Avraham

As we begin to learn about Avraham, still Avram right now, an interesting question was asked in class. Who is Avram? What did he do that he merits G-d speaking to him and giving him a mission to fulfill? The Torah speaks plenty about Avraham's future, but not so much about his past.


I wanted to know why, so I went online and read an article that provides us with and explains an answer. If you want to read it, go to this websitehttp://vbm-torah.org/archive/intparsha71/03-71lekh.htm. 


Rabbi Yaakov Beasley says something we have been discussing ever since we started Bereishet. In the beginning, the hope for the world was that G-d could have a relationship with everyone, and everyone would respect the hierarchy. However, we saw that this simply couldn't happen. When Avraham is introduced, we see a shift from G-d trying to have a relationship with everyone, to G-d choosing an individual to carry out His vision for the world. So why aren't we provided with information about what Avraham did to merit such an honor? Perhaps, says Rabbi Beasley, we are given background information when Hashem deliberates whether or not to inform Avraham of His intention to punish Sedom. The pasuk says, "17 And Hashem said, “Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing; 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, to the end that he will command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice." What made Avraham special was his willingness to inform the world about Hashem.


Another question we had was about why we are told about Terach and his family moving to Canaan, and then in the next parsha we pick up with Avraham being told to leave. Rabbi Beasley provided a passage by Rav Soloveitchik to reconcile the two opinions of Ramban and Ibn Ezra:


Ibn Ezra says that Terach went in response to the divine command that Abraham received from God...  If we accept this interpretation, we can solve another riddle.  Our Sages stated that Terach repented and embraced the new faith his son was preaching...  However, what we miss is the story of Terach’s conversion...  when did it happen?...  According to the Aggada, Terach was the one who informed King Nimrod of Abraham’s abusive and blasphemous treatment of the hallowed images and idols...  Later - I don’t know how long it took - the same Terach saw the light and realized that Abraham was right...  This was a tremendous change in Terach.  What prompted Terach to act so strangely?... Surely the great revolution in Terach’s thinking was precipitated by doubts, soul-searching, and reappraisal.  In a word, it was the transformation of a ba’al teshuva that was responsible for the decision to abandon Ur in Chaldea...  When the command of lekh lekha came and Abraham began to pack his bags, he realized to his great surprise that his father’s bags had already been packed long before.  Father and son, hitherto locked in mortal combat, joined hands and together started out on a great march towards Canaan.  Nachmanides challenges the position taken by Ibn Ezra...  I believe the question can be easily resolved ...  Since he [Abraham] felt obligated to give him respect and to revere him, he made it appear to outsides that the one who had taken the initiative was not himself but Terach...  In spite of his good intentions ...  Terach did not succeed.  He did not reach the destination ...  He had not succeeded in transforming himself totally.  He still had great fears and doubts