashem's request that he circumcise himself. Avraham did not hesitate nor ask advice from anyone when Hashem told him לך לך to leave his home land, nor did he ask advice when he was commanded about the Akedah.  Then why now?

  The דעת זקנים suggests that since Avraham was involved in doing missionary work and he and Sarah were very successful in this endeavor, they seemed to be afraid that it would be very difficult to persuade the people to undergo this delicate surgery of circumcision. Avraham was faced with the dilemma of how to act with this Mitzvah of Milah. "Perhaps it would be better to do the Milah in private and after I win the people over to my faith, then I will tell them about the need for Milah. Or would it be better to act in a demonstrative way, showing all, to perform the act of Milah at the onset?” But Avraham feared that this act may discourage them completely.

   With this question in mind, Avraham felt that to make a positive impression on the Non-Jewish community, it would be best to speak with their leader Mamre. After doing so, Mamre advised him to act publicly so that everyone would see how a dedicated man, like Avraham, is willing to sacrifice for his faith and this will impress the Non-Jewish world the most. Know well, that Avraham did not ask Mamre whether he should circumcise himself, but rather when? Publicly or privately?

   The lesson from this dialogue is that when we want to attract adherents, we need not dilute our faith and make it convenient.  On the contrary, people will respect a faith that has demanding standards which call for discipline and sacrifice. 

  The Rav said the tide is changing and we see more and more people are deserting Judaism.  If we think that the solution lies in a reformist philosophy or in extraneous interpretation of the Halacha, the Rav said, "You are mistaken. It is self evident that many problems are insoluble and you can't help it. But know and realize it is a religious reality. If we try to cooperate with the Non-Jewish  philosophy and forgo our ways we will lose the respect of our Jewish brethren." 

    We must always surrender to the will of the Almighty. To say that the Halacha is not sensitive to problems and is not responsive to the needs of the Jew is an outright falsehood. We are confident that the Halacha is definitely responsive to the needs of the people, the community, and the individual. 

  The Halacha lives within its own orbit, but will always maintain itself as the saving power of Judaism and no outside force will ever negate its' great influence on our lives. 

  עץ חיים היא למחזיקים בה, Torah is the tree of life to all who hold dear to it. 

     Judaism is a living and vibrant way of life that does not need to succumb to all the "modern" fads that are overwhelming our spiritual society.