This week is one of the defining moments as a Jewish people.
Abraham, our forefather, takes the first step on our journey to becoming the chosen people. Abraham (at the time called Abram) leaves his home and heads for the promised land of Canaan. It catalogues the beginning of the steps Abraham takes in his partnership with HaShem. By the end of the portion this week
What is interesting about this step is what it entails – it means walking out into the world and acting in line with a philosophical and ethical code. There is no mystical requirement, no miracle to perform but instead the core of the requirement is to simply go out and live by this code. In our parsha this week Abraham takes the first steps in building this code by trusting HaShem and going out into the world. That is the beginning of the partnership between HaShem and Jewish People that has lasted through the millennia.
The covenant with HaShem is a contract, which requires both sides to commit something to the “transaction”. For the Jewish people our part of the transaction is to live by that ethical code (of which Abraham took the first steps this week) – and we have “to go” (derived from the Hebrew word “l’lechet” and a part of the title of this week’s portion “Lech lecha”) out into the world, and have interactions with the world in order to reach our promised land and become a chosen people. Abraham’s actions were those of a moral man trying to go out into the world and interact (and make mistakes) with the world in accordance with this code, in accordance with the covenant.
It is the everyday nature of this requirement that is the extraordinary thing. A system that is based on the exceptional or miraculous is based upon CREED – a system which is based on a ethical way of approaching everyday life is based on DEED. And “deeds” are actions that we have the control to perform.
And this self determination is the key. In order to be “chosen” we have to “choose” to uphold (or attempt to uphold) this ethical code of living. And this code is based not on miracles and mystery but in everyday actions. It is designed to be within our grasp to perform – our religion is structurally designed to allow us to access that which makes us special or “chosen” through our own actions and belief.
We all have been in situations in our communities and our lives where we feel as though we have no control, or it is not within us to make the difference. It is at these times we must remember that we are commanded and required to act with our own hands to make a difference in the world around us. It is part of the covenant. Our requirement to interact with the world and take the change into our hands is truly the core of our commitment to HaShem as a people and as individuals.
As our work this year continues we will find times of hardship, stumbles and difficulties. That is when we must remember our part of the contract, our piece of the covenant – which is to look at ourselves and “lech lecha” out into the world. We must take the solution in our own hands and as Gandhi said “be the change you want to see in the world”.
We have the ability to take action. It is crucial to refuse to accept a tone of desperation and show through our own deeds the possibilities of inspiration.
It is by design in our hands, it is by contract our duty and it is by fortune our time to help.
Shabbat Shalom
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment