Abraham and Lot

Last weekend, I found myself in a discussion about high school reunions. I have not attended any of my high school reunions and had myself removed from the school's call list shortly after graduating. It's nothing against the school or my classmates; I just have no interest in seeing most of the 800+ people in my graduating class and the ones I do care to see, I've kept in touch with. I live 700 miles from my hometown. I left for educational and professional opportunities and at this point I have no intention of moving back. I've stayed in touch with some family and friends who are still in the area, but I've drifted apart from others.

How do we choose with whom we remain in touch and which relationships we let slide?

This week we read parsha Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27). There is a lot to unpack in this portion, some of which I've discussed on this blog before. This year, however, I want to focus on the relationships between Abraham and his family.

Midrash tells us that Abraham's father was an idol maker and that when Abraham was a young man, he was left in charge of his father's shop, where he mocked the customers and smashed the idols. When God came to Abraham and told him to go forth from his home to a new land, Abraham left and never returned. He and his wife, Sarah, along with his nephew, Lot, traveled together throughout the region until they had both amassed too many flocks, servants, and herders to share the same land peacefully. After some arguments among their herders over land use, Abraham and Lot decided to part ways amicably. Later, when Lot was taken captive during war, Abraham rallied his men on a successful rescue mission.

Unlike when Abraham left his family at the beginning of the parsha, the separation of Abraham and Lot did not mark an end to their interaction. Did Abraham actively avoid contact with his father after he left or did they just drift apart? Why did Abraham and Lot remain close, despite their competition for land? Why have I remained close with some people over time despite great distances between us, while allowing other relationships to lapse?

Abraham charging into battle after his nephew is a big gesture, an obvious display of affection. This week, I'm wondering who I would charge into battle for and who I could take just five minutes to call as a small, but important touch point of ongoing relationship building.

Shabbat Shalom.