Sunday, November 20, 2005
GARDEN OF TORAH: Avram's Odyssey
1. What the Torah Chooses to Highlight
... "This is implied by the command, "Go out." Avraham was commanded to travel beyond his limited frame of reference and establish an unlimited connection with G-d. By doing so, he defined the constantly flowering nature of the link between G-d and the Jewish people for all time. Our connection to G-d is not dependent on our love, understanding or belief, but comes as a response to G-d's initiative."
2. New Vistas
Real spiritual progress requires that one leave one’s current state behind. Yet as long as an individual’s growth depends entirely on his own power, his progress will be limited; nobody can exceed the bounds of his own understanding. When, by contrast, one’s progress is guided by G-d, there are no limits to the potential for growth. The Torah and its mitzvos can take a person far beyond his natural horizons. To accentuate this point, G-d tells Avraham to proceed “to the land which I will show you,” without specifying a destination. ...
3. Self-discovery
The expression “I will show you,” “ar’ecka” in Hebrew, can also be rendered “I will reveal you,” i.e., through the journey to Eretz Yisrael, Avraham’s true self was revealed to him. This is also indicated by the expression Lech Lecha, which literally means “go to yourself,” i.e., “to your essence.”
Avraham’s willingness to put his individual will on the side and respond to G-d’s command allowed a more direct connection between the Creator and the created. And in the process, a boundless potential was unleashed, for every Jew’s soul is “an actual part of G-d.” This is the essence of every man’s spiritual journey: to transcend his ordinary way of thinking, and to tap this G-dly core.
As we proceed through life, each of us is given the chance to discover who he is, what G-d is, and that the two are one. ...
4. Passing Through Shadows
In the course of one’s spiritual travels, a person encounters situations which can only be overcome with a struggle, and which may even cause one to fall. Nevertheless, since all phases of life’s journey are guided by Divine Providence, we must realize that the purpose of every experience is positive. Even when we fall, we are being given an opportunity - to borrow an expression from our Sages - to descend in order to ascend.
Why must a person face such challenges?
Two reasons are given:
a) To bring out the power of one’s soul. As long as a person remains untested, he can “get by” without having to tap his core. When, by contrast, one faces a fundamental challenge, it becomes necessary to call upon one’s spiritual resources in order to succeed.
b) In the process of overcoming a challenge, a person recognizes and thus elevates the sparks of G-dliness contained therein. For all existence is maintained by G-d’s creative energy; that energy is hidden within the world’ s material substance. As a result of this “hiddeness,” challenges arise. By overcoming these challenges, a human reveals the true G-dly nature of existence.
5. To Journey With Others
A person’s spiritual quest should not be a lonely journey. On the contrary, one of the hallmarks of personal development is an increasing capacity to inspire others. Avraham surely gained such an ability, as our Sages comment with regard to the verse, “And he called in the name of the G-d of the
universe”: “Do not read trehu (‘And he called’), read threhu (‘And he had others call’).” ...
6. A Sign in Our Flesh
...our spiritual quest is not an attempt to escape worldly reality, but is rather an attempt to refine it.
7. The Promise of Eretz Yisrael
...the most complete departure from any cultural environment is reflected in the transformation of that environment.
Published and Copyrighted © by
Sichos In English
788 Eastern Parkway • Brooklyn, New York 11213
Tel. (718) 778-5436
Brought to you by Chabad.org
... "This is implied by the command, "Go out." Avraham was commanded to travel beyond his limited frame of reference and establish an unlimited connection with G-d. By doing so, he defined the constantly flowering nature of the link between G-d and the Jewish people for all time. Our connection to G-d is not dependent on our love, understanding or belief, but comes as a response to G-d's initiative."
2. New Vistas
Real spiritual progress requires that one leave one’s current state behind. Yet as long as an individual’s growth depends entirely on his own power, his progress will be limited; nobody can exceed the bounds of his own understanding. When, by contrast, one’s progress is guided by G-d, there are no limits to the potential for growth. The Torah and its mitzvos can take a person far beyond his natural horizons. To accentuate this point, G-d tells Avraham to proceed “to the land which I will show you,” without specifying a destination. ...
3. Self-discovery
The expression “I will show you,” “ar’ecka” in Hebrew, can also be rendered “I will reveal you,” i.e., through the journey to Eretz Yisrael, Avraham’s true self was revealed to him. This is also indicated by the expression Lech Lecha, which literally means “go to yourself,” i.e., “to your essence.”
Avraham’s willingness to put his individual will on the side and respond to G-d’s command allowed a more direct connection between the Creator and the created. And in the process, a boundless potential was unleashed, for every Jew’s soul is “an actual part of G-d.” This is the essence of every man’s spiritual journey: to transcend his ordinary way of thinking, and to tap this G-dly core.
As we proceed through life, each of us is given the chance to discover who he is, what G-d is, and that the two are one. ...
4. Passing Through Shadows
In the course of one’s spiritual travels, a person encounters situations which can only be overcome with a struggle, and which may even cause one to fall. Nevertheless, since all phases of life’s journey are guided by Divine Providence, we must realize that the purpose of every experience is positive. Even when we fall, we are being given an opportunity - to borrow an expression from our Sages - to descend in order to ascend.
Why must a person face such challenges?
Two reasons are given:
a) To bring out the power of one’s soul. As long as a person remains untested, he can “get by” without having to tap his core. When, by contrast, one faces a fundamental challenge, it becomes necessary to call upon one’s spiritual resources in order to succeed.
b) In the process of overcoming a challenge, a person recognizes and thus elevates the sparks of G-dliness contained therein. For all existence is maintained by G-d’s creative energy; that energy is hidden within the world’ s material substance. As a result of this “hiddeness,” challenges arise. By overcoming these challenges, a human reveals the true G-dly nature of existence.
5. To Journey With Others
A person’s spiritual quest should not be a lonely journey. On the contrary, one of the hallmarks of personal development is an increasing capacity to inspire others. Avraham surely gained such an ability, as our Sages comment with regard to the verse, “And he called in the name of the G-d of the
universe”: “Do not read trehu (‘And he called’), read threhu (‘And he had others call’).” ...
6. A Sign in Our Flesh
...our spiritual quest is not an attempt to escape worldly reality, but is rather an attempt to refine it.
7. The Promise of Eretz Yisrael
...the most complete departure from any cultural environment is reflected in the transformation of that environment.
Published and Copyrighted © by
Sichos In English
788 Eastern Parkway • Brooklyn, New York 11213
Tel. (718) 778-5436
Brought to you by Chabad.org
