We must question and Hope and Keep Trying

Vayera has an amazing scene of Abraham confronting G-d when he learns of the upcoming destruction of Sodom and Gemorrah.  But there is a story that was told by Elie Wiesel about an individual who protested long before Abraham.  The story goes like this:

“Long before Abraham came along, there was a certain man, who used to stand outside the gates of Sodom and cry out against it. Day after day, year after year, the man would stand there, all by himself, pleading and demanding that the people change their ways. Once, after many years, a delegation came to the man and demanded to know what he was still doing there– hadn’t he realized that his protests would not change anything? The man replied: “I came to Sodom to try to change them– and I have long since realized that that won’t happen. However, I must keep trying, because if I leave, they will have changed me.”

Abraham’s protests were aimed at G-d.  How could the master of the universe destroy two cities if there were innocent individuals who would also be destroyed?  His protest was voiced in the following manner: “Will not the Judge of all the Earth act with Justice?!” (Gen. 18:25).

Abraham’s first request is that G-d not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah if there are 50 good people who live in the midst of the cities.  The words, b’toch ha-ir, in the midst of the city are relevant as it applies to Abraham’s request. He was not asking to save individuals who sat by the sidelines, rather for individuals who involved themselves in the affairs of the city and could connect to others to be saved.  Perhaps what the Torah is telling us is that when people are actively involved in a community, they have an opportunity to change the moral climate of a community and its character.  Transformation of a communal culture can actually take place when enough people care and use their influence properly.

Yet we know that Abraham reaches the end of his bargaining session with the Almighty when he asks if G-d will save the cities if there can be found 10 righteous individuals in the midst of the cities.

Ten may not seem like a very significant number, but maybe what Abraham’s argument is saying to us is that it doesn’t take a large number to transform a community for the better. What it takes is individuals who are willing to work within the boundaries of their community to influence it for good. I recently read a quote by Rabbi Jack Riemer who said, “The most effective way to deal with a large problem is to influence a small group with the power to work from within”. That doesn’t mean that they will then ramrod their goals down the throats of others in their midst, but influence others by showing that their hope is to improve the lot of all involved.

Abraham who is known as a great leader of his time was not afraid to ask questions of G-d.  As you know, wrestling with G-d, questioning G-d, is very much a part of our religious tradition as a result of Abraham’s actions.  Two other role models, Moses and Jeremiah also asked questions.  “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people?” asked Moses.  “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease?”  asked Jeremiah. 

“Judaism is the rarest of phenomena:  a faith based on asking questions, sometimes deep and difficult ones that seem to shake the very foundations of faith itself.”  Asking questions is not seen as a threat to our relationship with G-d.  Wrestling is our attempt to try to understand G-d’s will rather than just blindly obeying

G-d.

When Rashi interpreted the statement that we were created in the image of G-d, he felt it meant we have been given the ability to “understand and discern.” 

We’re going to look at the first paragraph of the weekday Amidah.

“In the blessing known as Ata Chonen we recite: “You grace humans with wisdom and teach humanity perception. Bestow upon us Your knowledge, insight and understanding. Blessed are you the grantor of wisdom.”

If we lack wisdom, then no other request really matters. In this prayer, we ask that God offer us a sliver of divine insight that we may gain the clarity we need to make a day’s worth of decisions and good judgments. We firm up our minds to be able to problem-solve and manage life’s complexities. We know that intelligence involves the exquisite and often contradictory balance of curiosity, instinct, patience, caution and risk.

We can never assume wisdom. What may be sensible in one situation is foolish in another. Thus, we pray for knowledge and introduce every other blessing that follows in the Amidah with this request.”  (Erica Brown)

Sometimes our daily decisions might seem inconsequential.  Yet when they add together over time their impact can be great.  A personal decision to put off being active might not affect us immediately, but overtime its effects can be felt as we age.   Other decisions, like how we will work to keep our Judaism alive in our homes, communities, and world do require the ability to problem-solve and perhaps asking for a bit of divine clarity is indeed helpful since the impact of our decisions will not only affect us in the short-term but those who will come after us in the long-term.

So, why do I keep relating today’s parsha to asking questions, problem solving, and having a core group of at least 10 to impact the well-being of an entire community?  It is because this is an ancient message that still has relevance for us in our lives as Jews in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Struggling to find answers is never enjoyable but it is necessary.  Hoping for the ability to follow a right path and asking for knowledge, understanding, and discernment to know what that path is, is what connects us to being created in the divine image.  And recognizing that it is essential to maintain a strong core group of at least 10 people, is important for any community because ultimately those 10 will have an impact on the quality of the lives of the outliers. We can learn from Abraham and from the individual who according to Elie Wiesel came before Abraham.  We have to keep trying!