Weekly Dvar Torah: The Journey of Self-Discovery – Lech Lecha
The journey of the Jewish people begins with G-d’s command to Avraham: “Lech Lecha” — “Go to yourself.” G-d instructs Avraham to leave his land, his birthplace, and his father’s house, embarking on a journey into the unknown. In Hebrew, “land” (ארץ) is related to “ratzon,” (רצון) or personal desire, indicating that Avraham must let go of personal wants and natural inclinations. By moving beyond his comfort zone, Avraham journeys toward his true self, his soul’s core, where his essence aligns with G-d’s will. This journey exemplifies the Jewish mission: to transcend our personal desires and limitations to fulfill a divine purpose.
Avraham’s journey to the Promised Land is not a straightforward path. When he arrives, he is faced with famine and forced to descend to Egypt. There, he encounters moral challenges that test his faith. However, each test strengthens Avraham’s resolve and deepens his connection to G-d, shaping him into the person who would pass on these values to future generations. His story reminds us that challenges and setbacks are integral parts of the journey, leading us to spiritual growth and our ultimate destiny.
Unlike Noach, who is introduced in the Torah as a righteous man, Avraham’s virtues are not initially highlighted. When G-d calls upon Avraham to build a nation, He doesn’t present a quid-pro-quo arrangement; rather, G-d’s choice is purely His own. This divine initiative marks the beginning of an unconditional covenant between G-d and Avraham’s descendants. By choosing Avraham to establish a holy nation, G-d demonstrates that the relationship between Himself and the Jewish people transcends merit and is rooted in His infinite love.
As the father of a new nation, Avraham brings G-d’s presence into the world, not through miracles, but through acts of kindness and justice. This unconditional covenant and Avraham’s unwavering dedication ensure that the Jewish people will forever be a light to the nations, entrusted with a mission to inspire and uplift humanity.
The Mishna teaches that while both the generations of Noach and Avraham were sinful, there is a profound difference in their responses. When G-d commanded Noach to build an ark, he obeyed without taking initiative to warn or help his generation repent. Noach is likened to a “tzaddik in a fur coat,” content with his own righteousness but isolated from his surroundings. He lacks the proactive compassion that characterizes Avraham.
Avraham, however, not only discovers G-d through his own quest for truth but also spreads this knowledge, going out to convert others to monotheism and morality. He cares deeply for his fellow human beings, regardless of their moral state, and actively seeks to help and guide them. This difference reflects two approaches: one of passive righteousness and one of active outreach and moral leadership.
Avraham’s approach, which integrates love with justice, earns him the reward that would have been granted to the people of his generation. In Jewish tradition, this commitment to bettering the world remains central.
The concept of “living with the times,” as taught by the Alter Rebbe, emphasizes aligning one’s life with the weekly Torah portion. Each week offers unique lessons, and during Parshas Lech Lecha, we live with Avraham’s journey, courage, and unyielding dedication to G-d. This portion is joyful, marking the beginning of the Jewish people and Avraham’s eternal commitment to spreading G-dliness.
The previous Rebbe recounts how, as a child, he was puzzled upon seeing his father in a joyous mood while shedding tears as he read the Torah portion. The Rebbe Rashab explained that his tears were tears of joy—expressing the depth of living with the Torah portion and embodying its messages of resilience, courage, and faith. Through Avraham’s story, we are reminded of our mission to uplift the world, to connect deeply with our heritage, and to find joy and meaning in our relationship with G-d.
In Parshas Lech Lecha, we learn of the inseparable relationship between G-d, the Jewish people, and the Land of Israel. Avraham’s journey to Canaan, the land that would be his descendants’ eternal inheritance, represents the Jewish people’s profound connection to this land. G-d’s covenant with Avraham, promising that his children will be as numerous as the stars, establishes the Jewish nation as a beacon of light and morality. Today, as Jews across the world unite in support of Israel, the enduring bond of G-d, the Jewish nation, and the Holy Land is as alive as ever.
In times of trial, we are reminded of Avraham’s unwavering faith and trust in G-d’s promise. As Avraham faced exile and famine, the Jewish people have also endured hardship. But with each challenge, we rise stronger, with renewed commitment to justice, kindness, and the values that Avraham exemplified. Through living with the teachings of our forefathers, we find purpose and strength, guiding us to fulfill the divine mission entrusted to us, just as Avraham did.
With his self-sacrifice Avraham Avinu bequeathed to us and empowered us till the end of time, to carry his legacy forward in our own lives, embodying faith, kindness, and resilience in everything we do.
Have a Lech Lecha of Self-Discovery and Purpose,
Gut Shabbos
Rabbi Yosef Katzman
