Dear Friends,
In our Torah reading this week, we continue telling Abraham’s story. In our Parashat Vayera alone, Abraham stands up to God for the sake of the righteous, he helps his nephew flee from Sodom and Gomorrah, and at the end we read about the Akeidah, the binding of Isaac. Abraham’s journey is a remarkable one filled with ups and downs. He is celebrated for all he accomplished as our patriarch and as a man of faith. But amidst everything he went through, there is a significant piece of Abraham’s journey that is too often overlooked. Abraham was also a soldier; he fought wars against kings like Chedorlaomer, and regularly put his life on the line to fight for and to stand up for what he believed in.
In light of Veterans Day this coming week, I just wanted to take a moment to focus on Abraham’s service. His willingness to put his life on the line for a greater purpose and for the values and faith that he believed is one of his most admirable traits. Those experiences helped to shape him, his nation, and all of us.
I want to thank all of those amongst us who have followed in Abraham’s footsteps. I want to thank all of the veterans amongst us for your willingness to sacrifice, and for having given so much of yourselves to provide all of us with the values and freedom which we too often take for granted.
On this Veterans Day, and every day, may we recognize and appreciate you and your service.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom,
Josh
