Rabbi Sholom Twerski
November 12, 2026
The Rambam writes as an introduction to Hilchos Avodah Zara that the world began to worship the sun, moon, and stars initially as a way of bestowing honor to God Who gave them their powers. With the passing of time, they were worshipped as powers in their own right, and this was the environment that Avraham grew up in.
Avraham was three years old when he began to question the assumptions of the surrounding culture. He had no guide or teacher to direct him. For many years, until he turned 40, he worshipped the same gods that his foolish parents, and indeed, the rest of society, worshipped. At the age of 40, he was completely convinced that the idea of a multiplicity of gods must be false, and he dedicated himself completely to the service of Hashem, trying to get people to understand the errors of their ways and thinking. This ultimately brought him into conflict with the king, Nimrod, who tried to kill him. It was then that he ran to Charan and continued amassing crowds and educating them, until he arrived in Eretz Canaan.
He taught Yitzchok what he had discovered, who in turn taught Yaakov, who passed it down his children, the Shevatim.
The Raavad takes issue with the Rambam in that he claims Avraham was 40 when he turned away from idols and started serving Hashem. The Gemara in Nedarim learns from a verse in this week’s parsha that Avraham was only three when he started listening to Hashem.
עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקֹלִי וַיִּשְׁמֹר מִשְׁמַרְתִּי מִצְוֺתַי חֻקּוֹתַי וְתוֹרֹתָי׃
“Because Abraham heeded My voice and observed My restrictions, My commandments, My rules, and My instructions.”
Avraham lived to 175 and the Gematria of עֵקֶב is 172. Hence, Avraham listened to Hashem for 172 out of the 175 that he lived.
Yet, the Rambam must understand there is some way to explain and understand that Gemara even in light of what he writes.
R’ Uren Reich points out that the Rambam contrasting Avraham with others in his surroundings, calls them “Tipshim- fools”. What made Avraham different than everyone else? Even if he was a genius, that wouldn’t make everyone else stupid!
What made Avraham different was עֵקֶב אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַע אַבְרָהָם בְּקֹלִי- that he listened to Hashem’s voice. There is a Voice of G-d present in Creation. It is faint and almost drowned out by noise and distraction- but it can be heard by those who listen for it. Hashem beckons to each of us to come and discover Him. The voice can be heard in the beauty that surrounds us, the difficulties that challenge us, the yearning of the soul that stirs from within.
What made Avraham’s parents and city foolish was not their IQ. It was their decision to ignore that voice. It was a decision that was made in fear. Fear of what that might mean. Fear that the demands created by that acknowledgment would be difficult to live up to. It was so much easier to create gods that approved of their life choices rather than make life choices that would be approved of by G-d.
For 172 years Avraham listened for Hashem’s voice. It may be that the keeping of His will came only 37 years later. It took that many years of probing, inquiring, and discovering until he reached an understanding. But for all that time, Avraham kept a keen ear attuned to Hashem’s voice and His guidance.
May we all merit to hear Hashem in our life and live according to His will.
Good Shabbos!