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Torah Portion
Travel Is Broadening
To Self And To Soul
Abram and Sarai are role models in
that they provide the inspiration for
us to take advantage of similar oppor-
tunities to affect our lives in a worth-
while way through a shinui makom
of sorts. Judaism beckons us to move
ahead and alter our physical place in
this world by undertaking an emo-
his week's parsha is about
tional and spiritual travel plan.
traveling and the lessons
Life is a journey with lots of twists
we learn along the way.
and turns, full of celebrations and
At the beginning of this
disappointments. God calls out to all
week's portion we meet Abram for
of us, like he did Abram and Sarai,
the first time. In Genesis 12:1-2, God
by saying lech lecha — go for your-
says to Abram, "Go forth from your
self, for your benefit, do
land, your kindred, and
something new. Make the
from your father's house to a
most out of the life on this
land that I will show you. I
earth that you have been
will make a great nation of
given. Go back to school,
you and will give you a
learn a new language, make
blessing and will make your
Torah study part of your
name great.
daily life. Open your mind
Rashi, the medieval
and don't be afraid to take a
Torah commentator, tells us
chance. Our tradition
that God made this seem-
affirms that it is okay if we
ingly unreasonable demand
RABBI JOSEPH have no idea where we are
for Abram's own good.
going at the start of our life
H. KRAKOFF
What God knows but
journey
and no understand-
Special to the
Abram does not yet under-
ing of where our wander-
Jewish News
stand is that in order to
ings will take us — neither
become a great nation, to
did Abram and Sarai. This
be blessed and to possess a great
is the beauty of the journey, of
name, Abram could not possibly
branching out, of really living the
remain in his homeland and in the
commandment of lech lecha!
house in which he grew up.
Sometimes we get so caught up in
In order to grow emotionally and
the day-to-day issues, worries and
spiritually, Abram is told he has to
concerns that we cannot see the light
leave his whole background behind
at the end of the tunnel. We must
for a vague place toward which God
take the strength and energy we need
will direct him. It is not so much a
to break forth and live in the space
chance at fame and fortune by being
between one place and the next — to
the first Jew that Abram desires, for
absorb the tension and revel in the
he was comfortable in his homeland
unpredictability. Life is not about
of Ur Chasdim. Rather, Rashi notes
staying in one place, but about ven-
that it is God's promise of children,
turing forth into the unknown and
of progeny, for which Abram and
eventually crossing the threshold into
Sarai desperately yearn that convinces
a renewed existence where we will
them to agree to undertake the jour-
grow, learn and mature.
ney into the unknown. Abram
Abram and Sarai are rewarded for
observed that everyone else was hav-
their arduous journey through the
ing children while he and Sarai were
range of experiences they encounter.
unable and God tells Abram that it is
Some experiences were positive —
in the new land of Canaan that he
Abram is the hero of a war fought
and his wife Sarai will give birth.
among nine kings. Others were nega-
Hence, their journey begins.
tive, like the famine that overcame
There is a concept in Judaism of
the land. Yet the most important
shinui makom, that changing one's
result is that their personal journey
physical place can affect a new des-
filled with opportunities and experi-
tiny. Abram and Sarai were perhaps
ences caused Abram and Sarai to
an extreme case of shinui makom, for
grow both emotionally and spiritual-
they had to leave everything they
ly. And while in next week's Vayera
knew and loved behind in order to
they will even attain their long
achieve their goal of parenthood. Yet,
sought-after goal of parenthood, it is
the actual journey more so than the
destination where the most amount
Joseph H. Krakoff is a rabbi at
of personal growth occurs.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Shabbat Lech Lecha:
Genesis 12:1-17:27;
Isaiah 40:27-41:16
7
"