Moral Clarity in a Conflicted World: Abraham’s Negotiation

The story of the Jewish people is perhaps the greatest ever told—a testament to superhuman resilience and faith in the face of challenges unparalleled in human history.

Central to this enduring saga is our unbreakable connection to the land of Israel, a bond that has defined us since the dawn of our existence.

A profound insight into this connection emerges from the negotiations of our forefather Abraham as he seeks to acquire land in Hebron. The occasion is somber: our matriarch Sarah has passed away, and Abraham is in search of a burial site.

In his opening words to the Hittites, Abraham declares:

“I am a resident alien among you; please sell me a burial site so that I can bury my dead here.” (Genesis 23:4)

The phrase “resident alien” seems contradictory. One cannot simultaneously be both a resident and an alien. What message is Abraham conveying?

The Midrash offers an explanation: If the Hittites agree to sell him the land, he will pay for it as a stranger. But if they refuse, he will claim it as his legal inheritance, for G-d had already promised him, “To your seed I give this land.” (Genesis 12:7)

In these words, Abraham imparts a timeless lesson about our relationship with the land of Israel. While we strive to acquire and maintain it through diplomacy and respect, we must never forget that the land belongs to the Jewish people as a divine gift.

In today’s world, there is a hunger for moral clarity—especially among the young. Nature abhors a vacuum. For 25 years, the Rebbe urged Jewish leaders in Israel and beyond to heed Abraham’s example.

After decades of debates and counterarguments over the sovereignty of the Jewish people in Israel, perhaps it is time to adopt the simplest, most profound argument of all:

To tell the nations what every Jew knows in their heart.

To echo Abraham’s declaration to the world:

“If not, I will take it as my legal right, because the Holy One, blessed be He, said to me, ‘To your seed I give this land.’”

It is the only argument Israel has not yet fully embraced.

It is the only argument capable of cutting through the noise.

And it is the only argument that resonates with the world, for deep down, they know it to be true.