Translation Into Life

When Abraham comes to the Land of the Philistines, he feels he must protect himself from the lawless and immoral inhabitants, taking several unusual measures in order to help insure his safety, including claiming that Sarah was his sister, so that he would not be murdered in order to steal his wife. When asked why he did this, he provides several explanations, including that he had arranged with Sarah at the beginning of his wanderings, to support his claim in this regard. "When G-d made me wander from my Father's house..." The traditional Aramaic translation of the Torah, written by Onkelos, a Roman nobleman who had given up everything in order to convert to Judaism, reads "When the Nations strayed after the works of their own hands (idols), G-d brought me to His fear..." The great eleventh century commentator, Rashi, writes "Onkelos translated the way he translated", but proceeds to explain the verse in a more literal way. This is generally understood to mean that he didn't think that Onkelos' translation was giving the actual, simple meaning. However, there is another understanding here that is mentioned in our literature. "Onkelos translated the way he translated" means that Onkelos had translated theory into action. "When nations strayed after the works of their own hands..." was the story of HIS nation, his family, indeed, himself at a younger age. But "G-d brought me to His fear..." is expressing his thankfulness. Now, although he had given up fame and fortune, family and friends, he was grateful that he had come to know the one true G-d.
Yes, we are meant to live according to the Torah. But we each must know how to translate it into our lives, within the guidelines of G-d's commandments. We each have a story, and that story must be itself a commentary on the Torah. We each must "translate it the way we translate it".

The Burgher and Us

In Rabbi Nachman's story, the Burgher and the Pauper (one of my favorites!), we learn of a rich businessman, known as a burgher, who lives upstairs from a pauper.  The pauper is poor in spirit as well as in money, but has a very kind, generous wife. The wife is one day kidnapped by a general, and is under great pressure to submit to his desires. The burgher, recklessly, goes to the general's palace, bursts in, and rescues the pauper's wife. Both had been childless, but now are rewarded with a son for the burgher, and an incredibly beautiful daughter for the pauper. She is so beautiful, talented and kind, that nobles want to make matches with her. Since it would not be fitting for them to marry the daughter of a pauper, they use their connections to raise his station, until he becomes emperor of the world! But his wife, now the Empress, had promised the daughter's hand in marriage to the son of the burgher! The Emperor will not hear of it, and begins to persecute both the burgher and his son. It's a very long story, but the son of the burgher is saved from death by the efforts of the Empress, and winds up on a desert island. The beautiful princess, urged on by the Empress, refuses to marry anyone but the now lost son of the burgher. After many trials and tribulations, and much anger and frustration on the part of the young man, the princess (disguised as a man), and the Emperor (now deposed) wind up on the same island. Eventually, all are reconciled. The Emperor is forgiven,. and the couple marry, ruling the world together.
This story is understood as relating to the Mashiach (Messiah), and the role of Jews and non-Jews in this drama. The word "burgher" in Yiddish has a double meaning. It means "business man", but it also m,ans "Mountains". Abraham is described as "going up into the mountain" to pray and offer sacrifice. The Talmud refers to Abraham as "the Mountain". When Lot is rescued from Sodom, he is told to flee into the mountain. The rabbis interpret this to mean "in the merit of Abraham" who is called "Mountain". Through Lot's incestual relations with his daughters, the nations of Ammon and Moab are born, two of the worst enemies of the Children of Israel. What?!?! Abraham's merit was used for this?!?! But wait. From Moab comes Ruth, the ancestress of King David, and of the future Mashiach!
The story of the Burgher and the Pauper is about the interrelationship of Jews and Gentiles. The Pauper is mean and cruel, symbolizing the unspeakable horrors of millenia of persecution. But his wife is kind and good. There are, in every nation, in every culture, great and noble traits. These are destined to unite with Jewish culture, bringing about a new renaissance of mankind. But the Messianic promise can only be fulfilled when there is reconciliation; a recognition on the part of the Nations of the unique mission of Israel, and on the part of the Jews, to welcome those aspects of world culture, those sparks of good that are in all nations and people, and to welcome them into G-d's covenant.
There is a verse in Psalms "I found David My servant..." The rabbis ask "where did He find him? In Sodom". The "sparks" are lying, as yet , concealed, waiting to be elevated and brought back to the Source of all.

Covenant-Contract

Abraham was commanded by G-d to circumcise himself, his sons, and all males in his household. He is told that it will be "a sign between Me and your seed". This is called in the Torah a "Brit", a covenant, a sign between Abraham's house and G-d of a very special relationship. It is the visible sign that a special contract of a unique relationship exists between Abraham's house, and the Eternal.
According to rabbinic tradition, Abraham, being a prophet, knew and observed all the commandments of G-d before they were revealed. This raises the question of why wasn't he ALREADY circumcised before he received a command from G-d to do so? The answer usually given is "Gadol hametzuveh..." greater is the merit of one who has been commanded to do something, thus fulfilling G-d's Will, than one who does the same act as a private devotion. Most of the mitzvot (commandments) were given to Moses centuries later. Abraham perceived them by prophecy, and did them. But he knew that this precious commandment of circumcision-Brit, was destined to be given to him by G-d himself, therefore he waited.
Once, I attended a Brit ceremony, afterwards I got on a bus in order to go to work. A neighbor who had also attended the Brit, a good pious Jew, but not a scholar, asked me if I knew the reason why Abraham had not circumcised himself earlier. I gave the above explanation. He said "I never heard that. But here's another explanation.A Brit is a covenant; a contract. There is no such thing as a one sided contract!" The words hit me like a ton of bricks. Of course! That was it! A contract must be two sided! The covenant expressed through circumcision means not only that I have chosen G-d, but that G-d has chosen me! That I love G-d is wonderful, but how much more wonderful that He loves me back! Since hearing this explanation, some twenty five years ago,  I have repeated it to many people.All who heard it were deeply moved.
There was recently in the news an item about a woman (in England) who married...herself. She even kissed her image in a mirror at the end of the "wedding" ceremony. Most people who saw this item saw it not as romantic, but bizarre.Weddings are about the celebration of two people who love each other, thereby finding happiness and fulfillment. A one-sided wedding is a joke. Similarly, when coming to Torah, we must be aware that we are entering a very special relationship with G-d. When we do a mitzvah, we are essentially expressing our love and commitment to G-d. But the even more important realization is that through the mitzvah, G-d is expressing his covenant-his love and commitment, to us.