I heard this from a friend of mine, Drew Tik (I mention him because it is always good to name your sources).  This week we read about Noah and the flood, followed by the tower of Babel, followed by being introduced to Abram.  Why was the tower story put in between the two?  Noah, in Hebrew means to rest;  so, Noah was a laid back kind of guy.  Ok, he did what god told him to do, but outside of that, he really didn’t want much to do with god.  Just give him a nice glass of wine, and Noah was happy.  So, what happens?  Noah get stuck for a year on the ark where he cannot get away from god, and it is a really intense experience.  Hence, the first thing he does, when he gets off the boat, is to make wine and get trashed.  Now the makers of the tower are his descendents, and being in the land that will be Israel, they hear god all the time (it is assumed that prophecy can only take place in the holy land).  Being Noah’s descendents, they get tired of constantly hearing god talk, and so they take off to the east in search of respite.  They find it in a little valley where they set up a city.  After awhile of not hearing god, they start to think they are as good as god, and they start to build a tower to challenge god.  God, seeing this says, “I don’t think so,” and scatters them and gives them all different languages.

Now what does this have to do with Abram?  Well, these folks challenging god, are saying they want an intense interaction with god, but on their terms.  This is not the way to have a relationship.  To have a relationship, be it with god, or anyone/anything, you need to do it on mutually acceptable terms.  Abram comes along and says, “God, I want to have a relationship with you.  Where are you?”  God answers him by saying, “Go into yourself (lech l’cha in Hebrew) and there you will find the means to have a relationship with me.”

To find out what happens next, you’ll have to come back next week (or simply read next week’s Torah portion:  Lech L’cha).   Have a good week everybody.

About the Author

Shmuel Shalom Cohen spent 10 years studying Torah in Jerusalem. Six years ago, he started Conscious Torah to help Jews connect to their tradition in ways they didn’t think possible. Shmuel also started, and is the executive directory of Jewish Events Willamette-valley, a non-profit whose mission is to build Jewish community, pride, and learning. In his free time, Shmuel likes walks in nature, playing music, writing poetry, and time with good friends.