Miller's Musings Parshas Vayeiro: Charity Begins at Home

בס''ד

 

Lot must go down as one of the most enigmatic personalities we encounter in the Torah.  Raised in the illustrious home of Avrohom, it appears much of his uncle’s teachings at the very least subliminally entered into his consciousness, as evidenced by his protection of the angels that came to obliterate Sedom.   Yet we also find that Avrohom was unable to tolerate him remaining in his vicinity due to his more questionable conduct.  Perhaps the greatest display of the inconsistency of his character was in the way in which he sheltered the strangers in his home, at great risk to his life, and in spite of that was willing to offer his own daughters as substitutes for the men he had seemingly only just met.  How are we to understand such paradoxical behaviours?

Along with every commandment that we are tasked to perform, there is a framework within which we must perform it.  This applies both to the ritualistic type mitzvos and to the ways in which we are obliged to act towards each other.  A person not guided by the Torah and its principles can easily stray from the correct form of observance and misguidedly act in a manner far from the intended purpose of Hashem’s desire for us.  Perhaps we can say that Lot understood the importance of kindness and benevolence, but without the correct structure for its implementation lost sight of to what extent it should be utilised and what limits there were to its practice.  He erroneously believed that surrendering his children was a price that must be paid in the pursuit of the highest munificence towards his fellow man, when in reality this was a bridge too far. 

Sacrifice is an integral part of our growth as people.  We must be willing to forego personal pleasure or gains at times for the greater good as we endeavour to better ourselves and the world in which we live.  The key here is in understanding that personal sacrifice is a choice each one of us can make for ourselves, but is not one we can make for another.  One of the most commendable activities a person can be involved in, is in efforts within communal affairs and towards those less fortunate than ourselves, either physically or spiritually. One must inevitably resign oneself to forfeiting some of ones time and resources for the greater good, but simultaneously must be incredibly careful that we are not negatively effecting those around us, which requires serious and extensive thought and, if required, advice from those qualified to give it.  This is of course not to discourage selfless undertakings of this kind, but if the time we spend is time desperately needed for those closest to us and if the environment we surround ourselves with is detrimental to our families, it may be time to ask whether we are truly trying to fulfil the Will of Hashem or are we in truth engaged in a distorted version of a true Torah life. 

*May the sanctitude of Shabbos realign us to the path of righteousness*

לעילוי נשמת לאה בת אברהם