Parshat Lech Lecha
In this week's parshah, we read of our forefather Avram going to war. To understand why, there's some information you need to know. A civil war broke out between the nine ruling kings in that area. Five of those kings were under the rule of the four more powerful kings, led by Nimrod. These vassal kings revolted, but lost the war and were taken captive. Lot, Avram's nephew who lived in that region, was taken captive by the more powerful forces. Avram went to battle these four kings and free his nephew.
After Avram is victorious, he visits Malki-Tzedek, King of Shalem (Jerusalem), who was a Kohen, (priest) and gives him ten percent of everything he had. This is the first reference to giving tithes (Ma'aser) of our earnings. Seeing his generous gift, the king of Sodom (one of the vassal kings rescued by Avram), says (Bereishit 14:21), "Give me the people and take the possessions for yourself". Avram's response is, "I lift up my hand to Hashem, G-d, the Most High, Maker of heaven and earth, if so much as a string to a shoe-strap; or if I shall take from anything of yours!"
On the surface, Avram refuses to take anything of the spoils of war, because he does not want the king of Sodom or others to claim that he became rich off misfortunes. He therefore vows that he wouldn't take a thing. The Talmud (Tractate Sota 17a) tells us, "As a reward for Avram refusing the king's offer with words "from a string to a shoestrap" his children were rewarded with the Mitzvot of Tzizit (with strings) and Teffilin (with straps)".
According to the Kabbalah and the writings of Chassidus, there is something even more profound going on here. There is a constant battle between the forces of Kedusha (holiness) and Kelipa (unholiness). Avram represents Kedusha and the king of Sodom represents Kelipa. The forces of Kelipa tell Avram "תן לי הנפש - Give me the souls". The Kedusha responds, I will not let you take control of these precious souls. You keep to your physical and material pleasures and I will keep to the spiritual and souls.
Perhaps the educational lesson that we can learn from this deeper explanation is the follows. So often, we get carried away with educational accoutrements, i.e., the plush trappings, fancy classrooms, nice websites and shiny team uniforms. In this process of running after these material things, we lose focus of what is truly important - the soul of education - that children should be safe, happy and inspired. Maybe Avram was saying that we shouldn't get lost in all the hoopla, we shouldn't get carried away with those things that are not important. Rather, remember to focus on the Neshama-the soul of Jewish education and raise happy, healthy and confident children.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Y. Marrus
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