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The following is from RSRH's commentary on Bereishis. In the third
paragraph Rav Hirsch talks about the dangers of complete isolation. I
wonder what the implications of this are for people who are brought up in
places like Skvere and Kiryas Yoel. YL<br><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=6><b>20</font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=4>1
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Avraham journeyed forth
from there to the south country and settled between Kadesh and Shur, and
he sojourned in Gerar.<br><br>
</i></b></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>Avraham settled
(i.e., took up permanent residence) between Kadesh<br>
and Shur, but he also sojourned (i.e., took up temporary residence)
in<br>
Gerar. What were the reasons for these two contrasting actions?<br>
We have seen that, initially, Avraham sought to isolate himself and<br>
his household from the atmosphere and society of the cities. For
this<br>
reason he first settled in the desolate south, and only gradually
established<br>
ties with the cities, finally settling among his allies, Aner,
Eshkol,<br>
and Mamre, who related to him with respect and esteem.<br><br>
Now we see him, in his waning years, returning to the south. He<br>
settles between Kadesh and Shur, in an isolated, uninhabited area
near<br>
the wilderness of Shur, which is known as a complete wasteland. At
the<br>
same time, however, he seeks contact with city life and occasionally<br>
stays in Gerar, the capital of the Philistine kings.<br><br>
Unless we are totally mistaken, we would venture to say that what<br>
prompted Avraham and Sarah to change their place of residence was<br>
the expectation of the imminent birth of their son. A Yitzchak
should<br>
be educated in isolation, far removed from any negative influence.<br>
On the other hand, complete isolation, which denies the student all<br>
contact with people who think differently and whose aims and way of<br>
life differ from his own, is a dangerous educational mistake. A
young<br>
person who has never seen a way of life other than that of his
parents,<br>
never had an opportunity to compare his parents’ lifestyle with that
of<br>
others, and never learned to appreciate the moral contrast between
the<br>
two, will never learn to value, respect and hold fast to the ways
his<br>
parents have taught him. He will surely fall victim to outside
influences<br>
at his first encounter with them, just as one who fears the fresh air
and<br>
closets himself in his room can be sure of catching cold as soon as
he<br>
goes outdoors.<br><br>
Avraham’s son, the future bearer of Avraham’s heritage, should, from<br>
time to time, enter the world that is alien to the spirit of
Avraham.<br>
There he can evaluate opposing ideas and strengthen himself to keep<br>
to the ways of Avraham in a world that is opposed to them. For this<br>
purpose Avraham chooses the capital of a Philistine prince.<br>
In the land of the Philistines the degeneracy had apparently not
spread<br>
to the extent that it had reached in Canaan; hence the Philistines were
not<br>
subject to the destruction decreed upon their Emorite
neighbors.</font></body>
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