Weekly Dvar Torah: The Journey of Self, Nation, and Divine Purpose

The Alter Rebbe taught that a Jew must “live with the times.” When the younger Chassidim heard this, they were puzzled. What does it mean to live with the times? The elder Chassidim sought an explanation, and through the Alter Rebbe’s brother, the Mahari”l (R’ Yehuda Leib), they learned that it means to live with the weekly Torah portion — to see one’s life illuminated by the Parsha of the week and to embody its lessons every single day.

The Previous Rebbe, in recounting how he first learned this teaching from his father, the Rebbe Rashab, describes an unforgettable moment. As a child, he once entered his father’s study on Shabbos morning and saw him in deep concentration, reviewing the Parsha. The Rebbe was in a joyous mood, yet tears streamed down his face. The young boy was bewildered — how could joy and tears coexist? After Shabbos, when his father invited him to ask what was on his mind, he finally posed the question. The Rebbe Rashab smiled gently and explained, “My tears were tears of joy.”

He then told his son that every week, every day, a Jew must live with the Torah portion — not just study it but live it. “Bereishis,” said the Rebbe Rashab, “starts as a joyous Parsha because G-d created the world and saw that it was good, but ends signaling the upcoming flood. ‘Noach’ is a sad Parsha because of the flood, though it ends with hope — the birth of Avraham. But the week of Lech Lecha,” he said, “is a truly happy week, for every day we live with Avraham Avinu — the first Jew to dedicate his life, with self-sacrifice, to publicizing G-dliness in this world. And this energy he bequeathed to his children, the Jewish nation, to teach G-dliness to the world, till the end of time”

And indeed, Lech Lecha is a Parsha of boundless joy, courage, and destiny. It marks the beginning of the Jewish story — G-d’s call to Avraham: “Go forth from your land, your birthplace, and your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.” On the surface, it is a command to leave the familiar. But in truth, it is the most personal and intimate of Divine calls — “Go to yourself.” Literally, Lech Lecha – go to yourself.

Avraham is told to leave behind his external identity: his land, representing personal desire (Eretz, “land,” shares a root with Ratzon, “will”); his birthplace, the environment that shaped his instincts; and his father’s house, the traditions and limitations of his heritage. He is called to go deeper, to journey inward, to discover his true self — his soul, his essence, his G-dly core.

This command defines not only Avraham’s journey, but ours as well. Every Jew is a traveler on the road to self-discovery. We, too, are summoned to go beyond our comfort zones, our habits, and the false identities imposed by culture and circumstance, until we reach the place “that I will show you” — the place within that reflects G-d’s infinite light.

Avraham’s journey was not simple or serene. The moment he arrives in the Promised Land, famine forces him to descend to Egypt. There, he faces moral chaos and danger. Yet through every descent, he ascends. Each challenge brings him greater spiritual wealth, greater faith, greater blessings. Like a miner descending into the darkness to retrieve hidden gems, Avraham’s trials refine him and reveal the treasures of his soul.

The Torah tells us that “Ma’aseh Avos Siman Labanim” — the deeds of our ancestors are a sign and empowerment for their children. Avraham’s descent into Egypt foreshadows our nation’s exiles. We, too, have been forced into darkness and confusion, yet each exile ultimately brings about a deeper revelation of G-d’s presence. Just as Avraham emerged from Egypt laden with riches, so too the Jewish people will emerge from exile with spiritual wealth beyond measure. Our lowest moments are stepping stones to our highest selves.

Avraham’s greatness lies not only in his personal journey but in his mission to the world. He was not content with private enlightenment. Unlike Noach, who saved only himself, Avraham went out to illuminate others. He built an open tent with four doors to welcome travelers from all sides. He fed the hungry, comforted the weary, and taught all who entered to bless the Creator of heaven and earth. Through acts of love and kindness, he brought G-d into the world.

This is why G-d chose Avraham — not because of what he had achieved, but because of who he was destined to be. When G-d commanded him to “Go,” the Torah does not preface it with praise or justification. There is no introduction declaring Avraham righteous. G-d’s choice was purely His own — unconditional, eternal, and absolute. From this Divine choice flows the unbreakable bond between G-d, the Jewish people, and the Land of Israel. It is not based on merit or circumstance, but on essence. G-d chose us because He so desired.

That covenant, sealed with Avraham, beats in the heart of every Jew. It is the source of our miraculous survival, our defiance of history, our capacity to endure and to inspire. It explains why, in our own generation, we have witnessed a resurgence of Jewish pride and unity in the face of darkness. When the land of Israel is threatened, Jews everywhere instinctively rise together — praying, helping, doing Mitzvos, uniting beyond all divisions. Religious and secular, left and right, young and old — we rediscover that we are one people, children of one G-d, bound to one holy land. Just listen to the recently freed hostages, how their faith in G-d kept them going while in captivity, and when freed, they praise G-d, and call on all of us to unite in connecting to G-d.

This unity is not new; it is ancient. It was forged when Avraham stood alone against a world of idolatry, armed only with faith and courage. It was passed down to his children, who have carried it through every exile and trial. Today, it awakens again, reminding us of who we are and what we stand for — the inseparable trio of G-d, the Jewish nation, and the Land of Israel.

Sometimes, sweetness emerges only through pressure. As Shimshon said, “Me’az Yatza Matok” — from the strong came forth sweetness. The olive yields oil only when pressed; so too, the Jewish soul shines brightest when challenged. Even as we endure hardship, our response is not despair, but light — an outpouring of faith, unity, and goodness. Because that is who we are. We are Avraham’s children, inheritors of his mission and his strength.

To “live with the times” during Lech Lecha means to live with Avraham — to hear G-d’s call to journey inward and upward, to break through limitations, to live with purpose, faith, and love. It means recognizing that every challenge is part of the journey, every descent is for the sake of ascent, and every Jew is a vital spark in G-d’s unfolding plan.

Let us go forth, each of us, to our truest selves — to our Divine essence, to our mission as G-d’s nation, to our connection with our holy land. Let us live with joy, with courage, and with faith, knowing that this journey — Avraham’s journey — is still unfolding within us. And may it soon bring us all to the ultimate destination: the revelation of G-dliness in our world, with the coming of Moshiach, now.

Live joyfully, live purposefully, live with the times.

Have a Shabbos of Joyful Faith,
Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Yosef Katzman