F rom the moment G-d called out to Avraham he was plucked out of the story that had defined him up to that point and entrusted with an eternal mission as the father of the Chosen Nation — a concept that has caused the Jewish People untold suffering. Why then did Hashem single out Avraham for this complicated relationship?
In the two weeks since Simchas Torah the Torah readings of Bereishis and Noach presented us with a sweeping overview of the dawn of human history: Gan Eden the Tree of Knowledge the first murder the generation of the Flood and the story of the Tower of Bavel. The background is in place. Now one exceptional personality steps onstage — a unique world-changing figure — and from here on he is the central character in the narrative. The history of this man and his offspring will unfold as the theme of the entire Torah. Indeed all of Tanach is stamped with the impression of his personal story a story that has not yet ended. Even today we are adding chapters to it.
Who exactly was Avraham?
He was a man of free spirit. A man of courage a nonconformist. A man who did not submit to social conventions who defied Nimrod — the arch dictator who held his subjects under a reign of terror. Under Nimrod worship of the regime’s idols — the sun moon and stars and other natural forces — was required by law.
But Avraham questioned the party line.
“At a very early age he began to wonder about the world. He would think about it day and night and ask himself How could it be that this great wheel (the universe) is constantly turning and no one is turning it? And who brought it into existence — for it could not have brought itself into existence” (Rambam Hilchos Avodah Zarah 1:3 based on Chazal).
