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Parshat Lech Lecha

By: Bat Chen Callen

In this week’s parsha, parshat Lech-Lecha, Hashem tells Avram to leave his land and the home of his fathers. Avram, along with his household, wife and nephew, Lot, makes his way to the land of Canaan and through Egypt to escape from the famine. Soon after Avram and Lot separate upon their return to Canaan, the parsha describes the war between the four kings against five.

As soon as the five kings engage in the battle in the Valley of the Siddim they begin to flee. While three kings fled to the mountains, the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fell into one of the many bitumen wells that filled the valley. Rashi, citing a Midrash elaborates on the story as follows: These wells were pits full of clay used for construction. The Midrash explains that it had a doughy consistency and it took a miracle for the king of Sodom to emerge from the well despite the difficulty of the substance. Rashi explains that this miracle took place because there were those among the nations who did not believe that Hashem performed the miracle to save Avram from the fiery furnace at Ur Kasdim when he took the risk to prove the existence of God. Hashem performed this miracle for the king of Sodom to prove to those who did not believe in Him to validate the miracle He performed for Avram. Rashi explains that since this miracle took place that the king of Sodom was able to emerge from the wells, retroactively, the nations would believe in the miracle that Hashem performed for Avram and in His existence.

Ramban however disagrees with Rashi. He argues that because the king of Sodom worshipped avoda zara the miracle which occurred to him would be perceived by the other nations differently. Ramban explains that by performing the miracle for the king of Sodom Hashem did not increase the other nation’s belief in Him and the miracle He performed for Avram. But because the king was an idolater it would strengthen the other nation’s beliefs in avoda zara or maybe lead them to believe that the miracle was a simple coincidence or a form of black magic. Ramban argues that not only would the miracle done for the king of Sodom increase the other nation’s beliefs in idolatry but it would also place doubt in the hearts of those who did believe in the miracle Hashem performed for Avram and in His existence.

What can we learn from Rashi and Ramban’s debate about miracles?

In any given situation man has the option in understanding his challenges in either one of two ways. Either one can translate their day’s venture as a coincidence and look at their good fortune as their own accomplishment or view their lives knowing that Hashem is involved whether it’s a struggle or an achievement. When the Midrash tells the story of Hashem’s miracle on behalf of the king of Sodom, the other nations had a choice of how to interpret the situation. Hashem performed the miracle with the intention of strengthening other’s belief in Him. Similarly He wants us to go about our day with the knowledge that He is always involved in our lives, whether it is a promotion at work or God forbid a long awaiting refua shelema. May we all strive to continue living our lives with the knowledge and faith that Hashem is always involved and The One making the big plans.

Bat Chen Callen comes to AMIT from Edison, New Jersey and is a graduate of Bruria High School. What she likes most about Midreshet AMIT is her amazing teachers and the opportunities for chesed.

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