Cabo the most, it must be Abraham and this week's Torah portion.
He lives in a scorching hot desert - Like us in Cabo.
Many tourists and travellers pass by his tent (home) - Like us in Cabo.
YET...
His tent has openings on all sides, in order to enable the tired guest
to access shade and hospitality as easily as possible.
He sits outside his tent under the burning sun, looking for passerbys
to invite in and host.
When our Torah portion opens up this week, it's Abraham just three
days after his circumcision, at the age of 99. He's no doubt in a
physically fragile and painful state, yet he still waits outside,
hoping to find someone who he can help and invite in.
Pretty remarkable and noble if you ask me.
I don't know if I would be that strong in such a situation... Then
again, nowadays we have air conditioner units :).
But on a serious note, there is a story of the fifth Chabad Rebbe,
Rabbi Dovber of Lubavich, who once as a small child, returned home
from school and came crying to his grandfather, the Tzemach Tzedek,
third Rebbe of Chabad.
When his grandfather asked him what was the matter, he responded "Why
is it that G-d revealed himself to Abraham, yet to me he doesn't show
himself?"
To which his zeidy responded "When a Jew of 99 years old decides to
perform a circumcision on himself, he is surely deserving of G-d's
revelation!"
The lesson of our Parsha is intense and demanding - especially from us
who live in Cabo and have the capacity to continuously give to others
who are passing through, just like our forefather Abraham.
We need to continuously give and give. Abraham does not worry about
his own physical pain, yet sees the discomfort and pain of the passing
weary travellers as the priority at hand. So too, we must put our
fellow brothers who come to Cabo and need help physically, but most
significantly and often, spiritually... It is our job and priority to
be there for them and make sure that they don't leave us empty handed.
Abraham also teaches us that it is never too late. Even a man at 99
years old can make the decision to radically change his lifestyle.
Continuously being focused on the goal and vision of a better world is
our motivation and like the Torah itself promises, there will be a
time (very soon) when our world will not suffer any more and we will
live in peace, harmony and a conscious knowledge of G-d in everything.
Amen!
All the best and Shabbat Shalom,
Benny
Comments