Weekly Dvar Torah: G-d, Nation and Land
Living with the times, the Parsha of the week.
In Parshas Lech Lecha we live with Avraham Avinu, the father of the Jewish nation.
We learn about G-d, the Nation of Israel, and the Land of Israel.
Avraham was the first one to discover G-d and was the one who introduced monotheism to the world. G-d instructed Avraham to leave the comforts of his home, and to travel to the land that “I will show you.” G-d leads Avraham to greater G-dly revelations.
This is also the week when G-d makes a covenant with Avraham and blesses him to be the father of a nation that will multiply like the stars in the sky.
Finally, G-d instructs Avraham to walk the length and the breadth of the Land, and He grants Avraham the land of Canaan as an inheritance for his children, the Jewish people, forever.
The inseparable trio, G-d, the Jewish nation and the Holy Land.
The Parsha is full of rich history and guidance.
G-d instructing Avraham to leave the comforts of his home and birthplace to the land that “I will show you,” heralded the beginning of a journey “to see and disseminate G-dliness.”
How was it manifest? Avraham singularly taught the world about one G-d. How did he do it? He set up hospitality in the desert for all the nomads to have a place to eat and stay, he went to fight to free the captives. Avraham became the symbol of love and caring for anyone and everyone. In return, everybody sought his friendship, including all royalty at that time.
A childless Avraham had faith and trust in Hashem, that he will become the father of a nation that will shine brightly like the stars in the sky, and they will be a light upon the nations.
In spite of having to escape the promised land because of famine, Avraham put his trust in G-d, that this land will be his and his children’s forever.
Today the Jewish land is threatened by a hostile world filled with barbarism and their supporters all across the globe. In response, the Jewish people have rallied around Israel like the true owners of the Holy Land. The rallying support from Jews across the globe for Israel, is unprecedented.
A seemingly fractured Jewish nation has united like never before. Hundreds of thousands are flocking to lay Tefillin and find a pair of Tzitzis, and the ladies are preparing for a beautiful Shabbos observance, with Shabbos candles and delicious delicacies to honor the Shabbos. The love and support from one Jew to another is at an all-time high.
And the seeming divisions among the Jews, religious vs secularists, left vs right, which only a few weeks ago tore us apart, has vanished. We have all united under one banner, as children of Hashem, with the sounds of B’ezras Hashem, and Baruch Hashem, on the lips of every Jew.
The inseparable trio, G-d, the Jewish nation and the Holy Land can never be torn apart.
The great Biblical leader and judge, Shimshon, said: מֵעַז יָצָא מָתוֹק = from the harsh came out sweetness. Sometimes we need a little squeeze for our sweetness to flow.
It is said about the Alter Rebbe, that after he went through the experience of his arrest and liberation, his teachings started flowing in much greater measures. The reason that was given is that an olive only produces oil, when you press it hard.
G-d forbid for anyone to use this analogy to justify the pain and the suffering of the Jewish people that we have just experienced. But it’s important to observe, that the reaction of the Jews as a people is not one of anger and despair, but rather it has proven itself to be one of unity and goodwill, love and kindness, in unprecedented numbers.
Why is that? Because this is who we are. We are one people, we have one G-d, and we have one land. And just like it came together for Avraham our first father, the same sentiments have been bequeathed to us; our G-d, our nation and our Land, for all the generations until the end of time. When any of the three are challenged, we all come together.
We have one G-d, and He chose us as His people, and He gave us the Land. It is an inseparable trio which can never be separated. This is who we are and what we are all about, and nothing and nobody can ever change this.
Let’s take advantage of this national awakening, and let’s continue to unite under the banner of Torah, to encourage more Mitzvos, as one nation with G-d in our Holy Land. This will bring us G-d’s protection now, and will serve to eradicate all negativity and evil forever, with the ultimate salvation which will be ushered in by our righteous Moshiach, NOW!
Amen!
Have a G-dly, National, Land filled Shabbos,
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
