B"H

Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 6, 5783 (Hakhel Year) / October 31, 2022

This week’s Parsha, Lech L’cha, is about the many challenges and tests which our patriarch and matriarch, Abraham and Sarah, endured from the time they came to the land of Canaan (Israel), the land which G-d promised to give to their descendants, the people of Israel.

Abraham and Sarah didn’t question G-d, but rather accepted every challenge they were presented with. They didn’t view their hardships as an obstacle, but as a springboard to be elevated to greater heights. G-d tested them with ten tests, which they withstood, and thus resulted in great blessings for them.

G-d’s tests are not just through adversity or poverty, but also through wealth and health. When everything is good, that too can be a test to see how thankful that person will be. Will they recognize that it all came as a blessing from G-d, or will they claim that it was their own doing. Will it make them humble and more generous to help others, or will they become more selfish and haughtier.

In the beginning of the Parsha, G-d tells Abraham to leave his birthplace and his father’s home and travel to an unknown land; “To the land that I will show you.”  Abraham was seventy-five years old at the time and Sarah was sixty-five.

G-d encourages Abraham by telling him that in the new land, "I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing.”  G-d promises Abraham that in addition to His blessings to Abraham and Sarah, “I will bless those who will bless you, and those who curse you, I will curse.”

Q.  We see a difference in the way G-d says what He will do to those who bless Abraham and those who will curse him. When speaking about those who will bless Abraham, G-d first says what Hewill do; “I will blessthose who will bless you.” But when speaking about those who may curse Abraham, G-d doesn’t say, “I will curse those who curse you.” Rather,” And those who curse you, I will curse.” First mentioning what they will do and only after how G-d will respond to them. Why the difference?

A.  Our sages say that when a person sincerely wants to perform a mitzvah (good deed), but for reasons beyond their control, cannot perform it, G-d gives them the credit and reward for it as if they have done the good deed. 

However, when a person wants to do a sin and, in the end, he refrains from doing it, no matter what the reason may be, G-d does notdeem it as if the act was done.  The intention to do good is part of performing the good deed, but the intentionto sin doesn’t count if they didn’t actualize it in the end.

Before a person blesses or curses someone, they think about it first and then express it vocally. G-d says to Abraham, “I will bless those who will bless you.” The blessings (“I will bless”) will begin, even beforethey utter the blessings, for even the thought of blessing Abraham will bring G-d’s blessings. But for those, “who curse you, I will curse.”  G-d’s curse comes only afterthey actually do it, not before.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY