Jewish academic and Hebrew scholar Irene Lancaster reflects on lessons from Abraham and the significance of something as small as a dot.
What does a tiny dot symbolize? This seemingly insignificant mark becomes the focal point of a recent sermon shared by a rabbi during Remembrance Sunday, which this year falls on the same day as Kristallnacht, the night in 1938 when the German pogrom against Jews went unchallenged. November 11 also marks Armistice Day.
The Shabbat reading, Vayera (Genesis 18:1 – 22:24), recounts: ‘And the Lord appeared to him [Abraham] by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he sat at the tent opening in the heat of the day.’ At 99, Abraham had recently undergone circumcision as part of a covenant with God—a significant ordeal.
‘And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing over/by him. And when he saw, he ran to meet them … ’ Despite his pain, Abraham prioritized hospitality.
Yet, the strangers asked a curious question: ‘Where is Sarah, your wife?’ Their inquiry hinted at their identity. In the Hebrew Bible, dots first appeared above letters, inserted by the early Massoretes as cantillation markers. These dots suggest the strangers were special, as was Sarah. The strangers were, in fact, angels, and they foretold Sarah’s miraculous childbirth.
Contrasting these dots are those used by the Germans in 1941 Amsterdam on their ‘Dot Map’, viewable at the Anne Frank Museum. These dots marked Jewish residences, leading to the rounding up of Jews. The Dutch Town Council facilitated this by providing the Germans with the dots, ultimately leading to the extermination of 90% of Dutch Jews between 1941 and 1945.
Ironically, Anne Frank initially avoided capture due to only eight people being in her hiding place, though she was later betrayed.
Why were 10 Jews targeted? Goebbels, having thoroughly studied Jewish history and culture, understood the Genesis narrative where Abraham attempts to save Sodom if 10 righteous individuals could be found. This number, 10, is significant in Jewish tradition as the minimum required for a religious quorum.
The dual tales of dots—those signifying Sarah’s future and those leading to the destruction of her descendants—underscore the power of something seemingly insignificant. In Hebrew, a dot, a jot, or the letter yod, representing 10, forms the foundation of the alphabet.
A dot may seem trivial, much like how Nazis viewed Jews, yet connecting these dots can unveil patterns, leading to greater understanding. This concept resonates in detective stories and is evident in the developmental realizations of children.
Unfortunately, this awareness was absent in Nazi Germany and seems diminished for Jews in England today. Philosopher Professor John Gray remarked that ‘antisemitism has become normalized’ in the wake of recent events in Manchester, suggesting a grim outlook.
Abraham’s legacy endures not through his teachings alone but through his compassion, which drew people to him. The choice before us mirrors that of Sodom or Abraham: cruelty or hospitality. For the sake of the nation, may strangers choose to act as angels, fostering positivity and blessings.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
