Lech Lecha
The Rambam at the beginning of Hilchos Avodas Kochavim writes concerning Avraham Avinu, “He had no teacher, nor was there anyone to inform him. Rather, he was mired in Ur Kasdim among the foolish idolaters. His father, mother, and all the people around him were idol worshipers and he would worship with them.”
How then, while still a child, did Avraham Avinu reach complete emunah in HaShem? The Rambam’s answer—he thought about it. He used his mind. “After this mighty man was weaned, he began to explore and think. Though he was a child, he began to think incessantly throughout the day and night, wondering: How is it possible for the earth to continue to revolve without anyone controlling it? Who is causing it to revolve? Surely, it does not cause itself to revolve. His mind was exploring and gaining understanding. Ultimately, he appreciated the way of truth and understood the path of righteousness through his accurate comprehension. He realized that there was one God who controlled the earth, that He created everything, and that there is no other God among all the other entities. He knew that the entire world was making a mistake.” That’s what can happen if a person allows himself to think. He can find HaShem even in a world where no one else takes the time to even look.
And if he uses his mind, he can discover Torah, too. Where? Within that same mind. “From where did Avraham learn the Torah? Rabban Shimon says: “His two kidneys became like two pitchers of water, and Torah flowed from them.” Rav Levi said: “He learned Torah from within himself. (Bereishis Rabbah, 95, 3) Every person is born preprogrammed with the Torah he needs to know. Our job is to look inside ourselves to be sure our conclusions match the wisdom of our souls and our conscience.
And midos, too. Rebbi Yochanan said, “If the Torah had not been given, we would have learned modesty from a cat, gezel from an ant, and fidelity from a dove.” (Eruvin 100b) If we think about the world we see before us, we can learn lessons that inspire and guide our behavior.
Our ability to think can lead us to emunah, Torah and midos. But first, we must resist the urge to remain passive observers and instead to become active thinkers like our grandfather Avraham taught us to be.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi Goldberg