Hamas War

Friday, November 7, 2008

Focusing on Our Goal

It's Parshat Lech Lecha, the week we read the Torah Portion where Abram, no, I didn't leave out a couple of letters, that was his name at the time, listened to G-d and began the adventure to end all adventures. Thousands of years later, we're still on that trail.

The end picture will be grand.

"Now the LORD said unto Abram: 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing. And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' So Abram went, as the LORD had spoken unto him..."

This was great PR. G-d barely hints about the difficulties on the way. If we do what G-d says, our enemies, those who curse us, will be cursed as a result.

Some people tried to argue with me when I said that I wasn't voting in the American Elections, but here in the pshat, simple wording of the Bible, G-d tells us "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house." My voting in American Elections would have indicated that I hadn't really left.
  • country-physical location
  • kindred-culture
  • father's house-recognizing that G-d's laws are most important

The message of Lech Lecha is to focus, concentrate on our goal, a strong Jewish State in the HolyLand, and not allow anybody to push us off-track.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

May you have a true and blessed Shabbat.

6 comments:

Ehav Ever said...

I agree 100%. I stopped voting in the states before I left because I knew I was going to make Aliyah, and that this is my real home.

I once heard an intreptation of Lekh Lekha, that Avram's journey could be looked as "go for yourself" or "go to yourself." So when I made Aliya, I came to going into myself. I also came for me, or at least so the real me could become.

Batya said...

Thanks
An interesting point. I also feel more "me" here than any place else.

Risa Tzohar said...

As you know, I share your committment to not voting in any elections other than those of my country, Israel. It's nice to know that I have G-d on my side!

Batya said...

See, you're following G-d even when you didn't plan it.

Hadassa DeYoung said...

Shavua Tov!
I've said it before and I'll say it again. It is impossible to live in Israel and vote in American elections with problems of dual loyalty. It is impossible for a Jew to live in America and vote in American elections with problems of dual (Israeli/American) loyalty.
Here in Elon Moreh Lech Lecha is "our" parsha because it's mentioned in Exodus 12:6. Tours of the area were given before Shabbat and on Shabbat the synagogues were packed with guests. It's been 2,000 years, but finally Avram/Avraham's children are coming home to stay! (I personally expect to return home to K'far Darom in the region of Gerar, where Avraham also walked.)
Hadassa

Batya said...

Hadassa, b'ezrat Hashem, bimhaira b'yamainu.