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What's the Point of Religion?
First contact came at age 75. Prior to that moment, there is no recorded interaction between God and Avraham. At first glance, one would assume that nothing of great historic importance occurred up until that point. Yet, the Midrash records a dramatic event in Ur Kasdim. When hearing of his efforts to proselytize the masses to monotheism, Nimrod issues an ultimatum to Avraham: either publicly disavow your belief in only one God or be cast into the fire. Avraham refuses, is hurled into the flames, but miraculous emerges unscathed. If the Midrash is sharing a climactic historic event, why would the Biblical narrative choose to omit it?
Legacies can easily be misconstrued. The essence of the Jewish faith is not sacrifice but celebration. No matter how heroic Avraham's self-sacrifice may have been, that could not be his introduction to the scene.
God's first message to him is "Lech Lecha" - go for yourself. Rashi interprets this as a guarantee that his journey would be good and pleasurable. Why was Avraham's enjoyment so critical at that junction? God was teaching a novel but foundational concept. Religion is not meant to restrict, confine, or suck out the fun from life. In fact the opposite is true. Torah is meant to unleash the highest of pleasure.
Hashem did not want Judaism to be defined by an inferno in ancient Ur or the crematoria of Auschwitz
. Yes, at times we are called upon to sacrifice for a higher ideal, but the essence of our faith is "Lech Lecha" - to chart a journey of inner meaning and purpose that ultimately leads to higher pleasure. All else is subtext.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Daniel
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