What's the Spiel? - Parshat Lech-Lecha

What's the Spiel?

8 Cheshvan 5785 - November 9, 2024

Parshat Lech-Lecha

Rabbi's Reflections

-The Past Does Not Define You: Moving Ahead as Avraham-

Why was Avraham chosen by God to become the herald of ethical monotheism to the world and the first Jew? What unique character-traits, abilities and virtues did Avraham possess to merit such distinction in world history? Remarkably, the Torah is silent on this topic. Chazal, however, attempt to break the Torah’s silence by explaining Avraham’s election through various Midrashim which present him as either a fiery iconoclast – breaking the social, religious and accepted ideological norms of his day, or, as an inquisitive intellectual, a sort of religious philosopher, examining the natural world in an attempt to discern its Prime Mover. However, according to Rav Moshe Feinstein, Avraham’s uniqueness did not come from his greater spiritual or intellectual capabilities. On the contrary, Avraham was chosen by God for another, somewhat less impressive reason.

According to Rav Moshe, many commentators want to know why God told Avraham, “Go for yourself from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation; I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you” (Bereshit 12:1-3). God’s words to Avraham are so profound and revelatory that surely, he must have been a great man, a wise, pious and righteous man back in his native land. And yet, how can we know? “Thus, it seems,” Rav Moshe says, “that even though Avraham already knew his Creator (in Ur Kasdim)…Nevertheless, the Torah does not reveal anything about his background…because the Torah wants to teach us that even if a person does not yet know his or her own greatness, even if a person does not yet fully know their own potential, but rather, merely senses that they are destined for something bigger than their present situation and that their surroundings do not reflect their spiritual and moral values, that person must then never be satisfied with their achievements in those circumstances. Instead, that person must respond to that sense they have about themselves, however vague it may be, and leave their familiar surroundings in order to grow even more” (Sefer Kol Ram, Lech-Lecha, 3:47-8). According to Rav Moshe, the reason why the Torah tells us virtually nothing about Avraham’s background, about what made him so special and why he was chosen, is because one’s background need not determine or define one’s future, one’s destiny, one’s potential. Avraham is introduced to us from “out of nowhere,” specifically because his genesis is less important than his movement forward to a land unknown because he both knew and felt that the success he could achieve, that the life he truly wanted to live, that the morals he wanted to instill in his family simply could not be done in Ur Kasdim. Had Avraham remained in Ur Kasdim he would have still been wealthy, he would have still been respected, he would have still lived a dignified and admirable life, but it would not have been the life he wanted deep down – a life of meaning and spiritual fulfillment. Hence, the true greatness of Avraham was in the way he actively responded to his own need to break out of the mold his society cast for him, to never be satisfied with that which feels unfulfilling, even if success is achievable, and to be constantly looking for new ways to grow, especially when that means taking a bold step forward into the unknown.

The Torah tells us next to nothing of Avraham’s past because the past is the past! What matters most is how we respond to the higher callings of our lives and move forward in order to attain that which we seek. This Shabbat, may we all be inspired by the greatness of Avraham. It is not the greatness of an intellectual giant or a revolutionary. It is the greatness of a man who wanted more out of life and did what it took in order to get it. May we all have the strength and the courage to not allow our past to define who we are, to not allow comfort and convenience to blur the visions we have of ourselves. May we all rise to the callings each and every one of us receives every day, to “Go for yourself,” and may we do so with gladness of heart, and confidence of spirit.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Dan

Schedule of Services at B'nai Abraham

Friday, November 8

Candle Lighting – 5:19PM

Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat - 5:15PM

Saturday, November 9

Shacharit – 9:00AM

Kid's Service – 10:30AM

Mincha – 5:10PM

Havdallah – 6:15PM

Sunday, November 10

Shacharit - 8:30AM

Monday (Federal Holiday)

Shacharit 8:30AM

Tuesday- Friday

Shacharit - 7:05AM

CTI Announcements

Altman, Arthur & Barb

Carroll, Reese & Fishman-Carroll, Sherry

Chapin, David & Rita

Clifford, Sean & Meredith

Giberti, David

Glassman, Sampson & Steinberg, Beth

Gordon, Elan & Karine

Govrin, Yair & Liliana

Humble, Marshall

Iken, Daniel

Kagan, Lisa

Kaufman, Charles & Jennifer (Vonne)

Kron, Jennifer

Levy, Patricia

Lonsdale, Tayler & Joe

Magill, Elon

Magill, Loretta

Newberg, Stuart & Suzanne

Pompa, Alana

Price, Katie & Marty

Rafaeli, Jehoda & Hana

Ramon, Zvika

Reitberger, Isaac & Michelle

Robbins, Reuven & Klein-Robbins, Rosemary

Rogalski, Joshua & Toriann

Rosenberg, Joshua & Fox, Kendra

Rosenthal, Davida

Roth, Malkah Esther

Saad, Jonathan & Roni

Shaftel, Myles

Shalit, Leon & Ava

Shapira , Itamar

Shapiro, Eric & Beth

Shavit, Offer & Ilana

Skitel, Ori & Dewitt, Emmaline

Smith, Larry & Ester

Sultan, Solomon & Devorah

Swernofsky, Steven

Tendler, Stuart & Jennifer

Tovy, Arie & Naomi

Wallner, Gloria & Martin

Welter, Samantha

Wolfson, Jake

Woloszko, Jean & Eveline

Yeschin, Natalie & Neil

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ISRAEL BONDS

Thank you Steve Swernofsky for sponsoring Kiddush in honor of his children: Sarah, Joseph, Edward and Rebecca.

Kiddish sponsorship is a great way to honor a loved one's memory or celebrate a special occasion while also giving a little back to the community. Please note that we are now reserving sponsorships for 2025! There are no available sponsorships left for this year. THANK YOU to all our generous sponsors. Look for an extensive list of donors to be published at the beginning of next year thanking all those who have contributed to a kiddush sponsorship during 2024.

Kiddush sponsorships get reserved many weeks in advance. If you have a special day you would like to commemorate with a kiddush, It’s a great idea to reserve your special day EARLY, while it is still available. If your date is not visible yet on the kiddush calendar, you can still email Beth and ask about reserving that date.

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Mazel Tov!

Jeffrey Van Keer, Birthday November 13
Jacob (Jack) Clifford, Birthday November 14
Kimberly Pack-Cosme, Birthday November 15

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