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Dvar Torah

By Abby Chesir

 

In this week’s Parsha, we read about Avram recognizing Hashem as the One G-d, and how Avram left the idol worshippers of his surroundings.  Avram's own father, Terach, had worshipped idols.  The Midrash says that Avram was afraid of suffering in life until Hashem told him that Iyov (Job) was born.

 

Qustion:  What does this Midrash teach us?

 

Our Sages explain that if someone is a tzaddik ben tzaddik (a righteous person is a son of a righteous person) this guarantees a good life, but if someone is a tzaddik ben rasha (righteous person is a son of a wicked person), this means even such a tzaddik may suffer in life.  However, the Torah tells us that a child is not punished for his father's sins, so how can a tzaddik ben rasha be subject to punishment for his father's mistakes? 

 

It's true, a child is not punished for his father's sins.  But a tzaddik ben rasha doesn't have to mean someone who is the PHYSICAL son of a rasha, rather it can mean if a tzaddik received the GILGUL (inherited recycled soul) of a rasha.  Thus, Avram thought since his father was a rasha, he himself would be considered a "tzaddik ben rasha" and subject to suffering in life.  Hashem told him that Iyov was born, and that Iyov inherited Terach's soul. Thus, Iyov is the "tzaddik ben rasha" so Iyov would be the one to suffer in order to repair Terach's soul, but Avram would be off the hook.

 

Source: From Rabbi Lasar and Chanukas HaTorah

Volume 2 Issue 4 11/6/08