Parashat Lech Lecha : Following Hashem Into the Unknown
- Rebetzein Chavi
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Good evening, everyone.I’m trying to send you a message before Shabbos. I know it will reach you rather late for those in Eretz Yisrael and Europe, but I’m still trying. And may this be l’iluy nishmat HaRav Shlomo ben Rav Yitzchak.
A Time of Rapid Change and Great Nissim
I was thinking that there are so many events taking place nowadays. Circumstances are changing so rapidly, and Baruch Hashem, we see many nissim today.
We had this great event of Kiddush Hashem in Yerushalayim, and so many others. Constantly, there are new things happening every single day.
Ma’aseh Avot Siman Lebanim — Lessons from Our Forefathers
We have to remember one thing: whatever is taking place, whatever the circumstances may be — Ma’aseh Avot siman lebanim — our forefathers have taught us how to react.
They have set down a path for us and are teaching us how we must respond when confronted with challenges.
The Beginning of Am Yisrael — Avraham Avinu
What does that mean? That means we are now going to learn about the foundation of Am Yisrael, which begins with Avraham Avinu.
Now, we know almost nothing about Avraham Avinu before this week’s parasha. There was a brief mention in last week’s parasha of a place called Ur Kasdim, and the Midrash says that this is where Nimrod tried to put Avraham Avinu to death, after he had broken the idols of his father — desecrating idol worship. That’s all we know about him until now.
We do not know, up to this parasha, why HaKadosh Baruch Hu is choosing Avraham Avinu. But the story of Avraham Avinu — the choice of Avraham Avinu — starts with two words: “Lech Lecha.”
The Meaning of “Lech Lecha”
Lech Lecha means: you are going to leave now. You are going to stand up for yourself, even if you are alone in the world.
But Hashem tells Avraham Avinu “go,” as Rashi says, “l’hanatcha” — it will ultimately be for your benefit. It’s going to be difficult, but you will benefit.
You have to learn that in life, you and your children will often have to stand up on your own. Your children too will have to stand up for their principles.
As Chazal tell us, “Asarah nisyonot nitnaseh Avraham Avinu” — Avraham Avinu had to overcome ten different challenges.
Why Challenges?
And we wonder: if he was such a tremendous tzaddik, why is Hashem putting him through difficult and challenging situations?
The point is that Avraham Avinu is going to teach us how to react — how to behave when facing challenges.
It may be famine, poverty, war, disputes, even family disputes or the challenges of educating children. Avraham went through all of this.
Tests of Poverty and Wealth
He had to leave his family behind in Charan. He would face famine in Eretz Yisrael. And just as there is a trial of poverty, there can also be a trial of wealth.
He is going to accumulate tremendous wealth — and we will see that Avraham Avinu will retain his integrity, his tzidkut. He will not change in any way whatsoever, even when flooded with treasures from Paroh.
We see, on the contrary, that Lot — who was together with Avraham — is also going to become very wealthy, but his wealth will lead him to self-destruction. He will go to Sedom and eventually be taken prisoner by Amrafel.
The Spiritual DNA of Am Yisrael
HaKadosh Baruch Hu is telling Avraham Avinu: Lech Lecha — I know that I am demanding something extremely difficult from you, but it will be for your benefit and for the benefit of your children.
You are going to instill in their spiritual DNA the strength and the power to overcome many, many difficult situations. Whoever faces challenges in life draws strength from our forefathers — they are the ones who gave us that inner koach.
The Purpose of Challenge and Exile
Often, HaKadosh Baruch Hu says: what Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov did — the challenges they overcame — was not only for themselves.
Hashem says to Avraham Avinu: “Yado’a teida ki ger yihyeh zaracha” — I know you’ve been through challenging times, but your children too will go into exile.
It’s all for one purpose — to educate them, refine them, and eventually to give them tremendous spiritual and material wealth.
The Foundation of Faith — Trusting Hashem
What foundation is Avraham Avinu laying down for Am Yisrael? Hashem tells him Lech Lecha — you will now be on your own. Leave everything and follow Me.
The most important foundation of Am Yisrael is trusting Hashem, having faith in HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
Just as the stronger the foundation, the stronger the building, so too the stronger our emunah, the stronger Am Yisrael will survive throughout history.
Building the Mizbe’ach — Declaring Hashem’s Name
Avraham Avinu’s challenges were to lay down these spiritual foundations of Am Yisrael and give us a kind of spiritual DNA.
Just like we inherit physical DNA, we have received our spiritual DNA from Avraham Avinu. He is our role model, teaching us how to react in various situations.
As the Ramban teaches, this whole parasha of Lech Lecha teaches Ma’aseh Avot siman lebanim — what happened to our forefathers is a lesson for their children.
Avraham Avinu in Eretz Kena’an
What does Avraham Avinu do when he comes to Eretz Kena’an and doesn’t yet know where to settle?
The first thing he does is build a mizbe’ach — an altar — to proclaim Hashem’s Name, to let the world know that it is HaKadosh Baruch Hu who runs everything.
When there is famine, he doesn’t lose faith. He goes down to Mitzrayim, and eventually this descent will make him extremely wealthy.
Avraham and Lot — The Test of Wealth
Not everyone knows how to behave when becoming immensely rich. Avraham Avinu teaches us.
The Torah tells us “kaved me’od” — he became a millionaire. But what did Lot do? Lot’s wealth came only thanks to Avraham Avinu.
When a dispute arose between their shepherds, Avraham Avinu said: “Let’s part ways.”
Where did Lot choose to go? Of all places — Sedom. The Torah tells us: “V’anshei Sedom ra’im v’chata’im laHashem me’od.”
Eventually, Lot was taken captive by Amrafel because he was too attached to his wealth.
The Four Kings and the Four Exiles
The Ramban asks: why recount this major world war between the five kings and the four kings?
The four kings are symbolic of the four exiles that Am Yisrael would one day endure:
Amrafel — Bavel (Babylon)
Elasar — Persia (Paras uMadai)
Elam — Greece (Yavan)
Tidal — Edom (the Roman Empire)
The Ramban teaches that in every generation, when the nations come to attack us, our situation may look desperate — but just as Avraham Avinu was victorious, so too will Am Yisrael be.
Hashem’s Promise — Look Toward the Heavens
When Avraham returned from war with all the captives and spoils, he became known as Nasi Elokim — the prince of Hashem.
But Avraham said: “What does all this mean to me? I have no children. Who will inherit me? What do I need wealth for?”
Hashem told him: “Vayotze oto ha-chutzah” — come outside. Don’t look at the world of nature. Look toward the heavens — I am the One who can perform the greatest miracles.
The Covenant Between the Parts — Prophecy of Exile
Hashem commanded Avraham to take animals, cut them in two, and as Avraham sat guarding them, he fell into a deep sleep.
The Torah tells us: “V’hinei eimah chashecha gedolah nofelet alav” — a great darkness fell upon him.
This was a prophecy — there would be times of great darkness in Jewish history.
Hashem says: even in moments of fear and suffering, everything is for a purpose — to refine and educate His children.
The Purpose of Darkness — Refinement and Growth
Even in dark times, tremendous miracles occur. Everything has a purpose.
That is the essence of emunah: trusting Hashem even when challenges seem overwhelming.
The Purpose of Galut — Spiritual Wealth
Just as in Mitzrayim they went out with tremendous material and spiritual wealth, so too is the purpose of galut — to refine us.
Even in Eretz Yisrael, one can feel a form of exile when our values are not recognized. But HaKadosh Baruch Hu says: the purpose is to make the best of every situation.
“V’Achareichen Yetzu B’rechush Gadol” — The True Meaning of Wealth
The greatest wealth is Torah.
When Am Yisrael came out of Mitzrayim, they received the Aseret Hadibrot.
We must remember: there are many kinds of wealth, but the greatest is spiritual.
The Gematria of “Lech Lecha” — A Hundred Blessings
The gematria of “Lech Lecha” is 100 — corresponding to the 100 berachot a person is meant to recite each day.
These blessings give strength to stand firm, no matter the circumstances.
The Power of Gratitude and Faith
Berachot are about recognizing that Hashem gives us everything. Gratitude itself strengthens us.
This is the message of Lech Lecha: go forward, just as Avraham Avinu did, saying “Hineini — I am ready.”
Why is he able to do this? Because he has complete faith in Hashem.
A Remarkable Story About Rav Shach
Rav Shach, zikhrono livrachah, was a tremendous gadol in Eretz Yisrael.
As a young boy in Slutsk, wealthy families wanted him as a son-in-law, offering full financial support. Weeks before the wedding, his future father-in-law lost all his money.
Rav Shach decided to continue with the marriage anyway. He said: “This is emunah. Hashem will take care of us.”
He lived with poverty but learned with tremendous hasmada.
Leaving for Eretz Yisrael
In 1939, sensing the war was approaching, Rav Shach and his wife left for Eretz Yisrael with nothing.
Of all his friends who had married wealthier girls, he was the only one to survive the war. Hashem had prepared him for this challenge.
Another Story of Honesty and Integrity
A wealthy woman in New York lived a simple life and helped people quietly.
One day, she received a chocolate she didn’t order. She insisted on returning it, despite her husband saying it was a small matter.
Her honesty uncovered an employee who had been stealing thousands of dollars over months.
Small acts of integrity can have enormous consequences.
Wishing You a Wonderful Shabbos
All my love from New York.I hope to see you very soon in Yerushalayim.
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