| The Portion of Lech Lecha When Is It Better to Be Childless? After Abram frees his nephew Lot from captivity, G-d reveals Himself to Abram and says: "Do not fear, Abram. I am your shield. Your reward is exceedingly great (Genesis 15;1)". It appears that Abram has some doubts with regards to G-d's promise. "And I am childless…Behold You have given me no seed (Genesis 15;2-3)". The commentaries have a hard time explaining Abram's doubting the Almighty's promise with regards to children. The Midrash in Bereisheet Raba states that Abram doesn't doubt G-d's promise but rather says that if You grant me children who will not observe the Torah then it is better that I remain childless. This explanation is alluded to in the addition to the letter "ayin" in the word "ariri" (childless) in which part points upwards and part points downwards, as if to say that if the Torah which comes from above is observed below then I will not be childless, but if not- better that I remain childless. (based on Sefer Harokeiach)
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