WE ARE HERE TO GUARD HIS HONOR
The main character of our Parsha is our father, Avraham. He, together with Yitzchok and Yaakov, fathered our people. It is worth noting that in spite of Avraham’s incredulous legacy, he was not the greatest contributor to the Jewish people. It is true that he gave birth to Yitzchok, who, in turn, gave birth to Yaakov. However, consider Avraham’s brother, Haran, who had three children; Sarah, Milka, and Lot. While Avraham fathered Yitzchok, Haran also played a critical role in Yitzchok as Sarah was his daughter, so Yitzchok was his grandson. Yitzchok’s wife, Rivka, from whom he fathered Yaakov, was a great-granddaughter of Haran. This is because Rivka was born to Besueil, the son of Milka, the daughter of Haran. Yaakov then married Rochel and Leah, from whom he fathered the twelve tribes. Rochel and Leah were once again great great granddaughters of Haran as they were born to Lavan, a brother of Rivka and great-grandson of Haran.
So Haran fathered Sarah, Yitzchok, Rivka, Yaakov, Rochel, and Leah. Avraham only fathered Yitzchok and Yaakov; the women came from outside of him. And let us not forget the significance of Lot’s role in our people’s history. Lot fathered the nation of Amon and Moav. From Moav came Ruth, who is considered the Mother of the Davidic Dynasty, and ultimately Moshiach! From our very beginning to our final destiny, Haran’s descendants play the vital roles in Jewish history.
Who was Haran, and how did he merit such greatness?
There is a positive mitzvah to bring about Kiddush Hashem, a sanctification of HaShem’s Name. This mitzvah is so great that one must give their life to prevent a desecration of His Name. An example of this would be if a Nazi would instruct a Jew to kill a fellow Jew or else he will be killed. If he refuses to kill his fellow Jew and is killed, he has sanctified the Name of HaShem. Regarding such a person the Rambam writes, “and these are the murdered ones of the empire for whose state of (spiritual) elevation is unparalleled. There is no higher state of elevation than theirs.”
To appreciate who Haran was and what he accomplished, we must remember the story of how Terach, the father of Avraham and Haran, reported Avraham to Nimrod for his rejection of paganism. Upon learning of Avarham’s rejection, Nimrod gave Avraham the choice to either bow to the idol or be thrown into the furnace. When Avraham refused the former, he was thrown into the furnace. Miraculously, he was saved and came out unscathed. Our Sages teach us that he was saved in the merit of Yaakov, who was yet to come from him. Haran, who was with Avraham and recognized the miracle, told Nimrod that he, too, rejected paganism. Nimrod gave him the same choice as Avraham, and he too, refused to bow to the idol. Haran was also thrown into the furnace, but no miracle was performed for him, and he perished.
Haran was the first person in the history of Mankind to forfeit his life to sanctify the Name of HaShem. It is from Haran that every member of our founding fathers and mothers can descend. We are the people who live and die to bring honor to His Name. It is no wonder that the Jewish people sprouted entirely from Haran.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind