The Burning Palace

How did the Jewish faith begin?

The Midrash describes the birth of Judaism with a cryptic parable:

A man was going from place to place when he saw a palace in flames. He wondered: "Could it be that the palace has no owner?" The owner looked out and said, "I am the owner of the palace." So Abraham, our father, said, "Is it possible that the world lacks a ruler?" G‑d looked out and said, "I am the ruler, the King of the universe."

Abraham's confusion is clear. This sensitive human gazes at a brilliantly structured universe. He is awed by the sunset and by the miracle of childbirth; he marvels at the loud ocean waves and the silent, steady beat of the human heart. The world is indeed a palace.

But the palace is in flames. The world is full of bloodshed and strife. Thugs, abusers, kidnappers, and killers are constantly ruining the palace, turning our world into an ugly, tragic battlefield of untold pain and horror.

What happened to the owner of the palace? Abraham cries. Why does G‑d allow man to destroy His world? Why does He permit such a beautiful palace to go up in flames? Could G‑d have made a world only to abandon it? Would anyone build a palace and then desert it?

What is the meaning of G‑d's response, 'I am the ruler, the King of the universe'?

Note that the owner of the palace does not try to escape the burning building or stop the flames. He just says that He is the owner of the palace that is burning down. It is as if, instead of racing out, the owner called for help. G‑d made the palace, man set it on fire, and only man can put out the flames. Abraham asks G‑d, "Where are you?" G‑d replies, "I am here, where are you?" Man asks G‑d, "Why did You abandon the world?" G‑d asks man, "Why did you abandon Me?"

Thus began the revolution in Judaism - our brave quest to extinguish the flames of immorality and bloodshed and restore the world to the peaceful, sacred palace it was meant to be. Abraham's encounter with G‑d at a burning palace gave birth to Judaism's mission statement: to be obsessed with good and horrified by evil.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!

Light Shabbat candles: Friday, 5:35 PM (NYC)