B"H
Friday, Mar-Cheshvan 12, 5784 / October 27, 2023
Q. The name of the Parsha, Lech Lecha, is translated as, “Go to you.” What lesson is there for us in these two special words?
A. The noted Chassidic Rabbi, Reb Zusia of Anipoli would say, "After I pass on from this world and come before the Heavenly Court, I'm not worried that they will ask me why I wasn't as righteous as Abraham or Moshe. That would be an unrealistic expectation of me because I could never be as righteous as Abraham or Moshe.”
“What does worry me is, What if the heavenly court asks me, 'Zusia, why weren't you Zusia! Why didn't you achieve and accomplish to the best of your abilities? To that I will have no answer..”
The name of the Parsha, Lech Lecha, conveys this very important lesson: "Lech Lecha" means, "Go to you." G-d expects each person to “go” – to excel and to achieve to the best of their ability. One is not expected to be what they cannot be, but everyone is expected to be the best they can be.
Q. In the Parsha, G-d promises Abraham that his descendants will be like the dust of the earth and like the stars in heaven. The Torah tells us that G-d told Abraham, “Look to the heaven and count the stars if you are able to count them. And G-d said to him, “So will be your children.” What is the significance of comparing the Jewish people to the stars?
A. Just like the stars provide guidance and direction not to get lost and wander in the darkness, so too, every Jew should be like a star, who influences others and guides them out of the darkness into the path of spiritual light.
Also, when one looks at the stars, their size is very deceiving. Although they appear to be small, in reality they are very large. The reason they seem small is because the distance between us and the stars is so great. The same is with us. If another Jew seems small and insignificant spiritually, it may be because of our distance from that person. Only when we become closer to each other can we truly appreciate the true qualities of each other.
Our sages tell us in Pirkei Avot that G-d tested Abraham with ten tests. Abraham passed all the tests and he didn't question G-d's ways. Abraham's faith never wavered even under the most difficult situations when his personal experiences seemed to contradict what G-d had promised him.
Our sages tell us that everything in life is a test. Each and every one goes through tests. To some, G-d's tests come in the form of hardship and poverty while others are tested through wealth and prosperity. Our sages caution us that the test of prosperity may at times be more difficult to pass. So, while it is preferable to be tested through prosperity, it is very important to recognize it as such.
WITH SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN ISRAEL
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montreal candle lighting time: 5:31 / Shabbat ends: 6:33