One of the most disliked character trait or attribute is the aspect of hypocrisy. It is greatly disturbing when people say one thing and do another, or they are not true to their word in different applications. It is especially troubling when we find a great person or leader that seems to contradict himself and appears to be hypocritical.
This seems to be the case with Avram. In the beginning of the Parasha, Avram goes down to Egypt in order to survive the hunger that was in the land of Canaan. He requests from Sari to please say that she is his sister so that they will give us gifts and allow me to live. Yet after the war with the four kings, the King of Sdom tells Avram “keep the money and give me the people.” Avram responds “If so much as a thread or a shoe strap, or if I shall take from anything that is yours, you will say it is I who made Avram rich”. Avram refused to take anything from the king of Sdom. It seems hypocritical here to refuse to take money when he was eager and willing to receive from Paroah in Egypt. Furthermore, the money he would have received from the king of Sdom would have been “clean money,” well deserved as spoils of war, and this he declined. The money and gifts received from Paroah however, were earned through trickery, by deceiving the Egyptians to believe that Sarai was his sister. Why then did Avram indignantly refrain from accepting money from Sdom and take it gladly from Paroah?
Our Rabbis have taught us the concept of מעשה אבות סימן לבנים. The actions of our fathers are a sign for his children. Avram knew that the day will come when his offspring will leave Egypt and they will have to leave with great wealth. Avram’s action pre-empted that such a result would take place. By taking money from Paroah, he ensured that generations later his children too, will leave Mitzrayim laden with treasures. Avram knew that we were never going to have any interaction with Sdom, since it would be destroyed. He therefore did not want to receive not one penny from them. Every action of our father Avram was done to benefit his children in the future.
This is the key to create and secure our own Maaseh Avot. We say at the end of Shachrit ואני זאת בריתי אותם אמר ה.. לא ימוש מפיך ומפי זרעך ומפי זרע זרעך מעתה ועד עולם Paraphrasing: “This shall be my covenant said Hashem, If the Torah will be in a family for 3 generations then the Torah shall stay with that family till the end of time”.
We can insure the continuity of Torah in our offspring by putting in efforts for us, our children and grandchildren, to embrace and study its wisdom. When we do, we are guaranteed that our families will endure and our descendants will remain true to the Torah’s ways. May we see much nachat from our children, Amen.
