Last Sunday, I started teaching a foundations of Judaism course called Asking Jewish Questions. It’s a fabulous group of 17 students, some who are Jewish and some who are not, all committed to deepening their connection to and understanding of Judaism. In the introductory session, I stressed the importance of asking questions (thus the name of the course). Many students, especially those that were raised in other faith traditions, are shocked when I tell them that they are welcome - encouraged, even - to raise issues they have with the tradition and to disagree with me in the course. It’s not a given that a religion would welcome this type of push-back, but I think it’s part of what makes our faith beautiful and thick.
Avraham models for us, in this week’s parashah, not just that we are allowed to engage in this push-back, but how to do it. When Avraham finds out that God is planning to destroy S’dom and Amorah (I’ll speak about that more tomorrow in shul), he famously challenges God, “Will you sweep away the innocent along with the guilty? What if there should be fify innocent within the city; will You then wipe out the place and not forgive it for the sake of the innocent fifty who are in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing” (Bereshit 18:23-25). At this point, Avraham hadn’t yet challenged God on anything. When God told Avraham to go to a new land, he did. When God told Avraham to circumcise himself, he did. But here, Avraham doesn’t just go along with the plan so easily.
Avraham pushes on further: “Here I venture to speak to my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes…” (Bereshit 18:27) Avraham questions God’s actions but from a posture of humility. Knowing his place in the relationship doesn’t keep him from advocating for his position, but he does so humbly. After this, twice Avraham stresses to God, even while he argues with God’s plan, that he isn’t coming from a place of anger (Bereshit 18:30,32).
We often say that Judaism encourages questioning and encourages debate and dialogue. That is true, but Avraham’s conversation here with God teaches us what the spirit behind that debate should be. Too often we don’t approach dialogue with humility - we sometimes are convinced we are right and we aren’t actually there to listen. Too often we engage from a place of hostility, knowing that we are angry and that we are likely to rile up others. As we are again following the stories of our patriarch Avraham, I hope we are reminded of his legacy of asking questions and pushing back. And as we do so, may we embody his humility and gentleness as we seek out the answers to our questions.
