Parshas Noach Rosh Chodesh Mar Cheshvan 5771 10/8/10

Perhaps the most famous episode in the life of Avrohom is his miraculous salvation from the fiery furnace.  If you know the story skip to the next paragraph.  Avram is working in his fathers idol shop.  One day Avram smashes all the idol except one.  He places the hammer in the hand of the one remaining idol. Terach the father returns home to find all of his idols smashed.  He turns to Avram. :"what happened" he asks.  Avram points at the remaining idol.  "he did it" says Avram.  " You fool" Terach exclaims "idols can't move" "then why do you worship them" responds Avram.  Terach complains to the King Nimrod about his sons attitude.  Nimrod sensing a threat to the entrenched relegion demands that Avram recant his beliefs or be thrown into a fiery furnace.  Avram refuses and is thrown into the furnace but miraculously emerges alive.

The story of the fiery furnace is usually the starting point of any discussion about Avram.  The interesting thing is that the story is not told in the Torah.  It is a midrash which is alluded to in the verse and haran died before terach his father Gen. 11 -28 see Rashi there.  Such a major story and it doesn't even appear in the Torah. Now let me ask you another question.  Do you think Avram did the right thing.  If we find that are parents are not living the way we see fit should we smash up their house.  If I go to a relatives house and see an xmas tree should i bring along my gas can and torch it.  Whats next? Fire bombing pornography stores?  Staking out abortion clinics with my high powered rifle?  I don't think that that is considered an acceptable practice  certainly not one I would endorse.  As a matter of fact the Shelah Hakadosh Rabbi Isaiah Horovitz suggests that that is exactly why Avrams episode with the fiery furnace is not found in the Torah.  Since Avram started it all by smashing the idols the Torah doesn't want to offer it as an example of appropriate behavior.  It is a cardinal belief that if confronted with a situation that challenges my faith I must stand firm even to the extent of giving my life.  However i am not allowed to precipitate the situation.  If Hashem requires it I will do it but I don't look for opportunities for martyrdom. 
That being the case we now have another question.  So why did Avram make trouble?  The Shalah Hakadosh feels that it was horaas shaah.  Meaning Avram felt this was an exceptional situation.  There are times that require unusual responses and Avram felt that this was one of them.  Let's picture the situation. Avram was working in an idol shop.  He is living a lie.  'Yes ma'am would you like me to gift wrap your idol?'  'Perhaps you would prefer the one with the bejeweled eyes?'  In his heart he knew it was all false.  What was he to do.  Should he just pretend for the rest of his life or should he break out.  Of course breaking out meant to risk everything.  Certainly the establishment wouldn't tolerate his views.  Generally we don't precipitate confrontation but there are times and you know yours and I know mine, that we have to risk it all for what we believe.  Even though in the identical situation you may lay low I might have to stand up or vica versa. There are times that if we are not prepared to risk it all we will lose it all.  The Torah didn't want to include the story in the written text because then it would become a hard and fast rule. It was therefore left to the oral teaching as a value that is supported by the Torah but whose application varies from person to person and situation to situation. 
May Hashem help us to recognize our challenges and give us the enlightenment to make the appropriate responses.