Timeless Torah

Abraham, in order to realize his destiny as the father of the children of Israel, was faced with the difficult challenge of leaving all that was familiar and beginning a trek to the unknown. Though promised wealth, leadership, and fame for making this sojourn, the verse testifies, “Avrom went because Hashem had spoken to him.” That was his sole motive.
Abraham’s nephew also made the trip, as it says, “And Lot went with him.” He too sacrificed the comforts of his land, birthplace, and home in order to accompany his uncle. Indeed, Lot’s willingness to face the rigors of travel seems to be greater than his uncle’s. After all he wasn’t specifically commanded by G-d to do so. And yet, Lot’s sojourn ended in calamity.
Why did the joint adventure of these two end so dramatically differently? It started with something trivial. Muzzles. Abraham’s shepherds made certain that their master’s sheep were muzzled, thus unable to graze on other people’s lands. Lot’s shepherds were not as scrupulous. Ultimately, a disagreement among the hired hands became a point of contention between the owners themselves.

Abraham saw the need to be honest. Lot saw a quick buck. He had hitched his wagon to his famous and successful uncle. As such, he did not leave home, “Because Hashem had spoken.” Therefore, as soon as Abraham began crimping Lot’s economic creativity, he bolted the wagon train for the fertile lands that bordered the corrupt city of Sodom. The ultimate end of Lot’s foray into Sodom occurred when angels sent to destroy the city warned Lot, “Escape with your life.” Nothing else: no sheep, no cattle, no stocks, no bonds. All that he took was he himself.

There is a story of a man sent to a psychiatrist on his family’s insistence. “What does your family think is wrong?” the doctor asked.
“They think I’m meshuggeh because I like pancakes,” he answered.
“That’s absurd!” exclaimed the psychiatrist, “There’s nothing wrong with liking pancakes. I too like pancakes!”

The man’s eyes brightened with joy. “You do? Then you must come over. I have suitcases full of pancakes.”
The insanity of collecting crates of pancakes is obvious. Pancakes are meant to satisfy one’s hunger. Collecting them without regard to their appropriate utilization is insanity. In other words, insanity is when something which is a means, becomes an end unto itself. Expanding on this theme, let’s agree that the purpose of money is a means to acquire goods or services to satisfy one’s needs. When one continues to amass wealth over and beyond one’s foreseeable needs it enters the realm of insanity. (But then aren’t we all a little meshuggeh in this area?)

Lot’s persona as a money-hungry opportunist was recognized by his peers, which is why his fellow Sodomites elected him as a judge. In fact, this reputation of Lot’s is how he was perceived, not just by friends, but even by enemies. Concerning the prisoners of war taken by the victorious four kings, the Torah relates, “And they captured Lot and his possessions, the nephew of Abraham...for he (Lot) was living in Sodom.” This awkwardly written sentence contains a misplaced modifier. The ‘correct’ way to write this verse would seem to be, “They took Lot, the nephew of Abraham, and his property...” What is the Torah trying to convey by constructing the sentence in this unseemly fashion?
During World War Two, the family of the Beis Av fled their home, and made their way to Vienna along with many other refugees. Later, there was a rumor that the S.S. was about to enter Vienna. The Beis Av’s father decided to leave, even though it meant ditching everything. Many tried to dissuade him, telling him that things would be alright and urged him not to cause a panic by fleeing. The Beis Av’s father refused to listen to their arguments and escaped Vienna.

They survived. Those who remained, however, were taken away to concentration camps and killed. What prevented the others from leaving? Their property. When faced with the specter of losing either their lives or their life’s savings, people try to convince themselves that everything will turn out well.
This strange phenomena, the Talmud says affects many to whom their, “Money is more dear to them than their lives.” (Brachos 61b) The awkward sentence structure reveals that Lot was such an individual.
This is also why the Torah adds, “And Lot was living in Sodom.” This is not a lesson in ‘Jewish Geography’, but an explanation as to why Lot was in Sodom in the first place. Opportunity! One could make a good living in Sodom. This defined Lot’s character as the verse emphasizes, “Lot and his property, the nephew of Abraham.” His yichus (lineage and pride) was first and foremost, his money. Only as an afterthought, was he also, “The nephew of Abraham.”

As hard as people may work for their money, they must retain perspective and not confuse the trivial for the important. Too many have paid the ultimate price for that blunder, including Lot.

Where do we stand? Are we meshuggeh or sane?