 One of the fundamental issues of debate amongst observant Jews regards the degree of openness that one should have with the surrounding culture. Should one ghettoize oneself as we try to avoid the negative and pernicious influences of the outside world? Or must we engage the world about us, influencing it, and being influenced by it, even if it entails some degree of risk? One must weigh many factors in determining an approach to this issue that dates back at least to the time of Abraham.
G-d commanded Abraham to leave his homeland and to settle in the land of Canaan . Apparently G-d deemed it necessary for Abraham to leave his surroundings in order for him to be able to carry out his mission. Many a time a break must be made with the past so that one can work on making a better future. The Land of Canaan though, was inhabited by ten nations, nations that were not all that receptive to Abraham's message of ethical monotheism. Hence Rav Shimson Raphael Hirsch points out that Abraham first settled in Shechem and then in the south of the country. These areas were away from the centers of population of the land. They were purposely chosen by Abraham, as before attempting to convince others of the notion of one G-d he wanted to build a firm foundation of faith for himself away from the influences of the big city.
"And Abraham migrated from there to the land of the Negev and he settled between Kadesh and Shur and he sojourned in Gerar (20:1)." While Kadesh and Shur were sparsely populated rural areas, Gerar was the capital of the Philistine territory, a center of commerce and culture. Why did Abraham move and where exactly did he move to, Kadesh Shur or Gerar ? Rav Hirsch explains that Isaac as the first Jewish child had to grow up in an environment free from influences. The outside temptations for many are just too great. On the other hand it would be equally dangerous, claims Hirsch to have Isaac grow up in complete isolation, never interacting with people who espouse a different set of values. On a practical level such a person is likely to succumb to foreign influences when he finally does encounter them. This is what happened to so many from our grandparents and great grandparents' generation. After living for centuries in hermetically sealed Jewish ghettos they could not cope with the outside world when the ghetto walls came tumbling down and many abandoned Judaism. Exposure to foreign ideas at an early age helps to "immunize" oneself against its possible dangers so that future encounters will not only be free of danger but will actually be productive.
By contrasting our values with those who surround us we are forced to justify our belief system and this can help to strengthen it. Of course by being exposed to others we develop a sense of tolerance and openness. Judaism has always stressed the importance of learning from every single person, even from those whose values we may not share. Exposure to others enables us to learn the positive aspects of their lives.
Abraham Avinu wanted to raise his child in a pristine environment and hence he settled "between Kadesh and Shur" away from corrupting influences. Yet he wanted his son to have the necessary exposure to outside world and hence he sojourned in Gerar.
This approach of Abraham bore fruit. Yitzchak literally followed in the footsteps of his father, settling in the same areas, digging the same wells; he even looked like his father. "And the two of them went togetherh" (22:6&8) both literally and figuratively. What a tribute to both father and son.
We live in a world where it is impossible, nor do I think desirable, to shut ourselves away from the world around us. It is not easy to know where to draw the line between constructive engagement of the outside world and destructive exposure. But we must engage the world and we must guard ourselves against its negative influences. With vigilant efforts and with the help of G-d we will be able to walk that fine line and have our children follow in our footsteps so that we can walk together in the service of G-d. Shabbat Shalom!
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