Lech-Lecha 2017

This week's Torah portion is Lech Lecha, in which God tells Abraham to leave his land, his family and his birthplace, and "go to a land which I will show you." Why, ask the commentaries, doesn't God just tell him where he is being led - to the Land of Israel? Why all the mystery?

The Sefat Emet, Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter of Ger (19c.), answers that there is something valuable to be learned from following without full knowledge. Abraham is forced to give up so much without retaining control over his destiny. There is great value in making oneself a vessel for the will of the Divine, letting go of one's need for control and dominance. At times of change and new undertakings like building the Jewish people, it is only through this nullification of the self that we can become fully open to spiritual experience and building a convenantal community. May we merit a Shabbat of humility to become vessels of reception for the Divine will and the presence of others.

I often think the same is true of building community. We must each bring our gifts, our talents and our unique outlook, but this can only help us build the Jewish people if it is interwoven with the deep humility it takes to hear others, to value their opinions and to see the world through their eyes.