YeshivaThe torah world Gateway
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Lech Lecha
The Torah study is dedicatedin the memory of
Yaakov Ben Behora
In all of Tanach, the command, "lech lecha (you shall go)" is found only twice, both in regard to our first patriarch. The first time, Hashem told Avram to leave his homeland for the Promised Land, with the promise of success in his future (Bereishit 12: 1-2). The second time is when He commanded Avraham (his name had already been changed) to go to the Land of Moriah and bring his son as a human sacrifice (ibid. 22: 1-2). If we examine the wording of the Torah sections, we will see how strongly the Torah links them. Both refer to the place involved with the root, "to see," whether to be seen or to show. They also use similar language regarding the blessing and reward that Avram was to receive. However, the difference between the promises of blessing is very telling, as we shall demonstrate.
The phrase, "lech lecha," especially its second word, can be explained in two different ways. It can be a manner of speech, to stress the subject of the command, that it is Avram who is to go, even though it is otherwise clear that Avram is the subject (Ramban to 12:1). However, Chazal (brought by Rashi, ad loc.) interpret the word as, for your benefit. Indeed, as promised, Avraham received all that he was promised. He became wealthy and famous. He was the object of the respect and admiration of his time’s world leaders and decided the outcome of the first known world war. He even merited the birth of his beloved son, Yitzchak, born to his formerly barren wife, Sarah.
The background of the second "lech lecha" was very different. After attaining the tremendous success he did and upon approaching old age, Avraham was challenged by a command that would throw everything into jeopardy. He was told to sacrifice his beloved son. What would that make of his attainments? Was he to kill the one so dear to him? To whom would he pass on his legacy? What would the world that so respected him say about a man who went and slaughtered his own son? In this case, there were no promises in advance, just a command to go and bind Yitzchak to the altar. "Lech lecha" couldn’t possibly be for his benefit, one would think.
Actually, Avraham’s willingness to heed the second call demonstrates how he related to the first one. He was prepared to go, just go, without any known benefit, even at the price of losing everything. Indeed he related to the first "lech lecha" the same way. He went to follow Hashem’s command, with any benefits being secondary, at most. Both times, the benefits came. The benefits of the trip to Moriah were revealed only after Avraham had passed the great, moral test. He went thinking like the Ramban, and returned with the understanding of Rashi. And along the way to Moriah, he discovered for future generations where it is that Jews would go to bring up sacrifices and thereby be elevated.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
