I have always been amazed by how what I was learning on a particular week had direct relevance to what was going on in my life or the world at the same time. As one example, eight years ago when my first grandson was born. It just happened that three weeks later in the Parsha Hashavua was the mitzvah of Pidyan Haben, exactly while we were planning that event for our new grandson. Or how Shaluach Hakan appeared just as we went camping and happened upon a bird on its eggs. People that learn Daf Yomi find this happening with startling regularity. So this week I learned a Pasuk which I have certainly learned no less than 50 times. Avram and Lot are conducting themselves in different ways. Avram was careful to muzzle his cattle as they crossed others land whereas lot allowed his flock to graze freely on others property. [1] This led Avram to his well known proclamation -”If you go to the left, I will go to the right and if you go to the right, I will go to the left”. The understanding of this Pasuk was never in question in my mind – Avram was troubled by the way Lot's Shephards conducted themselves and insisted they must separate. Indeed, it was not enough that Avram and his shephards were honest, it still pained them to be in the vicinity of others who were not as careful.
Except Rashi didn't see it that way at all (Rashi, 13:9). Rashi's understanding of this Pasuk is that whichever direction you go, I will settle very close to you and be your helper. Huh? That certainly appears to be contrary to the Pasuk's simple meaning. And I never noticed this Rashi until this week. I certainly have learned it a dozen times previously but the words never grabbed me. Until this week when my brother Ahron pointed them out to me. He went on to explain the context of Rashi's deviation from the plain words of the Pasuk. In the Pasuk before (13:8) Avram says we should not allow this dispute to continue “because we are brothers”. Avram's suggestion that it was difficult for him to watch this conduct did not alter his perception, his responsibility to his brother. He would always be there for him, he would always have his back even if he at times disapproved of his conduct.
What a telling act and word of our original Patriarch. We may not always agree, I may even disapprove, but you are my brother and I will watch over you. This was so startling to see in Rashi that I actually wondered whether Hashem just put it there this week so Klal Yisroel could be reminded of our obligation to all our brothers, even those who maybe to our right or to our left. Of course, the Rashi has been there since Rashi wrote it some eight hundred years ago[2] But it sure seems more germane today after this last year of strife, History has repeatedly taught us that our greatest challenges come during times of internal strife. Despite this lesson being reinforced in Navi, the Gemara and secular history, we stubbornly refuse to learn. Perhaps we need to relearn this Rashi a few extra times this week. We are brothers. I may not approve of the way you do everything but I've got your back.
[1] Rashi 13:6
[2] When I shared this idea with a chaver yesterday, he told me had heard the same idea from Rabbi Hauer 10+ years ago.
