Why can cutlery teleport, but not time-travel?
It’s silverwhere, not silverwhen. (Yes, I know, it’s actually spelled “silverware.”)
Our forefather, Abraham was tested with 10 tests. Experiences like having his wife abducted, going to war against overwhelming odds, and being asked to sacrifice his son to God. These tests were all incredibly difficult to pass, and by doing so, Abraham showed how devoted he was to God and created a lasting spiritual protection for his descendants.
According to the Rambam, the first of these tests was when “Hashem said to Abram, ‘Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.’ “
-Bereishis 12:1
So… move to a new house. How hard is that? It hardly seems to be on the same scale as the other tests on the list. Lots of people do that!
The frequency of an event can belie its significance. We now live in a world where more people than ever move to cities where they did not grow up, often far away from their family and childhood friends. This is often seen as a rite of passage, a sign of maturity. In fact, to stay in your family’s home is degraded as “living in your mother’s basement” and mocked in popular media.
For thousands of years, much of the human race never traveled very far from their home town. It was a common custom to take the profession of your father. It was likely you would marry someone you knew as a child. Many cultures housed multiple generations in a single household all at once. If you did travel a long distance to live in a new place, most probably, your community migrated with you.
Why didn’t people move as much? Well, the lack of technology like airplanes, telephones, and the internet certainly contributed, but there were also advantages to having a permanent tight-knit community. Your family — people who cared about you more than anyone — was always right there to lean on for security. The community could pass down its wisdom to you on everything you would encounter. You would never have to search for people who have things in common with you.
I’m not suggesting that everything about the current state of affairs is bad, but it is interesting to note rising rates of depression and feelings of isolation in our time…
You or someone you know may have to live far away for any number of good reasons. We see that Abraham profited very much from his journey, both spiritually and monetarily. Moving far away from family may be a test for you too. But never forget the community you travel away from, because there is something very special about being in close contact with the people you love.
Good Shabbos,
Rabbi A and the JET Team
