Aliya-by-Aliya Parashat Lech Lecha
““Leave your land, birthplace, father’s house.” Ramban explains that each “point of departure” was progressively more difficult for Avraham. Leaving one’s land is difficult, even more so if he was born there. Leaving one’s family is most difficult. Ramban says that the Torah is showing us the great extent of Avraham’slove of G-d.”
“Lekh Lekha is considered the source of many of our fundamental beliefs about ourselves, our religion, and our land. It is regarded as the birth of monotheism; our connection to the land that became known as Eretz Yisra’el; a male’s identification through circumcision; and the election of the Jews as the Chosen People.”
The Making of a Covenant with Men and Women
“Almost 25 years after God calls Abram to leave his home in Mesopotamia and go to the land of Canaan, God formally establishes a covenant with him (Genesis 17:4ff.). Like that established with Noah, his descendants, and all living beings (9:8ff.), it is unconditional, everlasting, includes blessings and promises, and carries with it a sign decided upon by God. However, unlike the rainbow, placed in the clouds and passively received by humanity, the sign of God’s covenant with Abraham — male circumcision — is something with which Abram and his descendants, not God, are entrusted. ”
“”Leh Leha, get yourself out of your country, away from your kin and out of your father’s house”. Much has been written about the order of these words. Why does it not progress from the particular “your father’s house” to the general? What is the significance of the three different places from which Avram is instructed to leave? Why is Avram told to leave in the first place? How does Avram’s sojourning differ from what Terah, his father, was doing? (Genesis 11:31; ‘And Terah took Abram his son and Lot… and they went forth with them from Ur …, to go to the land of Canaan’).”
“What makes someone a “redeemer”? One dictionary defines a “redeemer” as someone who “obtains the release or restoration of, as from captivity”. This week’s haftarah recounts just such a figure: “Who has aroused a victor (tzedek) from the East, summoned him to His service? Has delivered up nations to him and trodden sovereign down? (41:2)” (54:9)”