Our first parsha, Bereshit (Genesis) was introducing Adam and Chava (Adam and Eve), our second parsha Noach was about Noach (Noah), and now Lech Lecha is the story of Avraham (Abraham, Abram) and Sarah (Sarai). As Noach was 10 generations after Adam and Chava, Avraham is also 10 generations after Noach. At the end of last week’s parsha, Noach, we are introduced to Terach (Terah), the father of Avram (Abraham). Terach is listed in the descendents of Shem, Noach’s righteous son (the other sons were Ham and Yafet/Japeth).  At the beginning of this parsha, G-d comes to Avraham (at this point named Abram) and says “Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you” ~ לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵֽאַרְצְךָ֥ וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וּמִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַרְאֶֽךָּThe word lech ~ לֶךְ, means the command “go.” So why the repetition of lech lecha ~ לֶךְ־לְךָ֛? This second word, (oft-discussed and very commonly referred to) lecha literally means “to yourself” or “for yourself.” Our rabbis comment that G-d is telling Avram to go for himself, as in it is for your own good that you should leave the place you are most comfortable, in order to be the great leader I know you will be. The translation of “to yourself” reveals another inspirational idea: when we are in discomfort or in a challenging situation, we learn more about ourselves. (I also giggle at the idea that G-d is like, "Avraham, you're 75 years old. You gotta move out of your dad's basement.") Then G-d says, “…and I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing” ~ וַֽאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַֽאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶֽהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽהThis idea of a blessing is so vague, though, and what does it mean to *be* a blessing? Italian rabbi, Rav Ovadiah Sforno, or the Sforno, comments that a true blessing by G-d is when G-d rejoices in our deeds and actions. The idea of being blessed by G-d gives me the warm fuzzies.

But how do we know what is a rejoice-able action or deed? It's hard to extricate deeds / actions from their motivations. I always talk about investigating our beliefs, but we can also investigate our actions. I ask myself a lot "Why are you doing _____?" or "Why are you saying _____?" And sometimes (most of the time) I can't make myself know or I truly don't know. But investigation of action is a muscle... just gotta keep pumping. Have you heard of the book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone? It's written by Lori Gottlieb, a psychotherapist. She talks about her clients and their issues, but also goes through her own struggles and her decision to find her own psychotherapist to see. This book honestly gave me so many tools to investigate the root of everything I do, think, and feel. So I can't give you tips on how to lech lecha (go to yourself) to find the roots of any hang-ups you may have, but this book might be able to!

Haran (where Avraham comes from when first pilgrimaging to Israel) is on the other side of the Euphrates River to Israel, and so this is one of the reasons that Avraham is referred to as Avram haIvri, or Abram the Hebrew. Ivri (עברי) coming from ever (עבר) meaning "the other side." But Avraham-the-guy-from-the-other-side-of-the-river isn't a great name. The deeper idea is that Avraham was on the other side of the moral divide of the world. Our sages teach that righteous people must be ready for isolation. No one likes the "moral police," and not agreeing with people is hard. It's natural to want to be liked, but it's a slippery slope to bending our moral values to what is popular.

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