The Weekly Shtikle - Chayei Sarah

For some weeks now, I have been searching for some parsha­-based lesson to glean with respect to the tumultuous political season that has recently concluded here in the United States, with as little actual politics as possible. I felt this would be apropos:

 

    When Avraham requests an audience with Efron HaChiti, the pasuk (23:10) recounts "And Efron was sitting in the midst of B'nei Cheis. " Rashi here comments that the word yosheiv, sitting, is in the present tense, is written without a vav. Without vowels, it may be read yashav, in past tense. This, suggests Rashi, implies that he only now sat amongst them. The term "sitting amongst them" implies a position of stature. Here, Efron had just been appointed judge.

 

    This explanation of Rashi should sound rather familiar. Just one week ago we had almost the exact same comment from Rashi with regards to Lot. When the angels arrived, (19:1) Lot was sitting at the gates of Sedom. Rashi interprets "sitting at the gates" to refer to a position of judgement and again the missing vav insinuates that this promotion had just taken place. Certainly, this abnormal spelling must be addressed in both instances. But why is this a necessary fact for the Torah to convey to us on these two occasions?

 

    The position of judge is certainly one that involves a great deal of responsibility. Certainly, in a culture such as that of Sedom, the task of a judge was quite daunting. Even though both Lot and Efron seemed to have been appointed, it still takes a great deal of courage and feeling of responsibility to accept the appointment. It also pertains directly to one of the seven mitzvos that even gentiles are required to keep.

 

    Perhaps, the Torah is conveying to us in both these instances the great reward that is allotted to those who bravely take upon themselves positions of responsibility for the greater good. These two characters, as analyzed by the commentaries, are certainly not short of flaws. Yet both are put into a somewhat positive spotlight. It was this noble act that gave Lot the merit to be saved from the destruction of Sedom. Indeed, it was in Avraham's merit as well that he was saved. But had Lot truly been as wicked as the rest of the city, perhaps Avraham's merit would not have been enough. And it was Efron's accepting of his position as judge for which he merited to be a part of this historic acquisition.

 

    Moreover, when one seizes the reins of responsibility, they are realizing that they cannot simply wait for this void to be filled by another. Often times the position of responsibility is one that could, in theory, easily be filled by another candidate. But the man of responsibility seizes the moment and does not delegate or shirk these duties. For this reason, it is not enough that they simply be rewarded. Rather, it is on the very day, as Rashi notes, that they accepted these positions that they are instantly rewarded.

Have a good Shabbos.

Eliezer Bulka
WeeklyShtikle@weeklyshtikle.com

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