Reflections from Rabbi Ellis

Two weeks ago the world began, last week civilization began, this week is the beginning of the Children of Israel. This week’s Parsha is dedicated exclusively to Avraham and Sarah, the first Jewish family. This week’s Parsha covers a span of twenty-four years. Throughout the whole Parsha Sarah and Avraham remain the only Jews. They have a huge household full of men and women, Avraham even has a son, but no one in this week’s Parsha merit’s being part of the nation of Israel except for Avraham and Sarah. Judaism in its most essential form is about the relationship between a man and woman, the lover, and the beloved. The story of Avraham and Sarah is the story of two people learning to love each other. Throughout the three sections of the Torah that tell their story Avraham is learning how to love his wife as much as he is able to love G!d. When we first meet him, Avraham knows that loving others is the will of G!d, it takes him his whole life with Sarah to learn that loving others is the highest form of loving G!d.

The title of this week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha means go to/for yourself. Lech Lecha is the first commandment that G!d gives the Jewish people. We can not be complacent about who we are and the world that we have been given.  As Jews we are obligated to leave the world that we know to actualize G!d’s vision. G!d loves all his creations, but he reserves his vision for those who transform themselves in order to transform the world. G!d chose Avraham because he knew that Avraham would make Lech Lecha the foundation of his life and the lives of all those who come after him.

Lech Lecha is a deeply personal Parsha for me. From as far back as I can remember I felt the stabbing pain of exile deep inside my heart. The knowledge that the person I am now is not who I need to be, is not who G!d needs me to be and that to be that person I need to change everything. It’s not a nice feeling, it flattens our achievements and acquisitions.  Lecha is what took me to Poland and Israel and is what brought me and my family to Montreal. Lech Lecha is the ultimate challenge, is your heart big enough to provide for your family while trying to change the world. Is your vision great enough that others can see it as well?

Lech Lecha is the antidote against the arrogance and complacency that plague us. It is the Jewish manifesto; you have to go out and change yourself to change the world. You need to make yourself vulnerable to love others. You need to go out in order to find G!d within. This week’s Parsha is the beginning of the Jewish people because G!d’s command to Avraham, Lech Lecha, is the essence of Jewish existence.

Shabbat Shalom!