Progress and change, uncertainty and belief

The Parasha in our everyday life - Lech Lecha - 5782

Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald – Rosh Yeshiva, 'Meir Harel' Hesder Yeshiva Modi'in

It is human nature to strive for progress and advancement. Staying on one spot is seen as a frustrating miss. Nowadays this is very noticeable in the careerist field and in self-fulfillment, but the aspiration also exists in relation to personal development and dealing with character traits that are to be improved. On the other hand, every progress in life involves some change from any existing situation. Sometimes people avoid progress because they have a psychological barrier and fear the change that comes with it. The existing known and familiar situation, with its advantages and disadvantages, inspires confidence. It is difficult to leave the 'comfort zone' for a change that has elements of unfamiliarity, uncertainty, and risk-taking (although even in the familiar situation, future unexpected changes are possible). This is also the case when it comes to the process of progress of both the individual and the public.

In our Parasha we learn from Abraham Avinu's biography about personal progress that involves a challenging dramatic change and going into the unknown. This change was also followed by religious and cultural progress of the entire human race.

Abraham is commanded to leave his place:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ה' אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וּמִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּ׃

"Hashem said to Abram, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred to the land that I will show you." (Bereshit 12:1)

He must leave his homeland and his father's house on a journey whose address is not specified, an exit into the unknown.

This departure is the 'first trial' out of the ten trials and challenges he will face in his lifetime:

עֲשָׂרָה נִסְיוֹנוֹת נִתְנַסָּה אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם וְעָמַד בְּכֻלָּם,

"With ten trials was Abraham, our father (may he rest in peace), tried, and he withstood them all" two in Lech Lecha.

This is the first of them all and therefore it is the hardest. Which is similar to the last one, Akeidat Yitzchak (The Binding).

וְרַבִּי לֵוִי אוֹמֵר, נִסָּיוֹן הָרִאשׁוֹן כַּנִּסָּיוֹן הָאַחֲרוֹן. נִסָּיוֹן הָרִאשׁוֹן, בְּלֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ. נִסָּיוֹן הָאַחֲרוֹן, בְּלֶךְ לְךָ אֶל אֶרֶץ הַמֹּרִיָּה

"R. Levi stated: Abraham’s first trial was similar to his last. The first trial began with the words ``Get thee out of thy country, and the last began with the words Get thee into the country of Moriah". (Midrash Ylamdeinu 34)

The trial of 'Lech Lecha' is a double one, 'one inside the other':

אשר אראך, לא אמר ליה למקום פלוני זו נסיון בתוך נסיון יש אדם שהולך ואינו יודע לאיזו מקום הוא הולך

"The Holy One, blessed be He, did not mention any specific place. This indicates that this was a trial within a trial, as in the case of a man who embarks upon a journey without being aware of his destination" (Midrash Tanchuma Lech Lecha 3)

The very commandment to make the change, to leave his place and disengage from the known surroundings he is accustomed to, is a trial in itself. Departure and separation have a price and risks that come along:

לְפִי שֶׁהַדֶּרֶךְ גּוֹרֶמֶת לִשְׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים, מְמַעֶטֶת פְּרִיָּה וּרְבִיָּה וּמְמַעֶטֶת אֶת הַמָּמוֹן וּמְמַעֶטֶת אֶת הַשֵּׁם

—Since travelling is the cause of three things—it decreases (breaks up) family life, it reduces one’s wealth and lessens one’s renown… (Rashi Bereshit 12:2)

However, it is a 'double trial' and twice as difficult, because Abraham is commanded to go out "to the land that I will show you", he does not have a definite address to which he is supposed to go!!! He goes out into the 'unknown'!

This is not a random trial; the commandment is meant to advance Abraham:

אמר ר' אלעזר, לך לך, לך היינו לעצמך, כלומר, לתקן את עצמך, לתקן את המדרגה שלך. לך לך, כי אין לך להימצא כאן בין הרשעים הללו"

"… that is, to correct yourself, to correct your ways" (HaSulam Lech Lecha, Zohar).

He must make a change otherwise he will not be able to reach his own life destiny:

לך לך. לַהֲנָאָתְךָ וּלְטוֹבָתְךָ, שָׁם אֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָדוֹל, כָּאן אִי אַתָּה זוֹכֶה לְבָנִים, וְעוֹד שֶׁאוֹדִיעַ טִבְעֲךָ בָּעוֹלָם:

לך לך "Get thee out (literally, go for thyself) - for your own benefit, for your own good: there I will make of you a great nation whilst here you will not merit the privilege of having children (Rosh Hashanah 16b). Furthermore, I shall make known your character throughout the world" (Rashi ibid)

Where does Abraham draw the strength to face the double trial and the difficult challenges from? His great faith in G-d! To walk into the unknown, one needs great faith and vision, to know which is the right direction; because where the reason is debilitated, is where faith begins. Therefore, it is worth the risk of giving up the comfort zone.

Belief is the compass by which man directs his progress, even when it is not entirely clear. Faith is also the source of strength to deal with the uncertainties involved, and the belief in itself and its ability to meet the challenge. Only in this way can the goal be achieved and realized.

Abraham had great faith. He founded the faith in one G-d.

It is said of him later in the Parasha:

וְהֶאֱמִ֖ן בַּֽה' וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ לּ֖וֹ צְדָקָֽה׃

"And because he put his trust in Hashem, He reckoned it to his merit". (Bereshit 15:6)

His going to the Land of Israel brought him closer to G-d and strengthened his ability to withstand additional difficulties and challenges and to progress to greater achievements.