God gave the message. Avram heard and responded positively. But are we listening as attentively as our illustrious forebear? Rabbi Paul Bloom explains.
Why did Hashem choose this as the foundational mitzvah? R.
Yehudah HaLevi, in Sefer HaKuzari, explains that Avram, already the most
righteous person of his generation, had reached a spiritual level where he was
ready to connect with the Divine in an even deeper way. Eretz Yisrael, the land
uniquely suited for spiritual perfection, was the only place where Avram could
reach his full potential. Even though Avram had already attained a high level
of closeness to God outside of Eretz Yisrael, Hashem knew that only in the Land
could he fully realize his destiny.
Avram’s life in chutz la’Aretz was not lacking in
purpose. He was discovering Hashem, fighting against idolatry, teaching
monotheism, and performing acts of kindness—just as many Jews in the diaspora
today raise families, run businesses, study Torah, and lead communities.
However, Hashem told Avram, “All this is good, but you are doing it in the
wrong place. In My special land, you will achieve so much more.” The message of
Lech Lecha is that Hashem’s call to live in Eretz Yisrael is timeless.
For years, people delayed making aliyah due to material
concerns. Today, with a comfortable life possible in Israel, the real barrier
is often spiritual complacency. Many feel they have everything they need in chutz
la’Aretz: thriving communities, Torah learning, chesed organizations,
kosher restaurants, and yeshivas. But Lech Lecha teaches us that while it’s
possible to reach spiritual heights in chutz la’Aretz, even greater
achievements await in Hashem’s chosen land.
7 October served as a wake-up call, prompting many Jews to
consider aliyah more seriously than ever. It’s not an easy decision. Uprooting
from the familiar, selling a home, leaving family and friends, and adjusting to
a new life can be daunting. Yet the blessings Hashem promises to those who move
to Eretz Yisrael, as outlined in this parsha, speak to our time as well: “I
will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name
great, and you will be a blessing.”
Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin comments in Oznayim LaTorah that
this promise applies to Avram’s descendants as well. Am Yisrael can only reach
its true greatness—militarily, economically, and spiritually—when we are in our
Land. The Shechinah (Divine Presence) does not dwell in the diaspora; we
need to open our eyes to the miracles Hashem performs in Israel daily.
The Netziv adds that Avram's example of acting immediately
upon Hashem’s command to leave teaches us how to approach the mitzvah of
aliyah. He didn’t wait for everything to be perfect; he set out immediately,
leaving others to handle his affairs. For us, this can mean making small
concrete steps: talking about aliyah, choosing careers suited for Israel,
renting instead of buying in chutz la’Aretz, or investing in property in
Israel. Such steps lock us into the journey toward aliyah, making it easier to
follow through when the time is right.
Even with all the challenges, Rabbi Chayim of Volozhin
teaches that the trials Avram endured were meant to strengthen his descendants.
His steadfast commitment to aliyah instilled within each Jew the ability to
heed Hashem’s call to move to Eretz Yisrael. The recent events have sparked a
renewed desire for aliyah, reminding us that every Jew possesses the inner
strength and spiritual "DNA" to make this journey.
Let me end with a beautiful thought from the Sefas Emes,
who raises a question about the closing words of the first blessing in our
Shmoneh Esrei, "Magen Avraham" — "the Shield of Abraham."
Why do we ask Hashem to protect Avraham? Avraham Avinu has been gone for
thousands of years; why would he need protection? The Sefas Emes, in a
classic insight of his Hasidut, explains that we are not asking Hashem
to shield Avraham himself. Rather, we are asking Him to preserve within ourselves
that spark of Avraham Avinu — the essence that drove him to leave his homeland,
come to Eretz Yisrael, and settle and conquer the Land of Israel.
We seek to retain the strength Avraham embodied, the
unwavering commitment to avodat Hashem (serving God), enabling him to
pass all his tests, from brit mila (circumcision) to the battles he
entered, enduring hardship with an indestructible faith. Avraham’s life was
built entirely on the will of Hashem, unshaken by the surrounding cultures and
norms. This enduring spark, this legacy of resilience and faith, is the true
blessing we ask for.
Ultimately, the question we must ask ourselves is: Are we
listening to Hashem’s call?
