Abraham on Trial

 

                                     Rembrandt van Rijn

 

I have written before about our son Isaac, reading the biblical story of the near-sacrifice of the biblical Isaac by his father Abraham. This happened during an Easter Vigil service during which nine-year-old Ike was baptized. He was fully aware of the drama of the story, but it didn't seem to disturb him, although we haven't discussed this is recent years. It did rattle the cage of some of those in attendance, including a couple of colleagues in ministry.

Abraham has been criticized as a sociopath at best, and the God of this story doesn't fare much better. I see it as a story of someone who is influenced by his culture, in which human sacrifice is the highest form of fealty to the gods. Yet the sacrifice doesn't happen, and Abraham hears a more compelling voice and embarks on a different future for his family and his people.

I'm intrigued by a mock-trial which will take place today at a synagogue in New York City. Abraham will be prosecuted and defended by some heavy legal hitters, and a large crowd will be on hand. The synagogue has even sold tickets. I love the creativity of the exercise, addressing a perplexing biblical text with a flare which has obviously captured the attention of people. Here is a description from the Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/articles/biblical-figure-abraham-to-go-on-trial-in-new-york-1415904360

Presiding over the Old Testament-inspired case will be U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan. Representing Abraham will be high-profile defense attorney Alan Dershowitz. Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer will lead the prosecution.“Let’s be honest here—if I put an ad asking people to come study Bible on a Sunday morning, not many people will come,” said Gady Levy, the new executive director of the synagogue’s Skirball Center, which is hosting the event. With this program, he said, “people are going to come and study Torah. But they’re going to do it in a creative way—and in a way that makes religion relevant to their lives.” The temple has sold more than 1,000 tickets at $36 each for the event, which is part of a broader strategy spearheaded by the congregation’s new senior rabbi, Joshua Davidson. His aim: to expand the temple’s reach at a time when congregations are shrinking across the country and studies have shown that increasing numbers of Jews feel disconnected from religious life.

What do you think, it this inventive or sensational? Would you want to attend if you were in New York? Would this be a helpful way of delving deeper into a perplexing story?

 

Marc Chagall