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Our Father Abraham : A Portrait in Awesome Character Traits

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muman613:
Some more midrashic insight into the 318 men...


--- Quote ---http://torah.org/learning/ravfrand/5759/lechlecha.html

Don't Forget Why We Are In This In The First Place

Lot was captured. Avrohom gathered an army of 318 men to rescue him. The Talmud [Nedarim 32a] analyzes the Torah's expression "VaYarek es Chanichav" (and he "armed" those who he had taught Torah) [Bereshis 14:14]. Rav interprets "armed" to mean that before the battle Avrohom infused (showered) them with Torah. Shmuel interprets "armed" to mean that Avrohom showered them with money.

Rav's interpretation is easy to understand. Prior to going to battle, Avrohom strengthened their commitment to G-d and Torah. However, how do we understand Shmuel's interpretation? Why did Avrohom shower them with money?

Tosfos in Chullin [47b] explains Avrohom's reasoning. Avrohom showered them with money -- lest they become involved in the battle and start looking for booty and forget to rescue the souls. Avrohom wanted to tell them, "Don't worry about the booty -- I will give you money beforehand, so you need not preoccupy yourself with monetary pursuits."

Who are we dealing with over here? According to one opinion the 318 men were actually one person: Eliezer. According to another opinion they were 318 individuals. But, they must have been 318 righteous people because Avrohom was gathering them to go to battle against the Allied Forces -- the Kings who were just victorious in the "world war" between the four kings and five kings. Who would put their lives on the line -- 318 men against this allied force? Obviously it could only be Tzadikim, only people solely motivated by saving lives.

So, if they were motivated by saving lives, why does Avrohom Avinu have to worry about giving them money so that they won't become involved in collecting booty and forget about rescuing souls?

I saw a very true insight on this from Rav Henoch Leibowitz. Rav Henoch Leibowitz explains that often times when people get involved in something, they forget what they are in it for. One can start an endeavor motivated by a noble cause, but become so preoccupied in the means of it, that one forgets what he is doing there in the first place.

It would be quite a common phenomenon that they could start the war ultimately to rescue souls and save lives. But, once they become involved in war and start killing and shooting and going through all that war entails, they might forget the whole purpose (tachlis) of their involvement.

This happens to us so often. We get so involved in the means that the ultimate purpose is forgotten.

We unfortunately see a classic example of this all too often with 'chiyuvim' [see Glossary] who daven before the amud in shul.

When a 'chiyuv' leads the prayers, he wants to make a Kiddush HaShem for the merit of the deceased. It is a Kiddush HaShem when he says the words of Kaddish or he says a Brocho and people answer "Amen". So the goal of davening before the amud is Kiddush HaShem.

However, how many of us have witnessed the following type of scenario? There are two 'chiyuvim' on the same day. The first fellow says, "I have precedence". The second man says "No way. It is my turn to daven." Before you know it they are almost ready to strike each other. Why? Because each one wants to make a Kiddush HaShem. Here they are in shul yelling at each other, almost fighting. They are making a Chillul HaShem!

What happened here? The whole purpose of leading the prayers was to have a Kiddush HaShem. Instead, they are making a Chillul HaShem.

People become so involved in the means that they forget the goal. One can become so involved in war that he forgets what the war is all about. The war is about saving lives, but, instead, they are grabbing money.

That is human nature. People are so involved in getting there, that they forget where they are going in the first place.

Our Sages tell us that many of the Children of Kehas died while serving in the Wilderness as the transporters of the Ark. How did this happen? They had arguments: "I want to carry the Ark" "No, you go carry the Menorah. I'll carry the Ark!" They became so agitated in the details of who would get to carry it, that when the time came to actually transport it, they did not have the proper spiritual level of awe and reverence necessary to carry the Ark.

Again, what is happening here? Are they interested in Service of G-d or are they not interested in Service of G-d? They get so involved in who should do this and who should do that, that the whole goal is forgotten.

The purpose is supposed to be Divine Service and Sanctification of G-d's name, not arguments over who should carry what.

This is what Avrohom Avinu understood. He knew that people can easily forget the main goal. So he paid them the money up front, so that the booty and spoils would not distract them.

When we engage ourselves in a noble cause, we must always remember not to forget why we are engaged in the cause in the first place.
--- End quote ---

muman613:
Here is Rabbi Richman again from 2008:

muman613:

muman613:
In Parasha Vayeira we read about Abraham saving Lot from the destruction of Sdom...

muman613:
Another good one from Naaleh on the Middot of Chesed & Din...

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