The Liberty Science Center was one of my favorite Lower School trips as a kid. It was a hands-on museum where wonder and discovery collided as I was able to explore science, physics, space and geometry all at the same time. There was one exhibit that grabbed my attention like no other. It was called the Dark Tunnel.
This tunnel was pitch black. Zero visibility. Its objective? To simulate what it would feel like to be blind and to provide a perspective that people with sight can’t otherwise relate to. It was part of an inclusion exhibit. I remember hating the idea of it as I was deathly afraid of the dark. My friends pushed me to try and take a risk. After much cajoling, not only did I jump in, I took the front spot.
No matter how much time we spent in the tunnel, my eyes could not adjust to the space, seeing was not an option. Other senses had to kick in, working as a team to find out the way to the other side. This week’s Torah portion, פרשת וירא, which translates to “and he saw” reminds me a lot of this experience.
We find this act of seeing a few times in our פרשה:
וַיֵּרָ֤א אֵלָיו֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּאֵלֹנֵ֖י מַמְרֵ֑א וְה֛וּא יֹשֵׁ֥ב פֶּֽתַח־הָאֹ֖הֶל כְּחֹ֥ם הַיּֽוֹם׃
And Hashem appeared to (Avraham) in Elon Mamre and he (Avraham) was sitting at the opening of his tent in the hottest portion of the day - Bereishit 18:1
בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֗י וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַבְרָהָ֧ם אֶת־עֵינָ֛יו וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־הַמָּק֖וֹם מֵרָחֹֽק:
On the third day, Avraham lifted his eyes and he saw the place from afar. - Bereishit 22:4
In the first instance, it is Hashem who appears to אברהם, Avraham, who is passive. In the second instance, it is אברהם who is the active member who is looking, searching for the place where he is to complete עקדת יצחק, the binding of Yitzchak. At first, אברהם presented a passive approach, waiting for an event to happen to him while at the end of the פרשה he became a seeker, actively searching for ways to connect with Hashem. What changed?
וַיִּגַּ֥שׁ אַבְרָהָ֖ם וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַאַ֣ף תִּסְפֶּ֔ה צַדִּ֖יק עִם־רָשָֽׁע׃
And Avraham came forward and said, “Will Your (Hashem) anger sweep up the righteous with the wicked?” - Bereishit 18:22
In the face of Hashem’s desire to destroy סדום, Sodom, an immoral and unjust city state, אברהם took a stand and challenged Hashem’s initial plan. This act of “challenging” is seen with Moshe when Hashem considers destroying the Jewish people and restarting with Moshe and his family in light of the sin of the עגל הזהב, the golden calf. In this moment, אברהם fully embodies his role as Father of the Jewish people as the covenant that Hashem and אברהם forged in last week’s Torah portion.
Hashem saw אברהם’s potential. אברהם did not see it at first until the right set of circumstances allowed him to realize it and begin to search for his true calling. First Hashem appeared to him and after אברהם sought after Hashem.
This past week, our Middle Schoolers went on a wonderful retreat. They went on the ziplines, canoes, archery, shooting and even our 8th graders had the special opportunity to enjoy night riding! Negev and Galil, two teams competing against each other. It was a wonderful two days. As I spent the second day with our teens, I saw our students trying new experiences, connecting with new friends and strengthening their sense of community and unity. It reminded me of אברהם and his journey. It reminded me of the journey each of our students take as they come to RMBA in search of their identity, in search of their purpose. Through the experiences that our teachers orchestrate and the strong Jewish values that they teach, our students have that אברהם experience where they go from being passive reactors to active seekers. Seekers of their truest selves, seekers of Hashem and Torah, and doing it as a team.
Our lives are the fullest when we are on a journey. The goal is just an end. אברהם’s journey kindled the light from within. Our goal at RMBA is to find that light within and show our students that they are vibrantly radiant. The possibilities are endless once that spark is unleashed.