B"H

Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 3, 5785 / November 4, 2024

This week’s Parsha is Lech Lecha – the third Parsha in the Book of Breishis (Genesis).

The Torah is divided into Five Books: Breishis (Genesis); Shmot (Exodus); Vayikra (Leviticus); Bamidbar (Numbers); Devarim (Deuteronomy). The first Parsha in the Book of Genesis begins with the story of creation and the ten generations from Adam until Noach (Noah). The second Parsha is the story of Noach and The Great Flood. It also speaks of the ten generations between Noach and Abraham.

This week’s Parsha begins with the story of Abraham and Sarah, the patriarch and matriarch of the Jewish people. Abraham was seventy-five and his wife Sarah was sixty-five when G-d told them to leave their birthplace and the comfort of their father’s and family’s environment and migrate to a foreign land.

In this Parsha we will read about many of the tests Abraham and Sarah endured, beginning with G-d's commandment to leave their birth place and homeland at the age of seventy five and sixty five.

Abraham and Sarah became the first wandering Jews. After arriving in Cannan, G-d brought a famine and again they had to move. This time, they journeyed to Egypt where they experienced more trials and tribulations.

Q.  Why does the Torah use the expression, "Lech Lecha" which literally means "go for you" when only the word "Lech" ("go") would have sufficed?

A.  Rashi explains that G-d is telling Abraham that although this commandment may be difficult in the beginning, and difficult it was, yet, it is in fact, “for you” - "for your benefit and for your pleasure."  For whatever G-d does and whatever He wants us to do, is in truth for our benefit and if we accept it as such, it is also for our pleasure, whether we see it at the time or not.

Another explanation: "Lech Lecha" can also be understood as "Go to you."  According to your ability.

G-d expects every person to excel and achieve according to their ability. We must not become discouraged by the fact that others have the ability to accomplish more.  Our sages tell us that all G-d asks of each person is to do the best according to his or her ability.

The noted Chassidic Rabbi Zusia of Anipoli would say, "After I pass on 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.  For I am not Abraham nor Moshe and G-d doesn't expect me to be like them. What I am worried about is what if they ask me, 'Zusia, why weren't you Zusia? Why didn't you achieve and accomplish the best that you could have accomplished?' To this I will have no justification!”

G-d doesn’t demand of us to achieve the impossible, but He did give us the ability and expects of us to accomplish that which we are capable of.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

    UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW