“Avram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the wealth that they had amassed, and the souls that they had made in Haran; and they set out for land of Canaan.”

(Genesis 12: 5)

Rashi (11th century commentator) explains this strange expression “and the souls that they had made in Haran,” by explaining that it referred to the people that Avram and Sarai converted there - “brought under the wings of the Shechina.”   By bringing these people closer to God, says Rashi, Avram and Sarai had in a sense “made them.”

In the Midrash Rabbah (39:14), Rabbi Leazar, in the name of Rabbi Jose ben Zimra, explains the phrase “and all the souls that they had made,” in a dialogue:

Q: If all the nations of the world assembled to create one insect, they could not endow it with life, and yet it says:  “And the souls that they had made!”

A: It refers, to the proselytes [which they had made].

Q: But if that is true, then it should just say, ‘That they had converted;’why does it say “that they had made?!”

A: That is to teach you that one who brings a non-Jew near [to God] is as though he created him.

This week a story appeared in the news davka about a non-Jewish family – Palestinian actually – that reminded me of Avraham Avinu and his work of making souls in Haran.   A story which has the potential to bring us all closer to God.

The family of Ahmed al-Khatib, who died this week, donated his organs to save the lives of 6 others. Just hearing the list almost moved me to tears. Al-Khatib’s heart was given to a 12-year old girl; his liver was divided in two and given to a 6-month old baby and 56-year old woman; his kidneys were given to a 5-year old boy; and his lungs were given to another 5-year old boy and a 4-year old girl.

Who is Ahmed al-Khatib?   He was a 12 year-old boy who was killed last week by Israeli troops who mistook his toy gun for a real rifle.  Forget for a moment about explaining why we can understand how this terrible mistake could happen (because unfortunately I CAN understand how it could happen).  The bottom line for the family is that they lost their 12 year old son who was playing around - and he was killed by Israeli troops.

So what did the family decide to do?  Send pictures to the world? Begin riots in the streets?  Call for revenge?  Sue for damages?  They did none of these things. They decided to donate his organs to save other Israeli and Palestinian children.

Jamal al-Khatib, the boy’s father explained:  “In our religion, God allows us to give organs to another person and it doesn’t matter who the person is,” he said.  He said he hoped the donations would send a message of peace to Israelis and Palestinians.  The doctor where Al-Khatib had been treated until his death said the boy’s parents decided to donate his organs “to bring hearts closer and bring peace closer.”

Can you even imagine the strength - the courage – the deep goodness this act required!   How the family could even be thinking of bringing hearts closer after such a devastating loss.

It strikes me that this act can serve as a powerful reminder to those of us who forget about the humanity of those who live on the other side of the fence. Of course we know that some Palestinian parents are preparing their kids to become martyrs – I know it. But we too easily lose sight of the fact that some are praying that peace will come soon.

Are there 50 or 45 or 10 righteous people in the city of Jenin where Ahmed was killed? I don’t know. What I can say for certain is that this week, one Palestinian family stared down the darkest chapter of their lives and came up with one bold act of kindness.  If all the nations of the world assembled to create one insect they could not endow it with life.   Yet the Al-Kahtib family gave six lives a new chance.

Our ancestors Avram and Sarai made souls in Haran. How did they convert them?  They would invite people in to their home, give them to eat and to drink. They showed them acts of loving-kindness and brought them closer to God.

(Sifri, Va’etchanan)

And in response to the father Jamal Al-Khatib and his family’s gift of life given at Ahmed’s death - we should be inspired and we should be humbled. But most of all we too must be converted by this bold act of loving-kindness.

For us, we must be converted to the idea that Abraham’s challenge to God – to not sweep away the innocent along with guilty – can be our challenge well.  For the Palestinians, may the Al-Khatib convert others to see the humanity of the Israeli. May both nations learn to grieve the loss of innocent life on both sides of the fence. And may the Al-Khatib name be made great and a blessing – for us all.

I had thought to end in a personal prayer that years from now when the young Israelis who were saved by the donated organs become soldiers, their memory of the Al-Khatib family’s act of loving-kindness would restrain them – give them pause – before shooting another child in Jenin.

But you know what?  It was an accident, a terrible, tragic accident.  I think it more appropriate that the prayer we must hold in our hearts – the only prayer that will bring us closer to the wings of the Shechina – is that years from now, the Palestinian heart beating in our Israeli soldier won’t have to serve in Jenin in the first place.

Recent Articles by Rabbi Paul Aberman

• Toledot: Fearing our fellow man and fearing God - November 24th, 2006
• Lekh-Lekha: Acts of Conversion-Save the Life of My Child - November 11th, 2005
• Rabbi Paul Arberman - August 3rd, 2004

Categories: Lekh-Lekha
Tags: Bo, Emor, fen, fence, hearing, human rights, palestinians, peace, rest, settlers