Abram was a man who lived in ancient Mesopotamia, in the city of your. He lived a quiet and prosperous life with his wife Sarai. But one day, when Abram was already elderly, G-d called him away from his familiar surroundings.
Are we all heading our way? Where does it lead, and is it limitless to leave your home where you live, where you grew up and where all your social networks are?
“Lech Lecha” originates from the Hebrew Scriptures of the first book of the Torah, and means “Go for yourself.” So G-d spoke to Abraham and said; “Leave your land, your family, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you; ” Abraham was surprised and a little scared, but he trusted G-d and obeyed his command.
The idea behind this is that sometimes in order to achieve personal growth and spiritual development, one must leave one’s comfort zone and be willing to take a new path. This can mean moving away from one’s home, where one grew up, and where most of the social networks are located. It’s a call to be open to change, new experiences, and the opportunity to build new communities and relationships.
But let us not forget that leaving home can also be a grand adventure, a chance to break free from the monotony of everyday life. There’s a certain thrill in realizing that you have the power to choose your own path, to embrace the unknown, and maybe even discover something extraordinary.
Just like Abraham and Noah, we must recognize that the limits of leaving home depend on the person and the specific situation. Some folks may feel their wings have been clipped, unable to venture too far from their safe haven, while others might wave goodbye to their home sweet homes with sheer delight, leaping into the great unknown like an unbridled gazelle.
In short, “Lech Lecha” calls for personal growth and risk-taking to explore new avenues, even if it means moving away from one’s familiar home and social networks. It is a call to be open to change and new possibilities on the path to personal fulfillment and spiritual development.
“Abraham today stands for being complete, or seeing the complete picture. He saw that G-d was a unit and one didn’t have to look for more than that, one can easily derive 2 Noahide commandments from that”
Abraham saw the bigger picture, he saw the complete truth. He understood that G-d was a unity and there was no need to search for anything beyond that. In fact, from this realization, we can easily derive two of the Noahide commandments.
Firstly, we must know and acknowledge that there is one G-d, and He is singular. We shouldn’t try to compare Him to anything or anyone else, because He is the ultimate unity. This is a fundamental aspect of our faith.
Secondly, we are commanded not to curse or blaspheme His Creation, G-d. This also implies that we should not be superstitious or believe in other deities. By not being spiritually misguided, we can truly understand the complete picture.
Abraham, our forefather of faith, was able to see this complete picture. He had a deep understanding of G-d’s unity and the importance of not straying away from it. This is a valuable lesson for all of us to grasp.
Its also true that nowadays in the State of Israel the search for being complete and not divided is ongoing. In divided I mean a solution that brings more division than completeness, like the 2 states which should have been 1 state living in peace. The nations of the world have a big part in this problematic approach of creating division in a lot of places. Abraham however did not divide, he communicated the Oneness in his prophecy and speech.
“I will establish my covenant with Him, and not with others, and my covenant shall I establish with Isaac?” While Isaac was ordained in the womb, the covenant of circumcision will pass to the offspring of Isaac, not those of Ishmael and others.”
So there you have it, dear readers. Isaak, the unsung hero of covenant distribution who ensured that the Jewish faith and its quirky traditions would endure through the ages. Let’s raise a glass and l’chaim to Isaak and his colorful descendants, who have kept the flame of this sacred bond burning bright.
The important covenant that G-d made with Abraham and why this covenant was continued specifically with Isaac, and not with others like Ishmael and his descendants. Let’s delve deeper into this fascinating issue and find out the reasons behind it.
Isaac was ordained in the womb. This means that even before Isaac was born, G-d had bestowed a special sanctity on him. This holiness made him the chosen heir of the covenant that G-d had made with Abraham. It was through Isaac that the ‘covenant’ (circumcision of the heart, meaning taking upon oneself the yoke of heaven) and circumcision were carried on to the next generations.
Isaac played a crucial role in spreading G-d‘s promise of the ‘covenant’. His descendants, known as the Jewish people, would become the guardians of this ‘covenant’ and bear the responsibility of continuing the Jewish faith and traditions. Giving the ‘covenant’ exclusively to Isaac and his offspring, the Israelites or Bnei Israel, preserved the uniqueness of this legacy and laid the foundation for the development of the Jewish people.
Imagine Noah, tasked with building that famous ark and gathering all the animals. He probably thought, “Ah, yes, I’m committing to a massive road trip with a bunch of rowdy creatures. How limitless can this be?” But hey, Noah had faith, and look at how his journey turned out—quite the tale!
Until we meet again, may Abraham’s wanderlust and his discovery of completeness guide your curiosity, and may Noah’s faith steer you through turbulent waters.
Bon voyage!
האב א גוטע רייזע!
By Efraim
Sources:
Chumash with Rashi comments, Rabbijn Samson Onderwijzer Dutch translation
Noahide Academy Master Theology, Torah lessons with Rav Simcha
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