Beraishis 14E – Avraham as a Neighbor Who Maintained his Unique Character

In 14:13 Avraham is called Avraham “the Ivri” – “the one who came from the other side” “the one who stands aside,” in opposition to the rest of the world. (Based on Beraishis Rabbah 42:8)

He is also called a שכן – a neighbor. Just as was explained above (9:27) the inner meaning of the word shachen is one who lives peacefully and in close proximity to others but does not get absorbed by the other.

Avraham was now living alongside his Amorite neighbors. He was friendly with them but separate. It was their territory and Avraham was invited to be an ally, because he was a respected personality and an asset for them to have him as an ally. They took the initiative and invited him, the stranger, to their covenant with him.

Avraham’s conduct should serve as a model for his descendants throughout the generations, as long as they live in a land not theirs:

A Jew should conduct himself as a Jew, loving peace, and should not interfere with affairs, and attend to Israel’s needs. The result will be that the other peoples will seek to enlist him as an ally – not vice versa. Every person of purity will recognize that true, complete Judaism is the most perfect conception of humanity – not vice versa. For the concept “Jew” is broader than the concept “man.”* A Jew need only be a Jew, in the full and complete sense of the word. If he behaves in that manner, then, although he will only be a shachen, “neighbor”, he will win the esteem of the other peoples, and they will enlist him in the covenant.

Avraham did not purchase this alliance relationship at the cost of abandoning his own calling.

*RSRH discusses this concept in many places, coining the term “Mensch-Yisroel.” This is the Title of Volume 8 of the Collected Writings. (See link in the “Concepts” tab for more. GS)

Beraishis 14:13
pages 333-334