Have a little faith

What was the catalyst that caused Abraham to reject the belief system of the entire world and the lifestyle of his upbringing to embrace monotheism?

The Midrash tells us that Abraham looked around and saw cities being consumed: consumed by the chase, but never satisfied. He noticed them “burning”: he observed the quest for “more”, passion and desire -always searching, but the yearning was never satiated.

He realized that there must be more. That there was a reason that despite the constant pursuit, no one was ever fulfilled. It did not matter how much they attained: they were always yearning.

Abraham introduced the world to a new concept. One that challenged the very structure of society. He proposed that there was more to life than the material pursuit, that the reason we are searching, attaining, but not satisfied, is that we are looking for the wrong things. That physical pleasure and accomplishments will never fulfill the yearning of the soul.

He introduced faith – the belief in spirituality. In the soul. The soul of the world, the person, and all creations.

Abraham switched the mindset for generations to come and changed the conversation from “the pursuit” to “the pursuit of meaning”.

Shabbat Shalom, wishing you a meaningful Shabbat!