B"H

Friday, Mar-Cheshvan 7, 5785 / November 8, 2024

The following are quotes from the Midrash on this week's Torah portion, Lech Lecha. 

From the Torah(Gen. 12:1): G-d tells Abram [Abraham], "Go out [to your benefit] from your country, from your birthplace, and from your father's house to the land that I will show you.  And I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great."

From the Midrash:Rabbi Brachia said, "What is Abraham compared to before he left his birthplace?  To a fragrant oil in a sealed bottle, lying in a corner. In this manner, no one could benefit from its fragrance. Only when the bottle's seal was uncovered, and it was moved around could people benefit from its wonderful fragrance. 

So too, G-d said, "Abram, you are a righteous person.  You have done many good deeds and many mitzvot. Go now from place to place and your name will be known, and it will be to everyone’s benefit."

From the Torah(Gen. 12:5):  "And Abram [Abraham] took Sarai [Sarah] his wife, and Lot his brother's son and their possessions that they had gathered and the souls which they made in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan and they came to the land of Canaan."

From the Midrash: "If all the nations of the world got together and tried to create the smallest fly, they could not give it life.  Yet, the Torah says, And the souls which they made!  How is this possible?  But this refers to the converts whom Abraham and Sarah brought closer to G-d. For when one brings someone closer to G-d, it is considered like they created them!"

From the Torah (Gen. 12:16): "And he [Pharaoh] dealt well with Abraham because of her [Sarah]."

From the Midrash:"A man should always be careful to honor his wife; for the blessing in his house is due to the wife, as is written, 'And he did good to Abraham because of her.'"

The Talmudic sage Rava would remind the people of his city, Mechuza, "Give honor to your wives so that you will be blessed with wealth!"

From the Torah (Gen. 13:16): "[G-d said to Abraham] I will make your seed as the dust of the earth."

From the Midrash:"G-d said to Abraham, Just like the sand is from one end of the world to the other, so too, will your children be scattered throughout the world.  Just as everyone steps upon the earth, so too, will your children be oppressed.  But just as the earth survives everything and is forever, so too, will your descendants last forever and ever."

SHABBAT SHALOM

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