דברי תורה לכבוד שבת קודש פרשת לך לך

If we look at the end of Parshas B’reishis and Parshas Noach, we will find something very interesting and we find it many more times throughout the Torah. Parshas B’reishis ends with an introduction to Noach and his times. Again, at the end of Parshas Noach, the Torah introduces us to Avrohom Avinu and his family, while the main story begins in Parshas Lech Licha. What is the meaning behind these introductions? Perhaps the lesson is very clear. As much as the world looks like it has different Tekufos, it is really one long continuation. Yes, every day is a new beginning in some ways, that is true. But in truth, the whole world is one long Hemshech from Brias Haolam until the Yemos Hamashiach. In other words, Brias Haolam and the Mabul, together with Avrohom Avinu is all one story. There might be separate chapters, but it is all one story, and it is real.

The Haftora of Parshas Lech Licha is from Sefer Yeshaya and it is really a continuation of the Haftora of Shabbos Nachamu. If we look at the first few Pessukim we will see this message there too. The Haftora starts with the words לָמָּה תֹאמַר יַעֲקֹב וּתְדַבֵּר יִשְׂרָאֵל נִסְתְּרָה דַרְכִּי מֵה' וּמֵאֱלֹקַי מִשְׁפָּטִי יַעֲבוֹר - The Navi says to Klal Yisroel: Why do you ask if your ways are hidden from Hashem, as if Hashem has Chas V’shalom forgotten about you? Klal Yisroel throughout the Golus has sometimes felt as if they were Chas V’shalom abandoned and neglected. This has been in good times and in difficult times. The Navi says to Klal Yisroel: הֲלוֹא יָדַעְתָּ אִם לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ אֱלֹקֵי עוֹלָם ה' - Do you not know, did you not hear that Hashem is the Hashem forever from the beginning of time, when Hashem created the world, until the end of time, when Moshiach will come. בּוֹרֵא קְצוֹת הָאָרֶץ לֹא יִיעַף וְלֹא יִיגַע אֵין חֵקֶר לִתְבוּנָתוֹ: - Hashem creates the ends of the world anew without getting tired or weary, there is no fathoming to His understanding. This is the key to everything - in this world we will never understand the ways of Hashem. We need to have complete belief and faith in Hashem. The main Yesod is the three words אלקי עולם השם - Hashem is eternal, forever, always was, is and will be. There is no way to understand the ways of Hashem without knowing the whole picture from the beginning of the world until the end, which is impossible for a person of בשר ודם. Only Hashem has the Cheshbon and everything under perfect control.

Now let us look at the next three Pessukim which will give us even more Chizuk: נֹתֵן לַיָּעֵף כֹּחַ וּלְאֵין אוֹנִים עָצְמָה יַרְבֶּה - Hashem gives strength to the weary and those without power. Our saintly Great-uncle Rav Shimon Schwab Zatza”l explains that this is also referring to the entire Klal Yisroel, besides for individuals. When Klal Yisroel needs Chizuk, Hashem gives us the strength we need to continue. Rav Schwab says that we should also have this in mind when we say the Brachah of הנותן ליעף כח every morning in the Birchos Hashachar. The next Possuk says וְיִעֲפוּ נְעָרִים וְיִגָעוּ וּבַחוּרִים כָּשׁוֹל יִכָּשֵׁלוּ - the young people who make plans and have great expectations without relying on Hashem will eventually tire and burnout. However, וְקוֹיֵ ה' יַחֲלִיפוּ כֹחַ יַעֲלוּ אֵבֶר כַּנְּשָׁרִים יָרוּצוּ וְלֹא יִיגָעוּ יֵלְכוּ וְלֹא יִיעָפוּ - Those who hope for Hashem will have renewed strength.

Once the first three Parshios of the Torah are attached and connected with each other, we have a חוט המשולש - a powerful beginning which continues throughout the entire Torah. The Yesod is that the whole Torah is one, and the whole world is one. It is one long stretch from Brias Haolam until after Moshiach comes without any breaks, אלקי עולם השם and אין חקר לתבונתו. The only thing we can do is believe and trust in Hashem. Let us learn Torah, do Mitzvos and have faith in Hashem.

Have a gutten and zeesen Shabbos,
רבי גארפינקעל