Lech Lecha: Chapter 20

"And there was a strife between the herdsmen of Abraham's cattle"

Synopsis

When Abraham discovered that Lot, his nephew, was engaged in Idol Worshipping, Abraham knew immediately that he had to disconnect himself completely from Lot. The spiritual principle of this story concerns the influence that our immediate environment exerts upon us. It is incumbent upon all of us to associate with people who are sincere in their desire for spiritual growth. Although our own intentions may be pure, the influences that surround us inevitably affect our way of life.

Relevance

The Kabbalistic definition of Idol Worshipping includes much more than simply praying to statues or other false gods. Whenever we allow an external object or situation to control our behavior, our thoughts, or our emotions, we are worshipping an idol. Many people, for example, worship the idol of money. They are disciples and servants to their own businesses. Others are ruled by appearances and the perceptions of those around them. The moment we allow the external world to control our hearts and minds, we are committing the sin of Idol Worshipping. In this portion, freedom from external negative forces and influences is bestowed upon the reader.

Abram Esau Idolatry Jacob Lot Point

174. Rabbi Shimon said, Come and behold, it is written, "And there was strife (Heb. riv) between the herdsmen of Abraham's cattle." The word riv is spelled Resh Bet without the letter Yud, which means that Lot wanted to return to idol worshipping, which was the custom of the natives. Thus, at the end of the verse, it is written, "and the Canaan and the Perizi dwelt then in the land." THIS TEACHES US THAT LOT WANTED TO WORSHIP IDOLS AS THEY DID. AND THE REASON WHY IT GIVES RIV WITHOUT A YUD IS TO POINT TOWARD IDOL WORSHIP. IT FOLLOWS THE SECRET FOUND IN THE VERSE, "AND THE ELDER (HEB. RAV) SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER" (BERESHEET 25:23). ESAU SAID TO JACOB, "I HAVE ENOUGH (HEB. RAV - RESH BET)" (BERESHEET 33:9), BUT JACOB SAID TO HIM, "AND BECAUSE I HAVE ALL (HEB. KOL)" (BERESHEET 25:11). THIS IS ALSO THE SECRET OF THE VERSE, "AND A MIXED MULTITUDE (HEB. EREV RAV) WENT UP ALSO WITH THEM" (SHEMOT 12:38).

174. אֲמַר ר' שִׁמְעוֹן, תָּא חֲזֵי, מַה כְּתִיב, וַיְהִי רִיב בֵּין רֹעֵי מִקְנֵה אַבְרָם, רִב כְּתִיב, חָסֵר יוד, דְּבָעָא לוֹט לְמֶהֱדַר לְפוּלְחָנָא נוּכְרָאָה, דְּפַלְחֵי יָתְבֵי אַרְעָא, וְסוֹפֵיהּ דִּקְרָא אוֹכַח, דִּכְתִיב וְהַכְּנַעֲנִי וְהַפְּרִיזִי אָז יוֹשֵׁב בָּאָרֶץ.

East Evil Idolatry Lot

175. How do we know that Lot reverted to his evil ways of idolatry? We know it from the verse, "and Lot journeyed from the east (namely, from yore)" (Beresheet 13:11). And what is the meaning of "yore?" It means from Him - He who is more ancient than the world. And thus it is written, "and Lot journeyed from the east," and "it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east" (Beresheet 11:1). So, because there they journeyed away from Him - He who is more ancient than the world -- it means the same thing here!

175. וּמְנָלָן דְּלוֹט אַהֲדַר לְסָרְחָנֵיהּ, לְפוּלְחָנָא נוּכְרָאָה, דִּכְתִיב, וַיִּסַּע לוֹט מִקֶּדֶם. מַאי מִקֶּדֶם, מִקַּדְמוֹנוֹ שֶׂל עוֹלָם. כְּתִיב הָכָא, וַיִּסַּע לוֹט מִקֶּדֶם, וּכְתִיב וַיְהִי בְּנָסְעָם מִקֶּדֶם, מַה לְּהַלָּן נְטִילוּ מִקַּדְמוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אוּף הָכָא כֵּן.

Abraham Abram Idolatry Lot Prayer Punishment Wicked Wickedness

176. As soon as Abraham realized that Lot had reverted TO IDOLATRY, he spoke to him, "And Abraham said to Lot, separate yourself, I pray you, from me" (Beresheet 13:8-9) - you are not worthy of associating with me. So Abraham separated from him and did not want to travel with or deal him any more, because whoever accompanies a wicked person shall eventually follow in his steps and be punished because of him.

176. כֵּיוָן דְּיָדַע אַבְרָהָם, דְּלוֹט לְהָכֵי נָטֵי לִבֵּיהּ. מִיָּד וַיֹּאמֶר אַבְרָם אֶל לוֹט וגו' הִפָּרֶד נָא מֵעלַי. לֵית אַנְתְּ כְּדַאי לְאִתְחַבְּרָא בַּהֲדָאי. כְּדֵין אִתְפְּרַשׁ אַבְרָהָם מִנֵּיהּ, וְלָא בָּעָא לְמֵיהַךְ וּלְאִתְחַבָּרָא עִמֵּיהּ, דְּכָל מַאן דְּיִתְחַבַּר לְחַיָּיבָא, סוֹפֵיהּ לְמֵיהַךְ אֲבַתְרֵיהּ, וּלְאִתְעַנַּשׁ בְּגִינֵיהּ.

Ahab Jehoshaphat Merit Punishment

177. How do we know this? We know this from Yehoshafat, who associated with Ahab. And had it not been for the merit of his ancestors, Yehoshafat would have been punished because of Ahab. As it is written, "but Yehoshafat cried out..." (II Divrei Hayamim 18:31). Then he was saved, as it is written, "and Elohim moved them to depart from him" (Ibid.).

177. מְנָלָן, מִיהוֹשָׁפָט, דְּאִתְחַבַּר עִם אַחְאָב, וְאִלְמָלֵא זְכוּ דַּאֲבָהָן, אִתְעַנַּשׁ תַּמָּן, דִּכְתִיב וַיִּזְעַק יְהוֹשָׁפָט. וּכְדֵין אִשְׁתְּזֵיב, דִּכְתִיב וַיְסִיתֵם אֱלֹקִים מִמֶּנּוּ.

Abraham East Evil Faith Lot River Jordan

178. Although Abraham did not want to travel with Lot, Lot still did not want to return from his evil ways. As it is written, "Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed from the east" (Beresheet 13:11), WHICH MEANS THAT he "journeyed away" from Him - He who is more ancient than the world -- and refused to adhere to the true complete Faith, as did Abraham.

178. וְע"ד לָא בָּעָא אַבְרָם לְמֵיהַךְ בַּהֲדֵיהּ דְּלוֹט. וְעִם כָּל דָּא, לָא בָּעָא לוֹט, לְמֶהֱדַר מִסּוּרְחָנֵיהּ, אֶלָּא וַיִּבְחַר לוֹ לוֹט אֶת כָּל כִּכַּר הַיַּרְדֵּן. וַיִּסַּע לוֹט מִקֶּדֶם. אִתְנְטֵיל מִן קַדְמָאָה דְעָלְמָא, וְלָא בָּעָא לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא שְׁלֵימָתָא, כְּאַבְרָהָם.

Abraham Abram Canaan Faith Holiness (Kedushah) Kedushah (Holiness) Lot Nukva Sodom and Amorah (Gomorrah) Tents Torah Wicked Wickedness Wisdom

179. THE LAND OF CANAAN IS THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA, AND, AND IT IS WRITTEN, "Abraham dwelt in the land of Canaan" IN ORDER to cleave to the place of the Faith, WHICH IS THE SECRET OF THE NUKVA, and to attain knowledge about the Wisdom of his Master. Lot, however, "dwelt in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom," WHICH MEANS THAT he became associated with the wicked of the world, who departed from the Faith. They are described by the verse, "But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and great sinners before Hashem." Each one departed and went his own way, ABRAHAM TO THE PATH OF HOLINESS, AND LOT TO THE WICKED. Because of this, happy are those friends, who study Torah day and night, as they cleave to the Holy One, blessed be He. THEY DO AS ABRAHAM DID, AND NOT AS LOT. Of them it is written, "But you that did cleave to Hashem your Elohim are alive every one of you this day" (Devarim 4:4).

179. אַבְרָם יָשַׁב בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן. לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּאַתְרָא דִּמְהֵימְנוּתָא, וּלְמִנְדַע חָכְמְתָא, לְאִתְדַּבְּקָא בְּמָארֵיהּ. וְלוֹט יָשַׁב בְּעָרֵי הַכִּכָּר וַיֶּאֱהַל עַד סְדוֹם, עִם אִינוּן חַיָּיבִין דְּעָלְמָא, דִּנְפָקוּ מִגּוֹ מְהֵימְנוּתָא, דִּכְתִיב, וְאַנְשֵׁי סְדוֹם רָעִים וְחַטָּאִים לַה' מְאֹד. כָּל חַד אִתְפְּרַשׁ לְאָרְחֵיהּ, כִּדְקָא יָאוֹת. בְגִין כָּךְ זַכָּאִין אִינוּן חַבְרַיָיא, דְּמִשְׁתַּדְּלֵי בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא יְמָמָא וְלֵילְיָא, וְחַבְרוּתָא דִלְהוֹן בְּקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. וַעֲלַיְיהוּ כְּתִיב וְאַתֶּם הַדְּבֵקִים בַּה' אֱלֹקֵיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם הַיּוֹם.

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