Our guide? The ancient Midrash, Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Genesis. Specifically, we're looking at section 39.
"The Lord said to Abram…" That's how the story begins, but Rabbi Berekhya, a sage whose words are preserved in the Midrash, takes us on a detour through the Song of Songs, that most beautiful and enigmatic book of love poetry. “We have a little sister, and she has no breasts…” (Song of Songs 8:8). What’s that got to do with Abraham?
It's all about interpretation. You see, in Jewish tradition, texts often have multiple layers of meaning. Rabbi Berekhya sees Abram as the "little sister," a figure who brought people together in service of God. The Hebrew word for "sister" is aḥot, and Rabbi Berekhya connects it to the word iḥa, meaning "joined together." Isn’t that beautiful? It's a play on words, a way of finding deeper connections.
Bar Kappara offers another image: Abram is like someone sewing up a tear, mending the world. "Little," the Midrash continues, because even when he was young, Abram was accumulating mitzvot (good deeds, commandments) and righteous acts. But here’s the twist: "And she has no breasts…" He wasn't suckled on mitzvot, the Midrash explains. He wasn't raised in a home that fostered belief in God. He had to find his own way.
Think about that. Abraham, the father of monotheism, wasn't born into a believing family. He forged his faith in the face of opposition.
Now, the Song of Songs continues: “What shall we do for our sister on the day that she will be spoken for?” (Song of Songs 8:8). The Midrash connects this to the moment when Nimrod, the tyrannical king, decrees that Abram should be thrown into a fiery furnace for his beliefs. Talk about a high-pressure situation!
The stakes are raised. “If she is a wall, we will build upon her” (Song of Songs 8:9). If Abram stands firm, like a wall, God will build upon him, strengthen him. “And if she is a door [delet], we will decorate her” (Song of Songs 8:9) – but what if he falters? What if he is dal – deficient – in mitzvot? Then, says the Midrash, he will only be supported temporarily, like a decoration.
Imagine Abram standing before God, facing this impossible choice. "Master of the universe," he cries, "I am a wall!" (Song of Songs 8:10). I stand firm. I will not waver.
The Midrash then makes an unexpected leap. "My breasts are like the towers" (Song of Songs 8:10) – this refers to Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. Who are they? They're the three companions of Daniel who were thrown into a fiery furnace by Nebuchadnezzar and emerged unharmed (Daniel 3). The Midrash sees a parallel between their unwavering faith and Abraham's.
“Then I was, in his eyes, as one who finds peace” (Song of Songs 8:10). He entered the furnace in peace and emerged in peace.
So, what does this all mean? It's a powerful message about the importance of standing firm in your convictions, even when the odds are stacked against you. It's about choosing faith over fear, even when facing the fire. And it reminds us that even those who seem small and vulnerable – like a "little sister" – can possess incredible strength and resilience. It's a reminder that our choices, even the small ones, shape who we become and the legacy we leave behind. What "wall" are you building today?