BH
“Lech Lecha Meartzecha” – The three words that this weeks Parsha begins with. This phrase means “go forth from your land.” I can’t help but think… All this talk about 33 Chilean miners, being trapped in a mine for 69 days, and being rescued from the land during the week of Lech Lecha.
In the Parsha, G-d is telling Avraham (Abraham) to go forth from the land in which he is currently situated and to relocate to another land. G-d does not tell him where, nor does he tell him for how long. What Avraham does know is that this new locale will provide better life for him and the descendants G-d promises him in the second verse of the Parsha.
In Chile, 33 miners were tested, in what can be compared to a similar situation as Avraham’s. August 5th, 2010, a mine collapses in the region of Copiapó. 33 miners are feared gone, as the entrance/exit is now blocked, they are more than 2,000 feet below the earth’s surface, and there emergency food supply is only expected to last 3 days at best.
It’s a dark and gloomy situation, with literally no vision of a viable rescue. Yet, a few weeks down the line, rescue workers discover that all 33 are alive, and have maintained good spirits and health with the help of one another. An open modern day miracle! However, the ordeal is far from over. Nearly two more months will pass before these men will see daylight again.
Avraham was sent from his mine, the land of Charan, to the surface, the Holy Land. It wasn’t an easy ride, but a ride worth the wait. It’s easy for us to read the story of Avraham year after, but I’m not certain we have ever had a “current event” that helps us really understand.
Avraham discovers that there is a G-d. He makes it his mission to spread the word. Some choose to listen, others scoff. The world continues, idol worship and other forms of deities come and go. Today the entire world, whether they choose admit it or not, sees the hand of that G-d that Avraham discovered.
G-d tested Avraham. Time and time again. Avraham continuously chose to accept G-d and obey his command. Today we must still see ourselves as Avraham. We must “go forth from our land,” meaning, out of our comfort zone and toward a lifestyle that G-d shows us. We are to take the leap and we will be led to great reward.
On a closing note, while speaking of “Lech Lecha” – “going from your land” – I would like to share some happenings in my personal life.
This week, I relocated from Brooklyn, NY to Montreal, Canada. I went from my land, my comfort zone, to a new location to explore new experiences. While I had been in Montreal for my high school years, this time would be different.
This time, I am a young professional working with the staff at Chabad @ McGill University in Montreal’s downtown. In the spirit of Avraham and this week’s Parsha, I hope that this relocation – this “going forth” - will reap reward and happiness.
Shabbat Shalom from the Chabad Center (or is it "centre" now that I'm in Canada :) ?) at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.
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