Hagar

Shabbat morning I heard a new-to-me interpretation of Hagar from one of our lay torah readers. Hagar is Sarah's maid-servant (or slave; the distinction is unclear to me), and when it becomes clear Sarah isn't going to be able to have a child she tells Avraham to have one with Hagar, which he does. Things seem fine and dandy until Sarah has Yitzchak, at which point she wants to throw Hagar and Yishmael out. (Is there midrash that casts Sarah in a better light than the plain reading of the text?)

Bruce pointed out that Hagar gets dumped on a lot but always manages to retain her dignity. She doesn't argue with the initial charge to have a son with Avraham. She doesn't lash out when she remains a slave instead of being promoted to concubine or half-wife. When Avraham and Sarah throw her out with nothing more than some bread and water, she leaves quietly. When she appeals to God, it's on behalf of her son, not for herself. She's been treated pretty badly (and I'm not saying one should stand silent when that happens!), but she manages to get by somehow.

I haven't given Hagar much thought in the past. We give high honor to the patriarchs and matriarchs even when they behave badly, but Hagar deserves some credit too. She should (IMO) have been more assertive earlier on, but she didn't lash out when it might have been justified. I wonder what the feminist torah commentaries (which I haven't read) have to say about her.

upcoming Shabbat

I'll be leading services this Friday night at my synagogue. This is a big deal; lay people don't generally get to do this except as part of committees (sisterhood, etc), and it's not due to rabbinic absence. My rabbi (and I think the associate rabbi) will be there. My rabbi is undoubtedly expending some political capital on my behalf, and I appreciate the opportunity and the trust he shows in me. He'll greet the congregation Friday and explain what's going on and why I get to do this (because of the learning I've done, including in the para-rabbinic program). I'm thrilled to have the chance to (1) lead my congregation and (2) get constructive feedback from my rabbi.

(He's doing the torah service and concluding prayers, and reading torah. I'm giving the d'var torah and leading the rest of the service.)