Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 9, 5779 / October 18, 2018
B"H
Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 9, 5779 / October 18, 2018
In this week's Parsha, Lech Lecha, the Torah tells us of our forefather Abraham's experience with fear and G-d's response to it.
In Chapter 15 verse 1 we read: "After these things [the battle with the four kings] the word of the L-rd came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Fear not Avram (at this point his name was Avram, his name was only later changed to Abraham); I am your shield, your reward shall be exceedingly great." G-d then tells him that just as the stars in the heaven cannot be counted, "so will be your children."
G-d alleviates Abraham's fears by telling him "I am your shield. Your reward is exceedingly great!"
Our sages discuss the reason of Abraham's fears. After all, G-d promised him in the beginning of the Parsha, "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you." Why, after winning the battle against the four mighty kings, did Abraham become fearful?
One explanation is that Abraham was afraid of future reprisals by the four nations (as a result of his winning the battle).
Another explanation according to our sages is that Abraham's fear was a direct result of all the miracles and blessings that he experienced!
The great miracle of winning his battle with only 318 men against the four Kings and their mighty armies, caused Abraham to worry that he is receiving G-d's blessings and reward in this world at the expense of the spiritual reward in the World-to-Come. This caused Abraham great fear.
To eliminate his fears, G-d told him, "I am your shield and your reward is exceedingly great." In other words, "I will shield you from any harm which anyone may want to cause you in this world. In addition, your reward is also great in the World-to-Come.
Just as Abraham found comfort knowing that G-d is his shield and protector, so too, we must always remember the words of King David in Psalms, "I will fear no evil for You are with me!"
Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sasov had a unique way of dealing with worries and difficult situations, so that they do not get in the way of his serving G-d with happiness.
He would say: "What is in the past is already in the past and there is nothing I can do about it anyway, so why worry about them. As for the future, it didn't happen yet, so why worry. I put my trust in G-d that things will be good.
The only worry I may have, concerns the present. But the present is so short, it lasts only a moment, and anybody can handle a little trouble for a moment!"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 7, 5779 / October 16, 2018
B"H
Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 7, 5779 / October 16, 2018
This week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, tells us about some of the tests, which G-d put Abraham through. In total Abraham went through ten tests.
In yesterday’s Torah Fax, I mentioned that when G-d tests someone, together with the test He gives that person the ability to overcome the test. Otherwise, G-d wouldn’t test them. The Midrash explains this as follows:
When a potter offers his pots for sale at the market, he will bang on them to prove to the potential customer the strength and quality of his pottery.
Which pots will he chose to test in order to prove that his product is good? Naturally the one's he knows that will be able to withstand the test. He will not bang on an inferior product which may break.
So too, G-d chooses to test a person when they can withstand the test. Thus, the very fact that G-d chooses to test someone is a sign that G-d gave them the power to overcome the test.
This week's Parsha, Lech Lecha, covers a span of twenty four years in the life of Abraham and Sarah. The Parsha begins with Abraham coming to Canaan at the age of seventy five (his wife Sarah was ten years younger) and ends with Abraham having his circumcision at the age of ninety nine.
In this Parsha G-d promises Abraham that his children will inherit the land of Israel: "G-d said to Abraham... Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are; northward, southward, eastward and westward, for all the land which you see, to you I will give it and to your seed forever." G-d promises Abraham that like the dust of the earth which cannot be counted so too, will be his seed - the people of Israel.
It’s right there in the Holy Book: G-d promised to give the Land of Israel to the people of Israel, over 3500 years ago! It is recorded and documented in the Torah. Our claim to the land of Israel is not a result of a UN declaration, but a gift from the Creator of heaven and earth!
In the Parsha we also find the act of giving charity, when Abraham gave away one tenth from his possessions to Shem, son of Noach, the kohen of that time.
Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov was once approached by someone for a donation. Although the person had a bad reputation, Rabbi Moshe Leib, himself a poor man, gave him his last coin. Later he was asked why he gave away his last coin to a man with such a questionable reputation.
Rabbi Moshe Leib, who was a very humble man, replied, "G-d wasn't selective when He gave the coin to me, so why should I be judgmental and selective whom to give it to?"
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 6, 5779 / October 15, 2018
B"H
Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 6, 5779 / October 15, 2018
This week's Parsha, Lech Lecha, begins, "The L-rd said to Abraham go to you from your country, from your birthplace and from your father's house unto the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great and you will be a blessing."
Abraham was seventy five and his wife, Sarah, was sixty five when G-d commanded them to leave their native land and go to an unknown land ("the land which I will show you"). Abraham took his wife and together they left for the land of Canaan, which would later become the Land of Israel.
This was the first of the ten tests which G-d put Abraham through in order to test his faith. Some of the other tests are also found in this Parsha. They are:
* When they arrive in Canaan, there is a famine in the new land and Abraham and Sarah are forced to move again, this time to Egypt.
* In Egypt, when the Egyptians saw Sarah’s beauty, Sarah was taken, against her will, to King Pharaoh. But she was returned to Abraham when G-d sent plagues upon Pharaoh and his household.
* Returning to the land of Canaan Abraham's nephew, Lot, is captured and Abraham has to wage war, against four mighty kings, and he saves Lot.
* G-d promised that a great nation would come from Abraham. Yet, he and Sarah are still childless.
* At the age of 99, Abraham is commanded to circumcise. This too was a great test and Abraham didn’t hesitate to perform the mitzvah.
Our sages explain the words Lech Lecha, "go to you," to mean "to your benefit." G-d said to Abraham that, although these tests seem a hardship, yet, in the end it will be to your benefit.
"Nisayon" in Hebrew is "test." It comes from the same word as "Nes" "miracle" and "uplifting." When one experiences a miracle one realizes it as an obvious sign that G-d cares and looks out for the person and it is indeed an "uplifting" experience.
Our sages say that the same also applies with the tests which we experience throughout our life. Some tests may be more difficult than others, but they are all for the same purpose. Through these tests a person is uplifted, attaining a higher spiritual level and achieves greater strength.
The very fact that G-d chooses to test an individual, should in itself be an encouragement. It shows that the person has special qualities and the ability to pass the test, for G-d doesn’t give tests which one cannot handle. With the test, G-d gives us the capability needed to pass that test.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
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