Avraham: A Spiritual Entrepreneur

The image of Avraham as the paradigm of chesed—kindness—permeates the Midrashic tradition. Whether it be the picture of his tent open on four sides (Shochar Tov 110) or the interpretations of his Eshel (Bereshit 21:33) as either an orchard or an inn through which he offered food and inspiration about God, Avraham’s character is well established. One Midrash, however, presents another quality that fuelled his greatness.

Many aspiring entrepreneurs spend time studying the lives of great founders, reading the biographies of figures like Steve Jobs or Elon Musk. They identify qualities they hope to emulate and seek guidance from their stories. They also likely admire—and perhaps envy—those who have achieved the success they themselves pursue. The Midrash (Shochar Tov 37) suggests that this was Avraham’s attitude toward kindness. Commenting on the verse warning against envying sinners (Mishlei 23:17), the Midrash teaches that one should instead envy those who follow the way of God. Just as the Aggadic tradition (Yoma 69b) cryptically records that the sages sought to eliminate the evil inclination but refrained from eradicating the inclination toward passion and desire—since it was necessary for the world to exist—this Midrash similarly views envy as a necessary force.

It imagines a conversation between Avraham and Shem, the son of Noach, who in the Midrash is identified with Malkitzedek. Avraham asks him by what merit those on the ark were saved from the Flood. Malkitzedek explains that it was due to the constant kindness they performed for the animals. Avraham immediately reasons that if kindness toward animals warranted the continued existence of humanity, then kindness toward human beings—created in God’s image—was even more essential. This realization inspired him to establish the Eshel mentioned above. The full Midrash reads:

““David says, "Do not compete with evildoers." Be zealous for a candle that never goes out, and whose candle does not go out. As it says (Proverbs 6:23), "For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life." Therefore, do not let your heart envy (them). The Lord said, "I am jealous because if there were no jealousy, the world would not exist. For if Abraham had not been jealous for the Lord, he would not have acquired heaven and earth." And when did he become jealous? When he said to the kings of righteousness, "How did you come out of the ark?" He said to him, "With righteousness that we did." He said to him, "What righteousness did you have to do, and were there poor people there? There was only Noah and his sons, so for whom did you do righteousness?" He said to him, "About the animals and the birds." We were not sleeping all night, but we were giving (food) to this one and to that one. Once we delayed ourselves and my father was injured. At that moment, Abraham said, "If these (people) had not done righteousness with animals, birds, and beasts, they would not have come out of there. And because he delayed himself, he almost received his reward and was injured. If I do (good) with human beings, who are in the image and likeness of angels, how much more will I benefit from the harm?" Immediately (Genesis 21:33), he planted a tamarisk tree. He ate, drank, and rejoiced. And Solomon said (Ecclesiastes 4:4), "And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person's envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Therefore, do not let your heart envy (them) in sin.... “(Shochar Tov 37, Sefaria translation)

Presumably, the Midrash does not mean that Avraham was jealous of the reward. Rather, Avraham identified with the values of kindness and sought exemplars of this quality. He then strove to surpass his predecessors. Avraham was like a spiritual entrepreneur—interviewing his inspirations, internalizing their insights, and creating a better spiritual product.

The Midrash highlights several enduring truths. To succeed spiritually and ethically, we must first recognize and value spiritual and ethical goals. That recognition, in turn, fuels a passion to pursue them. We should take inspiration from those who live these values successfully—but ultimately, we must internalize those lessons, build upon them, and make them our own.