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Dear Chaveirim:
This was another very stressful week for us all.
Whether or not you were happy with the results of the US election, I hope you feel a sense of relief that the elections are over. May we soon find that relief with regard to Israel as well; no, short of a miracle, things will not go back to normal there any time soon. But we pray for peace and security so that they (we) can begin to heal and tackle the challenges highlighted through this dreadful period.
RCA Updates
- The Executive Committee meeting this week was especially well-attended and featured robust discussion about steps forward for the RCA. We look forward to working with this excellent group of chaveirim.
- We are planning a series of small RCA missions to Israel – beginning in December. More details will be sent in the coming days.
In Our RCA Family
- Mazal Tov to our chaver Rav Eli and Tybee Eleff on the Bar Mitzvah of their son Avrumi
Chomer Lidrush - Lech Lecha and Post-Election
1) Avraham’s Journey and the True "Election" of Our Future
In 2004, the RCA sent out a powerful drasha of Rav Soloveitchik’s that explored three key disappointments in Avraham’s life which reshaped his understanding of his divine mission.
Initially, Avraham hoped to bring monotheism to the entire world, but he soon realized that his influence would be more limited and localized. His second disappointment came when Lot, whom he hoped would continue his mission, instead chose the corrupt society of Sodom. Finally, even after saving the King of Sodom, Avraham was met with ingratitude and derision, showing that his impact would not come through changing society directly, but through establishing a family rooted in faith and serving Hashem. These experiences taught Avraham that his true legacy would be long-term, passed down through his descendants, rather than an immediate transformation of the world.
The future isn’t shaped by the world’s leaders or passing trends; it’s formed in our homes, through the values we live by and pass to the next generation. The most lasting “election” isn’t a vote for power, but for the way we choose to spend our time in this world and for the future we build for and within our families. How will our children, or those who come after us, choose to “vote”, shaped by the lessons they learn from us?
2) Commitment and Divergent Paths
Why did Avraham bring Lot along with him on his journey? Couldn’t the Patriarch have seen the nature of his nephew’s true character? Perhaps Avraham brought Lot along because Avraham genuinely believed – at first – that his nephew was truly committed to the cause.
So, what changed?
It’s only after wealth comes into the picture that Lot’s character shifts and a rift emerges. He may have put on a convincing front to make Avraham believe he was genuine. Perhaps this trickery-nature doesn’t fall far from the tree – perhaps Lot’s duplicitous nature was learned from his father. When a feud breaks out during this groundbreaking mission, a dismayed Avraham looks at Lot and says, “you’re a lot (לוט) like your father – אחים אנחנו (13:8).”
Authenticity is the foundation of a meaningful legacy. In the end, Avraham’s disappointment reminds us to ask ourselves: Are we true to our values, or do we merely reflect what others expect us to be?
3) Any new venture—be it a marriage, a family, a business, or a voyage into the unknown—requires faith in the future.
In Biblical Images, Rav Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz z”l shatters the oft-repeated misnomer of Avraham Avinu as “First Monotheist” (Malki-Tzedek seems to have a better claim to that title). Avraham was original in experiencing a belief of someone else’s and spreading it to others, carrying the idea in a way that he could share it with everyone he encountered. When we come across truth, we may be tempted to save it for ourselves; at best, we may want to share it with others, but shy away from the effort to actually do so –– Avraham Avinu exemplified the germination of an idea amongst the masses, and he really was the first to ever to do so.
Avraham didn’t invent monotheism – but at a time when the world had given ip on One God, Avraham “brought Him back.”
The election process and outcome can be seen through this light of Avraham’s legacy. It was a time of passion and excitement. But the election is over. Where does the passion go? What do we do with it? Avraham didn’t come up with the idea of One God but cared enough about it to share it with others. You don’t have to be a genius to be an Avraham, but you do have to care! What are we choosing to care about?
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