As a society we tend to be wary of someone whose greatness is inherited rather than earned. I have heard wealthy people, whose riches were bequeathed to them, cynically referred to as PHD = Papa had dough. The same for positions of power or other areas of greatness that are not earned but rather inherited. While there may be some validity to the wariness in some instances, certainly this is not the case across the board. There are many who take what they inherited and work hard to maintain or even grow those assets. This is not an easy task and can be regarded as an achievement worthy of admiration.
As Jews we had a very “wealthy” grandfather named Avraham. He achieved the pinnacle of success on so many levels. He was also generous in that he bequeathed all of his greatness to his descendants. Accomplishments that came to Avraham through lifelong effort, we inherit as a matter of course. Yet being a successful heir to greatness is not a walk in the park. Living up to and maintaining that greatness requires hard work and a life of commitment. Let’s take a peek at some the things that Avraham bequeathed to us – the Jewish people.
From Avraham we inherit:
· A mighty faith in Hashem and His ways in the face of overwhelming challenges.
· A commitment to kindness and generosity to those that are needy.
· A burning desire to share the principles and morals of a life devoted to serving G-d with others.
· A willingness to stand up for what is right even at the risk of personal peril.
· A powerful love for G-d and fellow man that defines all life decisions.
· A dedication to Hashem that is greater and more compelling than life itself.
These treasures of Emunah, Chesed, Mesirut Nefesh, Ahavah and so forth make up the wealth that we inherit from our father Avraham. So you be cynical and call us PHDs. But we know that living up to being worthy of these treasures requires much effort and lifelong commitment. At the same time, we must acknowledge how lucky we are to have been given this amazing heritage and, more importantly, take advantage of it to the fullest degree.
Chabad of Dorval, Quebec is directed by Rabbi Shmuel and Rivky Kaufmann. Shmuel is a New Orleanian, son of Dr. David and Nechama Kaufmann. They have launched a Mitzvah drive in merit of Dr. David Kaufmann. To participate please go to www.jewishdorval.com/2749778. May Hashem grant Dovid Yisrael Ber ben Freida Gisha a complete and speedy recovery!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin