B"H

Monday, Mar-Cheshvan 6, 5780 / November 4, 2019

In this week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, the Torah relates how, after Abraham and Sarah came to the Land of Canaan, there was a famine in the land.  Abraham and Sarah then went down to Egypt. 

On the way to Egypt, Abraham said to Sarah, “I realize that you are a very attractive woman. When the Egyptians will know that you are my wife, they will kill me and keep you for their king.  Please say that you are my sister, so they will favor me because of you and my life will be spared.”

As Abraham predicted, the Egyptians took Sarah to Pharaoh. That night G-d sent a terrible plague upon Pharaoh and his household. Realizing that it was because of Sarah, he sent her back to Abraham and also compensated Abraham and Sarah with great wealth.

The Torah continues that Abraham was heavily laden with wealth – with cattle, silver and gold. They returned from Egypt to Canaan on the same route and stayed in the same lodgings as when they went to Egypt, until he returned to where he lived before.

Q.The famine and their move to Egypt was one of the ten tests with which G-d tested Abraham and Sarah, which eventually helped their descendants. How did this test help the Jewish people later?

A.Our sages say that whatever happened to our forefathers eventually happened to their descendants. In this episode, G-d planted the seeds of redemption for the Jewish people from Egypt.  History repeats itself.  Abraham and Sarah left Canaan because of a famine. He went to Egypt, where there was plenty of food and came out of Egypt with great wealth.

The exact thing happened to the Jewish people 200 years later.  Jacob moved his family to Egypt due to a famine in the land of Canaan and when the Jewish people left Egypt after 210 years, they came out with great wealth.  Abraham and Sarah set the stage for their descendants hundreds of years later.  

Q.  Why does the Torah emphasize that upon their return, Abraham and Sarah travelled on the same roads and stayed in the same places as when they went to Egypt?

A.   On his way to Egypt everyone made fun of Abraham and Sarah. Here was a couple whom G-d promised that if they move to Canaan they will be blessed with children and wealth.  Yet, they were childless and penniless. In fact, they didn’t even have enough to pay for their lodging on the way to Egypt. People asked them why they still believe in a G-d who cannot keep His promises.

This is why Abraham and Sarah made it a point to return the exact same route and stay in the exact same places, so they can pay back whatever they owed for their lodging on the way to Egypt. It also gave them the opportunity to answer the many questions people had about G-d. They showed everyone that G-d did come through on His promises and that whatever G-d does is for the best.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Tuesday, Mar-Cheshvan 7, 5780 / November 5, 2019

Some interesting points from the Midrash on this week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha.

Parsha(Gen. 12:1):  G-d said to Abraham, at the age of seventy five; "Go out 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. And in you shall all the families of the earth bless themselves."

Midrash:  A man was walking in the desert on a very hot day.  He was hungry, thirsty and very tired.  But there was no food, water or shade in sight.  Suddenly, he saw a tree full of ripe fruits, its branches gave wonderful shade and a stream of water was flowing by the tree. He ate the fruit until he was satisfied, then he drank the water. Finally, he lay down in the shade of the tree and fell asleep.  When he awoke, he was full of energy and vigor, ready to continue his long journey.

Before he left, he looked up at the tree and said with emotion, "Tree tree, I want to bless you for saving my life.  But what should I bless you with?  With beautiful fruits?  You have it already.  Should I bless you with shade?  You have that too.  Should I bless you with a stream flowing next to you?  You don't need my blessing for that either.  However, I will bless you that all the trees that will come from your seeds shall be as marvelous as you!"

In a similar way, the Midrash says, was G-d's blessing to Abraham, "In you shall all the families of the earth bless themselves."  Everyone will pray that their descendants shall be like you!

Parsha(Gen. 12:5):  And Abra[ha]m took Sarai [Sarah] his wife, and Lot his brother's son and all their substance 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."

Midrash: "If all the nations of the world got together and tried to create the smallest fly, they couldn't 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!"

Parsha (Gen. 12:16): "And he [Pharaoh] bestowed gifts on Abrahambecause of her [Sarah]."

Midrash:  Rabbi Chelbo said, "A man should always be careful to honor his wife; for the blessing in his house is only 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!"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY

B"H

Thursday, Mar-Cheshvan 9, 5780 / November 7, 2019

This week's Parsha, Lech Lecha, as well as the next two Parshiot, are devoted to our first patriarch, Abraham and first matriarch, Sarah. The Parsha tells about many of the tests which Abraham and Sarah endured, beginning with G-d's commandment to Abraham to leave his land, his birth place and father’s home.

At the age of seventy five, Abraham became the first wandering Jew. Abraham and Sarah left their home and went to this unknown destination--the land of Canaan.  When they finally arrived, G-d brought a famine upon the land and again they had to move. This time, they journeyed to Egypt where they experienced more trials and tribulations.

Torah commentaries discuss why the Torah uses the words "Lech Lecha" which literally means "go for you" when only the word "Lech" ("go") would have sufficed.

Rashi explains that G-d is telling Abraham that although this commandment may seem difficult at this time, it is in fact, "for your benefit and for your pleasure." Whatever G-d commands us to do is truly for our benefit, whether we understand it at the time or not.

"Lech Lecha" can also be understood as "Go to you" – according to what YOU can accomplish.  G-d expects of each person to excel and achieve according to one's ability. 

The name "Torah" comes from the word "hora'ah" - meaning "teaching" and "lesson." 

The stories of creation and of our patriarchs and matriarchs, which are part of the Torah, are not just a history lesson, but serve to teach and guide us in each generation at all times.

The name of this week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, is no exception. There is a lesson for us in the two words, Lech Lecha, as the entire Parsha is called.

“Lech Lecha” teaches us that G-d expects each of us to continuously go forward. To achieve, accomplish and go from strength to strength. 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. But what I do worry is what if they will 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 answer…"

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY