NO GOOD DEED GOES UNREWARDED

World altering events are not necessarily are as obvious as the flood which fundamentally changed life on the planet. Sometimes, subtle actions have far reaching effects.

11:28 relates that Haran Avraham’s younger brother died at Ur Chasdim. Rashi Z’L ZY’A as well as Targum Yonaton Ben Uziel ZY’A offers a remarkable back story.

Terach & Sons were idol manufactures as alluded to in the Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 38:13 and End of Tana Di Bei Eliyahu and their various forms of worship. Avraham by advocating Monotheism was deviating from custom and tradition. Avraham was putting forth a revolutionary idea, one which threatened the status quo. Terach therefore denounced his son to Nimrod to suppress Avraham’s radical ideas.

Avraham persisted in his faith against virtually all humanity and was cast in to a stoked furnace. The furnace’s fire symbolized the object of Nimrod’s devotion.

The image is dramatic, a clash of cultures symbolized by Avraham inside the Nimrod’s furnace. Haran who was known as a wizard and sorcerer understood there exists impure powers as well as pure powers that control the natural world. Haran seeing his older brother in the furnace decides “If Avraham survives I will follow him” On the other hand “If however Avraham burns to a crisp, I will follow Nimrod” Avraham survives, being rescued miraculously by the A-mighty.

Those assembled wondered whether Avraham lived through the flames because Haran place a charm or spell to protect his brother. At that moment a D-vine fire engulfed and consumed Haran according to the Targum Yonatan Rashi and the Midrashim seem to assert that Haran was challenged which side was he on. Once declaring his loyalty to Avraham’s faith he was cast in the same furnace and burned.

Either way this is fascinating, Haran doubts of faith are allayed by Avraham’s miraculous rescue. Haran knew what he saw was not magic but miracle. Haran knew what transpired. Evidently, Haran was the only one who understood what had taken place. No one else present changed their mind, instead the conventional wisdom, the zeitgeist prompted alternative interpretations not matter how farfetched as long as it preserved the existing status quo.

The commentary on Targum Yonatan claims Haran did not merit a miraculous rescue as his faith was not a deep as Avraham. Yet, the from the Targum Yonatan it would seem Haran was taken to demonstrate that Avraham’s deliverance was not the product of wizardry but the manifestation of G-D’s providential rule.

The Oznaim L’Torah ZY’A notes despite Haran’s lack of whole hearted devotion like his brother Avraham he still merited to father Sarah Our Mother A’H.

After all the Thisrei holidays with their various modes of worship comes the month of Marcheshvon which has no holy days. After all the intensity of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the joy of Succoth culminating in the intimacy of Shemini Atzeret and Shimchat Torah to be left with nothing is daunting if not devastating. The month is therefore called bitter, Mar Cheshvon. Rabbi Yissachar Dov of Belz ZTVK’L ZY’A offers an alternative interpretation that even after all the effort expended in prayer during Tishrei the murmur, marchashin of prayer continues during the following month hence name Marcheshvan.

Haran’s act of faith is imperfect but it is none the less sincere and recognized and rewarded by G-D with a profound reward, Sara his daughter is the mother of all Jewry. How encouraging ! One may doubt how much was really accomplished during the Tishrei season. Was one’s repentance enough? Is the renewed relationship with G-D and Torah really infused with enough vitality to carry throughout the year? Haran’s example shows even if one is imperfect their effort is still valued and cherished by G-D. Continue murmuring in prayer, continue reaching out, positive actions have positive effects.