Personalities: Avraham
by Zalman
The forefathers are referred to as a merkavah, a chariot for G-d, meaning that every step they took was in complete accordance with G-d’s will. This was possible because their entire self was entirely dedicated to G-d. This, however, didn’t detract from their particular personalities, and it is for this reason that each of the forefathers represent a different spectrum of G-d’s attributes, directly corresponding to their own temperament.
What’s more, the Gemara states that all Jewish people possess three qualities: humility, empathy, and generosity. These qualities are inherited from the forefathers, with each one contributing a different quality. It turns out that each of the forefathers specifically contributed the quality that most represented their own temperament.
Avraham is famously cited in Chassidus as representing the right path — meaning the expansive path — of the sefirot, which include chochmah, chessed, and netzach. There is even a midrash that states that G-d’s attribute of chessed complained that it has nothing to do since Avraham entered the world. In this way, Avraham was an Artisan, embodying such traits as tactical intellect and creativity in action, generosity, impact, influence, spontaneity, audacity and boldness. Let’s take a look:
Tactical intellect and creativity in action: Avraham famously manipulated and strong-armed people into blessing G-d, by giving them meals and lodging in middle of the desert, and then charging them exorbitant prices for these services. For his guests, the only way out of paying was for them to bless G-d. To Avraham, the thought and emotion of the guest didn’t matter much, it was the action of blessing that was deemed important.
Another anecdote well expressing Avraham’s tactical intellect was when he taught his city about G-d… by destroying his father’s entire inventory of idols and fabricating an elaborate tale to prove his point. He claimed that the idols had begun fighting over who should receive an offering he had presented them. The largest idol, Avram claimed, had picked up a hammer and smashed the lot of them. His point? Idols cannot see, hear, speak, or think, much less protect their worshipper. The aftermath of this spectacle highlighted another aspect of Avraham’s expansive temperament, as we shall see.
Generosity: One need not search long for Avraham’s generosity. His home was famously open in each direction, to welcome in wayfarers. He would treat all with the utmost hospitality, no matter their origins or beliefs. The Torah recounts that he once slaughtered three choice calves to serve three guests whom he’d never met previously.
When Avraham heard that his estranged nephew Lot had been captured in an epic battle, he magnanimously set off to rescue him. Upon return from battle, Avraham declared that he would not take even a shoelace from the spoils, rather he would give them back to the captives.
Later in life, after the Torah testifies that “G-d had blessed Avraham with everything,” Avraham signed away every last of his possessions to his son, Yitzchak, to give him a better chance at marrying the right girl.
Impact and influence: Avraham was widely recognized in his time as a leader of the generation. This was in part due to his elaborate displays of faith, which included many miracles, as well as his talking to and convincing others, authoring and publishing books on monotheism, and more.
After Avraham’s miraculous salvation from a fiery furnace, he convinced an entire city of idolaters, the infamous Nimrod among them, to accept Hashem as the only true G-d.
When Avraham threw a party for his newborn son, Yitzchak, all the Kings, noblemen and leaders of the period were there to celebrate with him. When Avraham expressed his intent to purchase a field from a commoner, his people immediately promoted him to a position of honor.
Spontaneity: Virtually everything Avraham did was spontaneous. He destroyed his father’s idols, and as a result was thrown into a fiery furnace. Mind you, this was even before G-d had revealed Himself to Avram, promising to protect him. Avram up and left his house on a moment’s notice, even though he had no idea of the destination. He circumcised himself at ninety nine years of age. The Torah is specific in describing Avraham’s eagerness and hastiness in fulfilling G-d’s command — waking up early in the morning, and saddling his donkey — even if that meant slaughtering his own son.
Yes, many of these were at the behest of G-d. However, first of all, G-d didn’t specify that Avram act with haste and seeming spontaneity. And besides, the fact that G-d asked Avraham to do these things, and not someone else, emphasizes how temperamentally suited to these tasks Avraham was.
Audacity and boldness: Many of the points we mentioned already describe Avraham’s audacity. The fact that he was alone in his beliefs, completely against the prevalent tide. As a mere youth, he faced off against the most powerful person of his time, Nimrod, daring him to punish Avram for his “errant” beliefs. Avraham went to battle against four mighty armies with but a handful of servants, a tactical plan, and some sand.
In the end, Avraham is the most obvious representation of what we know as the Artisan, the expansive type, and it is therefore fitting that we inherit from him the wonderful attribute of generosity.
Jewish Temperament 