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Parshat Lech Lecha
2000
"GO!"
In the middle of this week's Torah portion, the main subject of which is the beginning of the relationship between God, Abraham, the Jewish people and the land of Israel, there is a story of a battle of kings (Genesis 14). During the war, some of Abraham's relatives are captured, so Abraham joined the battle and was victorious.
Upon his return from battle, King Malchizedek of Salem greeted Abraham, gave him presents and blessed him.
Genesis 14: 17-20:
When [Abram] returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh, which is the Valley of the King. And Malchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him, saying, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, who is creating heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your foes into your hand." And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Your Torah Navigator
What is the impact of King of Sodom coming to meet Abram? Why is it important that Malchizedek is the king of Salem? And what does it mean that the Torah is referring to Malchizedek as a priest of "God Most High?"
Rabbi Ya'acov Moshe Charlap commented on the fact that Malchizedek identified God not as "having created" heaven and earth, but as "creating" heaven and earth: It says "is creating" and not "created" because the Holy and Blessed One renews the world every moment. "God renews in goodness each day always doing the work of creation."
Your Rabbi Ya'acov Moshe Charlap Navigator:
Why does Rabbi Ya'acov say "in goodness" in reference to God renewing each day? What is the theological impact of God renewing the world every moment, in terms of the relationship between the Jewish people today and our tradition?
A Word
In our tradition God is not merely a first cause, a watchmaker, the One who set things in motion, then is absent. Were God to have created the world and then disappear, the world would have disintegrated and degenerated into chaos. Creation occurs every day, with every worldly innovation. Every human inspiration is a gift from God, who creates through the human intellect and spirit. The procreation of life itself is the very presence of God in its most pronounced manifestation on earth.
As we view the world around us in our spiritual moments and in our daily routines, let us see God and God's creation in our lives.
Shabbat Shalom.
Prepared by Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz-Lendner, Executive Director, New Orleans Hillel Center and president of Tekiah
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