The First Jew

Abraham = Self-Transcendence Jew must live a transcendent life in an ordinary and often corrupt world. LECHA LECHA

Why not Noach

Abraham was the first Jew. But, many ask, what distinguished Abraham from all of his generation? Moreover, why do we consider Abraham to be the first Jew and not Noach? After all, the Torah itself testifies that he was a righteous person?

The classical answer to this question is that it was Abraham’s circumcision, and the covenant that he entered with G-d as a result of the circumcision, that accorded him the appellation Jew.

The question, however, remains. Why did G-d choose to make this unique covenant with Abraham and not with any of his forebears? There must have been some qualitative difference between Abraham’s righteousness and the righteousness of his predecessors.

LECHA

Self-Transcendence

One of the differences between Abraham and Noah was Abraham’s ability to transcend himself.

From the time he was a child and recognized that all the other deities were false and that there must be one true G-d, Abraham went against convention. He was the true iconoclast in both the figurative, as well as, literal sense of the word.

Abraham’s fighting was not only directed against the false beliefs and evil mores of society, but, he was also a crusader for all that was positive and good.

For one to fight evil, even with self-sacrifice does not prove that he or she is a selftranscending person. That dedication, while admirable, can be the product of one’s nature.

For another to dedicate his or her life to helping others, although praiseworthy, is not necessarily an expression of selftranscendence.

When, however, the same person is able to fight evil with all his or her heart, soul and might, while simultaneously embracing G-d LECHA and his or her fellow with unmitigated love and kindness – that is self-transcendence.

Going Against Convention

Abraham, thus, personified what a Jew is all about. A Jew is prepared to go beyond convention, against the tide, even above one’s own intellect.

This, in fact, is what the covenant of circumcision implies. The circumcised is prepared to give of himself to G-d and His teachings, even when they call for a commitment that goes beyond one’s own understanding.

Circumcision is performed on an eight day old baby who has no understanding of what he is going through. This is to ensure that even when we mature and develop intellectual skills, our commitment to G-d must go beyond whatever level of understanding we have.

To be sure, Judaism calls for and encourages understanding. This is what Torah study is all about, but the foundation of study is the unconditional acceptance of G-d, Torah and its commandments.

LECHA

The Three Components of Circumcision

Circumcision actually contains the two opposite elements of negating evil and embracing the good, plus a third crucial component.

The great Talmudist, Rabbi Joseph Rosen, known as the Ragatchover genius, would divide the commandment of circumcision into three components:

The first is to remove the status of being uncircumcised.

The second is the positive act of being circumcised.

This approach echoes the two objectives of circumcision, as discussed by Maimonides and others: The first is to temper our sensual and hedonistic tendencies. The second is to create a covenant, a permanent attachment to G-d.

There is also a third element to circumcision. While the first two represent the result and objective of circumcision, the third element is the act of circumcision itself.

This personified Abraham who worked on all three fronts.

LECHA

As mentioned, he was a crusader against evil.

He was also an indefatigable activist for goodness and kindness.

But, perhaps, just as important, he was not a theoretician, who sits in his think tank and decides what is good and evil for society, and then writes a position paper calling for action by others.

Abraham was heavily involved in both areas, with his mind, heart and body.

Abraham bequeathed this legacy to all Jews.

LECHA

LECHA

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Lech Lecha by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.