by David Katz

In Parashas Lech Lecha we become acquainted on an intimate level with two righteous souls of the highest order: Shem (Malki Tzedek) and Abraham. We have learned in Torah, Shem is synonymous with Malki Tzedek, as Melech Shalem / King of Salem, hints at the spelling of Shem’s name ( שם / Shem is a Hebrew letter Shin and Mem, which the words King of Salem contain).

Shem is a founding father of the New World, and Abraham his descendent comes to light, after much anticipation from Shem that the world would produce an Abraham, to continue the mission of Shem: Spreading the Torah. This week’s Torah Portion highlights their meeting in real time.

The Flood having passed, The Tower of Bavel and the Great Dispersion is over, we suddenly find Shem and Abraham meeting after Abraham’s war with the four kings in his venture to save Lot ( Who Hashem had told Abraham not to associate with upon entering the land; we see in the end that Abraham could not save Lot, due to Lot’s unholy inclination, and thus it was the angels that had to save him), and it was in this meeting that Shem’s World would mesh into Abraham’s.

Shem carried the weight of ancient priesthood on his shoulders, something that he longed to pass over to Abraham and the Nation of Priests that would ultimately emerge from him. It was at this meeting where the transfer took place, a transfer that happened because Abraham took the priesthood from Shem. A common misperception is that this taking implies by force, or that Shem had somehow lost the priesthood, due to the sin of placing Blessings to Abraham before acknowledging Hashem. But must we view the Torah in this way? Was there a deeper exchange here, one resulting in Abraham taking the right of priesthood, not from force, but because Shem had offered it to Abraham? After all, Jewish text suggests that Shem actually was acting in accordance of tradition when greeting a righteous person who brings others back to being under the wings of the Divine Presence, the Shechinah. So what was their exchange in light of all the details? They were teaching us the methodology of giving Blessings, with Proper Conduct, the rights of priesthood.

Every day, people receive and give Blessings. Let’s look at the proper template of how to give a blessing, within “Derech Eretz”, proper conduct (Derech Eretz / Proper Conduct is considered part of the Oral Tradition/Torah that all Bnei Noach inherit) :

If one were to Bless, “May you, Abraham be successful in all that you do!” The proper response would be, “Ken Lemar!” “Yes! You too!” …(Ken LeMar means, “so to you” ; Ken = so, LeMar = to you)

Thus the Blessing will be returned to the person who gave the original Blessing, as this is Derech Eretz of giving Blessings; it’s what Shem was teaching Abraham, and this is the Greatness of Shem’s Character and Torah. Let’s have a look in the scriptures and see how the exchange plays out:

“And he Blessed him” – Shem brought out bread and wine in celebration of Abraham’s victory, as he was a Priest to God on High…And he (Abraham) Blessed him (Shem).

“And he said Blessed is Abraham, to God on High, Maker of Heaven and Earth” – The method we have been told, is that Shem here blesses Abraham before God, as we see the next statement from Shem, is Blessed is God… So why then does Shem Bless Abraham first? Derech Eretz! Shem was simply saying, “Ken LeMar Abraham!” (Yes! You too!) – Ken LeMar, “and he said Blessed is Abraham…” Shem had returned the Blessing to Abraham with Proper Conduct, and immediately followed with, “And Blessed is God…”

“And Blessed is God, that He has delivered your enemies into your hand” – Shem may have said, “Ken LeMar” to Abraham, as it is Derech Eretz, but the Torah and Message to Abraham was, “Don’t forget about Hashem Abraham!” Thus it had been Abraham that preceded Blessings of Shem before God, and Shem was placed into that same condition with the moral obligation of “Ken Lemar”, returning the Blessing.

“And he gave him tithes” – Abraham promptly gave Shem tithes, as he understood the Teaching and Torah of Shem. In that moment, Abraham was fit to take the Priesthood from Shem. Shem did not sin, nor lose the Priesthood in this exchange; what did happen was that Abraham merited to take all that Shem had offered at that moment. Abraham could now take the priesthood, and begin his journey of fathering a Nation of Priests; a journey made possible with the teaching, influence, and Blessings of Shem HaGadol, the Great Shem as is brought down in the Torah.

Shem has taught us an eternal message and Torah: Where there is Torah, ie. Blessing God, one must not lose sight of Derech Eretz. However Derech Eretz must not be divorced from Torah, especially when concerning Hashem!

Thus Abraham has Blessed Shem, setting the stage not only for Abraham to learn the Torah that would allow him to merit the priesthood, but we have all learned a major foundation of the Torah of Malki Tzedek - Shem, he who is a Priest To God on High: We must Bless Hashem first and foremost.

Abraham was thrilled to Bless Shem after his victory over the battle of the four Kings, and did so before Blessing God. Shem in his righteous ways, said,  “Ken LeMar” – “You Abraham also should be Blessed”, “But remember Hashem is Blessed too! Blessed is Hashem on High Who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” Abraham immediately understood the Torah of Shem, and merited to be a Priest from Shem, and ultimately was then able to father the Kingdom of Priests…thanks to the Torah tradition of Shem.

Abraham learned the ultimate Torah from Shem, and their exchange highlights to us, even today how to weave Derech Eretz / Proper Conduct seamlessly into the fabric of Torah, a Teaching that the sages say are inseparable. It should be then of no surprise to witness that Abraham and Shem are themselves inseparable!

Abraham called the site of their meeting : Yirah (to see, or revere)

Shem called the same site : Shalem (complete, or peace)

Together they formed an eternal city, Jerusalem! (which is a composite of the two words, Yirah and Shalem) A city of Reverence and Peace! Yerushalayim/Jerusalem.

A site where the priests will serve God. A site of The Holy Temple. A site for Prayer, where Bnei Noach and Jews can exist together in Harmony…as the truth mandates this reality: Look no further than Shem and Abraham in Parashas Lech Lecha, and the Torah exchanged by both Righteous Men.