This week’s Torah portion begins with the story of Abram leaving his birthplace in Haran. God promises the land of Canaan to Abram and his descendants. Because of a famine in the land, Abram takes his family to Egypt. While there, the pharaoh orders Abram’s wife, Sarai, to live in his palace. Plagues come upon Egypt as punishment for what Pharaoh has done, and Sarai is restored to Abram. Returning to Canaan, Abram and his brother’s son, Lot, divide the land in order to prevent any disagreements between them. Later, Lot is attacked and taken hostage by enemy kings. Abram rescues him and his family. Because Abram and Sarai have trouble conceiving a child, Sarai, in the custom of ancient times, invites her maidservant, Hagar, to have a child with Abram. When Hagar becomes pregnant, she and Sarai stop getting along. Sarai chases Hagar away. An angel tells Hagar to return, and she bears a son whom Abram names Ishmael. As the Torah portion concludes, Abram is instructed to circumcise himself and Ishmael. Abram is told that the circumcision of all males at eight days will be a sign of God’s covenant with him and his people forever.
You can see that there is enough in this Torah portion to fill a year of soap operas. For me, though, I rarely make it past the first words. The story begins with God’s command to Abram (who will later be re-named Abraham) to leave his birthplace. We know that the journey ahead is going to be filled with many challenges and tests and meaningful experiences. It is going to be quite an adventure. The opening words of this story teach us a lot about starting out on new paths. They are Lech Lecha. The first word Lech is the command form of ‘Go’ – so God is saying to Abram – “Get Going” – or “Off with you!” The second word, lecha, is a bit confusing. The Lamed or ‘L’ is the word – ‘to’ and one would imagine it would be followed by a place. “Go to Israel” or “Go to a new place.” Instead the object of the Abram’s journey is the ending of the word which means ‘to you.’ Abram is being commanded by God to start the most important journey of his life and the words translate as “Go unto yourself.”
Here is a wonderful teaching hidden in just two little words. When we are about to embark on an adventure or a new project. We must first go into ourselves. To prepare for chance and the unknown we must take time to access where we are – privately. How are we feeling? What are our fears? What are our hopes? What values, what strengths, what commitments will be bring to what is ahead. Our journeys will not as fruitful unless we begin them by going within. Abram’s journey had many successes and, I would suggest quite a number of challenges, and even a failure or two. Perhaps he might not have become the father of a great nation had he not taken time at the beginning and along the way to get to know himself.
In these challenging times, this seems like valuable ancient wisdom. Surely, this is a wonderful lesson for all of us. Lech Lecha!!!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Amy Schwartzman
