going home ... to yerushalayim: Reb Neuberger: Parshas Lech Lecha

07 November 2024

Reb Neuberger: Parshas Lech Lecha

THE MAN WHO FOUND HASHEM

Here we stand at the beginning of the world.

OK, maybe not the beginning; that was Parshas Beraishis.

But yes! In reality, Avraham Avinu stands at the beginning of the world, because the world exists for one purpose alone: that we, His creations, should find Hashem and sanctify this world. The world must know its Creator and Master!

“Avraham was worthy of being created before Adam, but Hashem said, ‘Perhaps Adam will spoil things by sinning, and there will be no one to set things right. Therefore, I will create Adam first, so that Avraham will come and repair what he spoils.’” (Beraishis Rabbah 14:6 as seen in the Encyclopedia of Biblical Personalities)

Alone in a world of darkness, Avraham had the courage to search for Hashem. He knew Hashem had to exist and then took it upon himself to find Him. “Hashem chose Avraham but did not draw him close. Rather, Avraham drew close of his own accord.” (Bamidbar Rabbah 3:2)

Avraham taught us how to blaze a trail, Avraham began life far away from Hashem, but he realized that there could be no world without a Creator. So, by his own efforts, step by step, he discovered Hashem. “Avraham recognized Hashem on his own. He had no teacher….” (Bamidbar Rabbah 14:2 ibid) In the words of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch zt”l, “The purpose of man is to be a likeness of G-d, but he is to effect this likeness through his own free and dynamic power.” (Beraishis 1:26)

Avraham did not draw close all at once, but rather one day at a time. (Zohar 1:129a, ibid) He followed his seichel, building a solid foundation. He did not jump two rungs at a time, but climbed the ladder steadily so that he would not slip.

I feel particularly close to Avraham Avinu, because I feel that my path is similar to his. I am not comparing myself to his greatness, but rather I am grateful because he blazed a trail for me and all his children. Perhaps this is what we call “zechus avos.” In his merit we have a derech in this world, a derech which leads to the World of Truth.

Dr. Jacob Freedman is a frum psychiatrist in Israel. He graduated from Harvard Medical School and had a life anyone could envy, yet he and his wife decided to uproot themselves from America and make aliyah with their young family. What pulled at him and his wife to give up so much and face the challenges of life in a different world where the language was not even the same? Here are his words.

“[My life] was everything I could have dreamed of and more …. yet I was missing something. I had family; I had Torah; I had parnassa and everything I could ask for …. [yet] in spite of this I felt hollow. Was this really it? Was my life going to consist of daf yomi, working in a hospital and living as a Red Sox fan in Boston ad meah v’esrim? On the weekly basis when a new patient would inevitably spit at me or call me a ‘dirty Jew,’ I knew this wasn’t the right place for me…. I kept asking myself: Am I honestly doing everything I can do for Am Yisroel with all the [abilities] I’ve been blessed with?” (Dr. Jacob Freedman, “Off the Couch,” Menucha Publishers)

Over the millennia, we Jews have felt the pull of our neshoma, which is constantly urging us to sanctify and purify our lives so that we can fulfill Hashem’s ratzon to the highest possible degree.

We, the Children of Avraham Avinu gain courage and direction from our first father, who grew up in luxury in a land of idolatry. His great soul could not abide the falsehood which surrounded him, so he gave it all up and followed the path to Hashem. And Hashem answered him. Avraham was rewarded because of his humility. Hashem said to him, “You said ‘I am but dust and ashes.’ As a reward for your humility, I will give your sons atonement through the ashes of the Red Heifer.’” (Beraishis Rabbah 49:11)

Dovid Ha Melech said, “I am a worm and not a man.” Dovid was rewarded for his humility by becoming the eternal Melech of Israel and father of Moshiach.

My friends, we can learn everything from these great progenitors. They saw through the sham and yearned only for Hashem. They were the purest of the pure. They did not see themselves as great, but wanted only to serve the Master of the Universe.

If we imitate them and discard the empty culture which clings to us, then Hashem will surely reward us with the Ultimate Redemption, the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid and the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdosh soon in our days!