Parshas Lech Lecha (5761)

Bs”d

Parshas Lech Lecha (5761)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

This is the Parsha of Avraham Avinu our founder, the creator of Klal Yisroel.  This title of founder means that Avraham Avinu was imbued with ideals that inspired him to formulate and create a mechanism that would personify and eternalize his ideals.  In other words, this means to create a nation.

An understanding of Avraham Avinu and his uniqueness would certainly give us a greater clarity of the goals and aspirations of Klal Yisroel.  Let’s crystallize what Avraham Avinu stood for and to what he was so devoted and dedicated.

Firstly, Avraham Avinu was a persistent searcher.   He looked and investigated for the truth and HaShem. According to some opinions he searched for seventy-five years until Hashem acknowledged Himself to Avraham.  Secondly, Avraham Avinu found and made a strong bind with HaShem.  Thirdly, Avraham Avinu discovered HaShem as a “Keil Chesed”; He revealed Himself to the world as a bestower of kindliness.  Avraham learned this primarily by studying and observing the creation.  Fourthly, Avraham Avinu devoted himself to the ideal of doing ‘chesed’.  He was doing this to emulate HaShem.

Noach, too, was an outstanding tzaddik.  In trying to crystallize the unique qualities of Avraham Avinu and why he was chosen over Noach, Chazal say (Medrash Rabba 30:8): “Shehaya metukan lehadrich kol haolam kulo bitshuva”—he was set aside to inspire and lead the world to tshuva.  The essence of Avraham Avinu was his goal and ideal to inspire the world and spread the truths he discovered.  This being the uniqueness of our “founder”, it must be likwise the essence of the “nation” he founded.

Everything in this world has its basic properties and traits that define its essence, and then there are its side and minor attributes.  This is a crucially important principle in understanding our role as being part of Klal Yisroel.

Our Parsha brings with it an awakening for us to make a serious “spiritual inventory”, checking if we are living up to what is expected of us for the zechus of being part of Klal Yisroel.  Each and every one of us in our own little (or big) way should made a serious effort to spread some light.

We should all be ‘zocheh’ to our special “Birchas HaShem”.