Lech Lecha: Traveling Upward and Inward
I’m not a fan of air travel. Or any travel, for that matter. Seeing new places and old friends is wonderful; I enjoy that part. But I can dispense with the actual traveling.
My family just flew on a thirty-eight-seater airplane, the kind that tosses you around at the mere mention of turbulence. There’s nothing like grabbing for the baby who’s sliding off your lap, as you struggle to keep down your lunch, to make staying home appealing.
This week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, begins with G‑d instructing Abraham to set out on a journey, promising him, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing.” Why these specific assurances? The commentaries explain that travel usually has a deleterious effect on our ability to raise children, our financial solvency and our reputation. G‑d addressed those concerns accordingly. The phrase “I will make you into a great nation” tells Abraham of numerous descendants; “I will bless you” refers to monetary success; and unlike a wandering, unknown stranger, “I will make your name great.”
Abraham’s voyage was not detrimental. On the contrary, it led to immeasurable gain. In our lives, we sometimes must travel from the comfortable status quo, but when we journey for a G‑dly purpose and our movements are guided by His word, we can only find blessing.
Happy travels!
Malkie Janowski,
Responder for the Ask the Rabbi team @ Chabad.org
If He doesn’t want us eating pork, why did He make it edible? If he wants men circumcised, why aren’t they born that way?
Kabbalistic insights for a sharp new perspective on the brit—the fundamental observance seemingly shrouded in mystery.
Understand the radically different modes of relating to G‑d that Abraham’s two sons represent.
Abraham begins his journey, Sarah is abducted, Lot relocates to Sodom, the Promised Land is promised, the “Covenant Between the Parts” is formed, Abraham is circumcised . . .
Sara held on to the hope that she would leave that office with those few pieces of paper that would mean a new life for her and her family.
“Because you helped Reb Shmelke, whomever you will bless during the next twenty-four hours will be blessed . . .”
It was dark, cold and icy, the synagogue was without heat or lights, yet nothing could stop these Jews from praying to their G‑d.
They couldn’t believe I was their instructor. “Are you kidding me?” “She looks like she’s sixteen!”
When G‑d tells us to leave our laurels of yesterday’s accomplishment and take on the new, He is really telling us to be alive today.
The Midrash considers Sarah’s abduction and liberation a precedent for the Israelites’ future sojourn in Egypt.
When every last Jew was home on his own land, the entire community of Israel began to pray for rain.
“That’s not true,” she insisted. “The world can continue with or without me, it wouldn’t make any difference. It doesn’t need me for anything.”
An animated peek into the early life of the first Jew. Join Abraham, and experience firsthand this most pivotal period of his life.
Do you stick to what’s written in the contract, or do you go “beyond the letter of the law”?
A little guy drinking coffee in a soul-crushingly boring little diner where the prevalent philosophy is that the lights are “just on” . . .
Israel, it seems, is always in the news. Why? What is so unique about the Jewish homeland that draws worldwide interest?
Discover how, when and if to speak up for what’s right, when those acting improperly are your own family members.
Firsthand accounts of how the Rebbe’s teachings have influenced the world’s most powerful men and women.
More often than not, our physical selves get all the attention while our spiritual side is neglected.
When parents name a child, they experience a minor prophecy—because, somehow, that child’s destiny is wrapped up in the name’s combination of Hebrew letters . . .
The writings of Rabbi Meir Chaim Chaikin, who endured Soviet persecution for his clandestine efforts to strengthen Judaism, have for the first time been published.
Jews from three countries gathered at a printing house in Germany, celebrating the first Hebrew/German edition of the Tanya.
What is a mitzvah?
An act of uniting heaven and earth.
But heaven is spiritual and earth is material. To make spirit and matter one is impossible!
A creature of earth cannot make earth heaven. And a heavenly being cannot bring heaven to earth.
But for you, it is not impossible.
This mitzvah that I am commanding...
