JUST LOOK AROUND, IT’S ALL THERE
In his introduction to the laws regarding idol worship the Rambam tells us how idol worship developed. Naturally, Adam knew HaShem as well as the first generation of Adam’s children. However, with eh subsequent generations people’s perspective on a dirty began to evolve. They initially said that if HaShem placed the sun and the stars in such a position of energy we must honor them. As the generations continued this erroneous notion continued to evolve until the people attributed the power of the sun to the sun itself. They naturally worshiped it because they wanted to curry favor with these deities. This perspective became widespread and with the exception of only a handful of individuals the entire world accepted this belief system.
Avraham was no different then the rest of his generation. He was born into a family that worship idols and even did so himself. However, once he turned three years old he began to contemplate the world around him. He saw incredible miracles within nature. He understood that there must be a Master who guides the multiple powers that exist. Granted, the sun has power but the clouds can block the sun and the winds can move the clouds and the mountains can block the wind. In his perspective he recognized the energies of nature as a hundred musicians each one playing from their own notes different from the others and yet they were in perfect unison. Avraham concluded that there must be One great Master conducting and coordinating all these powers. He discovered HaShem.
After many years of teaching others his discovery, HaShem revealed Himself to Avraham with the command that he move away from his ancestral home and family. HaShem wanted Avraham to begin his own people that will have no connection to his past.
This was the beginning of our people.
The entire Book of Bresheis is dedicated to teaching us who our forefathers were so that we should learn what our strengths and challenges are.
Avraham’s initiative of contemplating the world around him was the kernel from which our people sprouted. The art of contemplation and what it produces, is a gift that was bequeathed to us from our father Avraham.
The following story reflects the echo of this art.
Rabbi Noach Weinberg met a fellow with a long ponytail ap-proaching The Wall. He invited him to come to his Yeshiva, Aish Hatorah. The fellow asked his what a Yeshiva is. Reb Noach explained that a Yeshiva is a place where you get to know G.D. The fellow told Reb Noach “Well, me and G.D are like this” as he twisted his two fingers together, “I don’t need a Yeshiva.”
Reb Noach was intrigued. He asked the fellow how he knows that he is so close to G.D. The fellow told him how he was rid-ing a motorcycle on a mountain road and as he turned the bend in the road there were two cars heading towards him. One was in the opposing lane and one was passing the other car in his lane! His only alternative was to go off the road which was a steep ravine. “Rabbi, my bike was destroyed and I landed in a tree with no broken bones. You see that, it’s me and G.D!”
Reb Noach told him “Well my friend, just who do you think pushed you off the road? It was G.D. He was trying to tell you
‘Look I am here, now get to know Me’.
I do not know how this story continued but the lesson is how important it is to contemplate everything around us including what happens to us and why it is happening.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind