CBI Blogs

October 1, 2024/28 Elul 5784
Rabbi Eric Linder

After settling in the land of Canaan, Abraham and his nephew Lot found great success. In fact, they amassed so much wealth that even their animals began to compete over land and resources

The Torah tells us that Abraham approached his nephew. Please let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brethren (Genesis 13:8).

He proposed a solution:

Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if you take the left, then I will go to the right; if you go to the right, then I will go to the left (Genesis 13:9).

Until recently, I saw this story as one of reconciliation and peace. But now, I find it tragically sad, reflecting an unfortunate reality of our world.

Even in 5784, thousands of years after Abraham and Lot walked this relatively uninhabited Earth, there are still ample resources for humanity. And more than 300 days after October 7, we would consider ourselves fortunate if Palestinians and Israelis could come to the kind of compromise as Abraham and Lot.

But that is not peace. Peace is not deciding: You go your way, I'll go mine. Peace is the realization that your way is mine. I pray that this is the kind of peace that we continue to strive for.