Parshat Lekh Lekha

At the beginning of Parshat Lekh Lekha, HaShem said to Avram to go forth from his current location where he would do Kiruv and raise his future son in a holy way. Avram has a connection to G-d even though he wasn’t practicing “Judaism”…The “ists” and “isms” were not the forefront of what it meant to be a Jew in the times of the forefathers. The followers of Avram were being taught about HaShem and his commandments (the 7 Noahide laws), but it wasn’t the mere knowledge of HaShem that made them part of the Kehillah that Avram was forming through his Kiruv. He was teaching his students about the concept and lifestyle necessary to be within a community driven by the objective morality given to us by HaShem.

Judaism can not be seen as just a theology or a philosophy. To be a Jew, you can’t merely believe in Ha-Kadosh Baruch-Hu. By that logic, Noaḥ Ha-Tzadik would be a Jew, and do not forget Adam Ha-Rishon, Khava, Cain, and Hevel who had direct interactions with their Creator. 

Being part of the Bnei Noaḥ is a concept that pre-exists the Jewish nation. Noaḥ Ha-Tzadik   (נח הצדיק) had a covenant (ברית) with G-d. It was a ברית שלום – “covenant of “peace”. The 7 Mitzvos apply to all the nations of the world. It is, in no way, an add on to “Judaism”. In fact, it should be seen as the opposite. The Jewish nation has an additional “covenant” that goes beyond the pre-existing covenant of peace.

Becoming a Yid means joining the one, holy nation under G-d –  fulfilling the responsibilities that come with this relationship whether it be through the building of a Jewish family or being careful of how we speak to others, we have divine obligations that unite our people in the right direction. They move us away from the impurities of the world. The convert is one who made the decision to abstain from his original nation. Thus, getting closer to Ha-Qadosh Barukh-Hu. The Geir Tzedek (גר צדק) took another step and went the extra mile in order to satisfy this relationship.

Unlike the wicked people of Sodom, we lived a lifestyle that would pull us away from such evil. The Sodomites looked down upon Tzedakah (צדקה). They were selfish individuals. For the soul, צדקה creates connection with people. The act of giving establishes connections with people. The self-serving behavior of the Sodomites led them down a path where they would engage in all sorts of immoralities. They did not have Yiras Shamayim; they were only benefiting the Guf. Our path in life deters us away from the evil and dystopic side of humanity. 

Hashem changed the name of Avram to Avraham (adding a “hei” to his name). Avraham Avinu went with his students out of an evil land to start a new life elsewhere. He gave up the impure rituals that took place in his hometown. He would eventually be the father of many prominent nations in the world. The Nation of Israel would not exist today if they dwelled in the same communities of wicked people and adopted their customs. Therefore, it was, is, and will be necessary to go out of the mainstream to be Shomer Mitzvos in order to be closer to HaShem.