Weekly Announcements
Ahavat Yisrael of Wesley Hills Announcements
Lech Lecha
Oct 31 – Nov 7
9 Cheshvan – 16 Cheshvan
Please remember to send in your Yom Kippur shul appeal and Yahrzeit donations.
Please remember clocks change back one hour on November 2
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY (10/31)
Candle lighting/Mincha: 5:34 PM
SHABBOS (11/1)
Shacharis: 9:00 AM
Latest time for shma: 10:03 AM
Parsha shiur: 4:40 PM
Mincha: 5:20 PM
Shabbos Ends: 6:36 PM
Maariv: 6:42 PM
SUNDAY (11/2)
Shacharis: 8:00 AM
Rabbi’s Gemara Shiur: 8:45 THIS WEEK ONLY, NOV 2 on zoom only: https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Mincha/Maariv: 4:35 PM NOTE: NEW earlier time due to clock change
MONDAY – THURSDAY (11/3-11/6)
Maariv: 9:00 PM
Wednesday: Parsha previews on zoom at 8pm https://zoom.us/j/3812539596
Dvar Torah & Thoughts on Lech Lecha
Rabbi Asher Bush
When Avraham returns victorious from the war of the Four and Five Kings he is met by two very different people, the King of Sdom and Malkitzedek, the King of Shalem. The Torah has not previously mentioned Malkitzedek, and he seemingly had no role in the war, although he too may have benefited from Avraham’s vanquishing of the Four Kings. Aside from bringing out food and drink for Avraham and his men, Malkitzedek offers a blessing. This is a twofold bracha, as first he blesses Avraham, stating ברוך אברם לא' עליון קונה שמים וארץ/blessed be Avram to Exalted God maker of heaven and earth, and then he blesses God, stating וברוך א' עליון אשר מגן צריך בידך/and blessed be Exalted God who delivered your enemies into your hand.
In contrast to the King of Sdom, everything, both the hospitality and the grateful bracha is impressive; but on further thought, is this bracha really so good? In fact, at first glance there is something so jarring about this bracha, as he has put Avraham before God. It was just this mindset that may well have been the fatal flaw in the offering brought by Kayin, as despite the fact that he is the first person recorded in the Torah to bring an offering to God, it is rejected. While various suggestions are offered to explain, a very strong possibility is that he viewed God merely as a “helper”, almost like an assistant or support staff. Clearly that is not the case with Malkitzedek, as from the very beginning when he blessed Avraham, he did so in reference to God, the Creator of heaven and earth, thereby acknowledging Him as the true master, and not a mere helper.
If this is correct, the question then need be addressed, just why did he place the bracha for Avraham first? While he is by no means putting God down, the fact is this all took place because Avraham took the initiative, was willing to risk all for his very disappointing nephew Lot and the people of Sdom, who had already been labeled by the Torah as ואנשי סדום רעים וחטאים לה' מאוד/and the people of Sdom were very evil and sinful before God. So first and foremost, he mentions Avraham, but lest any error be made, even in his bracha to Avraham he speaks of the Almighty, and then afterwards give a separate bracha of thanks to God.
Additionally, and quite important for us today, the role of the people who engage in saving their brethren cannot be ignored or even minimized. Yes, their ultimate success comes through God’s will, but without them there is no war and without them there is no victory. The victory at the Yam Suf was an act of God with a man playing a small role, but that is not the story in this war of Avraham, and that is not the story when Israel wages it’s wars today.
Yet maybe there is still something less than ideal in his words, and perhaps it can offer a window into what otherwise is a large mystery in the Torah. If Malkitzedek is indeed a holy man who serves the one and only God, what is so special or unique about Avraham? In fact, why did God need to select him at all if there already was this holy man serving Him in the middle of Israel?
Perhaps even this beautiful bracha was somewhat flawed, perhaps even when stated in this manner he indeed should have put God first, and maybe there was still a trace of the Kayin mindset in the words, and more importantly, in the heart, of Malkitzedek. He was a believer, he was a Cohen who served God, but he may not have been the person to bring awareness of God to the world and not the person to found God’s religion and nation.