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Spirituality

TORAH PORTION

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Finding Ourselves

Shabbat Lech Lecha: Genesis 12:1-
17:27; Isaiah 40:27-41:16.

M

ost often, we translate
luxuries.
the phrase lech lecha as
Now, some things we never consid-
simply "go forth." When
ered luxuries before are falling into
we read these words, we focus on the
that category: gas for our cars, fancy
most commonly accepted meaning
foods, going to the movies, going away
of the text: that God is commanding
for a winter vacation.
Abram to leave his native land and his
I would argue that though this is
father's house and go to an unknown
a scary time, it is one we can use to
land that God will show him. It is a
our own advantage. We can use it to
story familiar to all. Unfortunately,
extend the task of taking cheshbon
that prior knowledge inhibits further
nefesh, an accounting of our souls,
exploration.
beyond the High Holidays. We can
I believe we are robbing
remember what it felt
ourselves of the deeper
like to bring food for Yad
meaning that perhaps
Ezra's can drive and make
speaks to us more clearly
a pledge to do it more than
in our own day. Lech Lecha,
just on Yom Kippur. How
when translated literally
about passing down house-
means: Go unto yourself.
hold items, baby items and
Lech is a commandment to
furniture to young families
literally walk, or go. Lecha
instead of holding onto
means to you, or to your-
them for sentimental rea-
self. God is commanding
sons.
Rabbi
Abram to dig deep, to go on
The challenge of Lech
Jennifer
a journey of self-explora-
Lecha is the same now as it
Kaluzny
tion, not just to find the
was to Abram then: Go to
Special to the
land God has chosen, but to
yourself? Find out what has
Jewish News
find himself as well.
meaning to you and what
This is not a new expla-
does not, what you need
nation of the text, but it has always
and what you could give to help oth-
been my favorite. When we begin any
ers. Abram had the courage to go on
kind of journey, it should be both
this journey, and so must we. Abram
physical and spiritual. Surely, we
also taught us about hospitality and
cannot travel anywhere without our
sharing the best of what we have. That
physical bodies. Why should we even
made everywhere he and Sarai were a
attempt to do so without our souls?
promised land.
The two are inextricable, and I believe
What are the things and people that
that is what God is trying to prepare
allow you to live in your own prom-
Abram for when he tells him "go unto
ised land, and what are the aspects
yourself:"
that make it seem less than idyllic? We
God is telling Abram he is about to
can all accept this challenge to "go to
embark on the journey of a lifetime,
ourselves" and live up to it. We must.
not just to the land of milk and honey, The world we live in today demands
but to the beauty and glory of his own that we do. 0
nefesh, his own soul. And what is his
reward? A covenant with God that
Jennifer Kaluzny is a rabbi at Temple
transcends the generations and off-
Israel in West Bloomfield.
spring more numerous than the stars.
Right now, considering the world's
economic challenges, it seems we all
have been tapped on the shoulder by
Conversations
God and given the same directive as
What is the first thing that
Abram: Go, find yourself. Why now?
comes to mind when you try to
Because so much of what we like to
accept the challenge of "go to
hide behind is being stripped away.
yourself"? How can we answer
Even the most well off are being
this question as a Jewish com-
forced to rethink the necessity of life's
munity?

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November 6 • 2008

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