By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D.
SAN DIEGO — In this, the third Torah reading of this remarkably eventful new year, we learn in Lech Lecha of the spiritual trajectory of our lives. Hashem tells Avraham, “Lech Lecha,” go for yourself, “me’artzecha,” from your homeland, “mimoladitecha,” from your birthplace, “u’mi’beit avicha,” and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”
Rashi tells us that the word “lecha,” may be superfluous. Hashem could have just as easily said, “Go to the land that I will show you.” Rashi elucidates on this that Hashem was telling Avraham that “this will be for your benefit. While it may be difficult to leave the place you’ve lived most of your life, to leave behind all you’ve known, know that this discomfort is temporary, and for your ultimate gain.” When we are resilient and strong enough, wise enough really, to see every discomfort as being for our ultimate benefit, we thrive through it all.
The Alshich, in Or HaTorah, tells us that Lech Lecha commands “go for yourself from your land,” i.e., “go TO yourself,” or “TO your essence.” This was the first mitzvah that Avraham received from Hashem, indeed, it was the first time He speaks to Avraham, and one of the ten tests that Hashem gave to Avraham. Oh, and Avraham was 75 years old at the time. Think about what you might be doing at 75, reinventing yourself with a new challenge in life, far from your home?
Avraham didn’t think, “Why not? That’s a good idea. I think I’ll do it.” No, Avraham followed this mitzvah because Hashem commanded it and as a result, this strengthened his connection to Hashem. In fact, it says in Kiddushin (31a), “A person who observes a mitzvah because he is commanded to do so is greater than one who observes it without having been so commanded.” The Ramban explains that the tests we undergo during our lives are entirely for our benefit – not Hashem’s. His tests of us afford us the opportunity to transform our potential into genuine spiritual achievements beyond our imagination. By following Hashem’s voice, we are rewarded with deeper self-insight and greater self-actualization.
Perhaps this is an ultimate lesson this week. Who doesn’t experience adversity or challenges in life? Avraham focused on the voice of Hashem. Avraham kept his awareness on where he was being led TO, not simply focused on what test he was going THROUGH. We have the same opportunity and choice to make. Do we listen to our own limiting voice and feel self-defeated, terrified, panicked, depressed, or do we grow through our tests by continuing to go forward following the mitzvot of Hashem, Lech Lecha? Worse, do we continuously listen to the media trying to stir up our emotions?
Are you inspired to “go away from–but into–yourself,” to grow beyond where you sit today in life…to take risks, renew and achieve the greatness you were promised, to search for spiritual Y’rushalyim shel ma-alah? Do you hear the urgency of לֶךְ-לְךָ to go beyond your inner comfortable frame of reference, or are you choosing mediocrity? Like Avraham, when you allow yourself to be guided by Hashem, there are no restrictions on your growth.
Remember that later in the Torah, Hashem tells the Jewish people, “When you go out to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and a nation larger than you, do not be afraid of them, because I, your G-d, am with you, and I brought you out of the land of Egypt.”
Avraham went to war with no certainty that he would survive. He fought because it was the right thing to do…his nephew Lot was taken hostage as a direct provocation to Avraham and as a challenge to Hashem. Sound familiar? The Orach Chaim teaches that one must go to war to save a kidnapped Jew, even on Shabbat. Avraham was assured by Hashem that by going out to war against the four mighty kings we read about this week, he had performed an act of kindness for the whole of mankind. It is as if those who rise up against Israel are in truth rising up against HaShem. If Avraham was to die in battle, he would die with mesirus hanefesh (self-sacrifice) of a Kiddush Hashem. Avraham tells us, “Let me go and risk my life for the sake of Kiddush Hashem (sanctifying Hashem’s Name).” The battle Avraham fought was against those kings who were dedicated to denying Hashem in the world. Sound familiar? This spiritual illness of hate continues to this day.
Avraham was outnumbered in his battle, running out of ammunition and supplies. But the Midrash tells us that when he grabbed dirt to throw at the enemy, Hashem turned it into arrow. When Avraham picked up straw, Hashem turned it into swords and spears.
Every step we take in life carries with it magnificent opportunities, but when we are promised that we will be made into a great nation, that we will be blessed, that we will become a blessing, what would make us hesitate to take that step? Avraham, following his Divine calling more than 3700 years ago, took a step that changed the world.
Like Avraham, when you allow yourself to be guided by Hashem, there are no restrictions on your growth. Avraham was told “And you will be a blessing…” This Voice that Avraham heard, we can all hear. It is our conscience. No, we don’t need to be on a mountaintop. We simply need to stop and listen. That’s what Shabbat provides…a time to sit quietly in shul and listen for this voice. No, we don’t call for a “day of rage.” We call for a Shabbat Shalom. His voice is there to challenge us to wonder who we are meant to be. It is there to dare us to live the life we are truly called to live. It is there to confront us with the purpose for which we were created.
Rashi tells us that Avraham mastered what it means to constantly perform acts of loving-kindness, to feel sincere love for his fellow human being, and as a result became the source to bless all others. It is this tenderness, care and gladness within us, authentic feelings of appreciating the good in others, that rouses within us true blessings.
We hear about acheinu kol beit Yisroel, and we often think we truly love all our fellow Jews. But we don’t. We judge. We turn away. We look past. We greet with half of our attention. Doesn’t this war, this parasha, the anti-semitism we are all witnessing and experiencing, move you to grow past these behaviors and more authentically love every Jew? Remember we are a single soul.
Fortunately, we have a guide. Our Torah is our road map leading to a deeper life of purpose, meaning and positivity. This guide can help us find greater understanding, compassion, care, kindness, and empathy in life. As I write this d’var Torah, the powerful prayer Eilu Devarim אֵלּוּ דְבָרִים, comes to my mind, what some consider to be a prayer for happiness. As we “go to ourselves,” what better place to go to generate genuine happiness than to follow the starkly simple words of this special prayer?
“These are the things that have no limits.
A person enjoys their fruit in this world, and lives upon their principal in the world to come:
• honoring father and mother;
• performing acts of love and kindness;
• arriving at the house of study punctually
mornings as well as evenings;
• showing hospitality to guests;
• visiting the sick;
• providing for a couple about to marry;
• seeing to the needs of the deceased;
• praying with devotion;
• and being a peacemaker.
• Studying Torah leads to all the others.”
We learn from the Maharal that the authority of the four kingdoms Avaham fought will disappear upon the coming of Moshiach. As the Navi (prophet) states, וְהָיָ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִהְיֶ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶחָ֖ד וּשְׁמ֥וֹ אֶחָֽד…” And Hashem will be the only King over the whole earth; on that day, Hashem will be (recognized as) One, and His Name will be One.” (Zechariah 14:9).
May we see it soon in our days.
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Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D., prepares a weekly D’var Torah for Young Israel of San Diego, where he and his family are members. They are also active members of Congregation Adat Yeshurun. He may be contacted via michael.mantell@sdjewishworld.com