Do you ever find yourself “in the dark”? Don’t know where to go or what to do? Avraham Avinu, our pre-eminent forefather received the directive from HaShem Yitbarach, “Lech Lecha”; a directive that serves as the best and only true advice to us so many thousands of years later.
Rav Noson in his foundational work, Likutey Halachot (Orach Chaim, Hilchot Shabbat, 7), explains this command from HaShem of Lech Lecha as a command for us to journey to our soul, to the source of our being. Rav Noson writes, “And that which HaShem said to Avraham is an implication to every person in the world, Lech Lecha - Go To Yourself. Because the essence of man, that is referred to as the “I”, is only the soul. And this is what the Torah charges man to “go to yourself”, meaning to the source that is your soul. In all your goings and your journeys, and all your ways in this world, you should aim to go to your soul, your essence. And this is the understanding of the command further, “Me’Artzecha” - from your country, that you must leave from your “earthiness” and physicality. “And from your father’s house” - move on from your family, neighbors, and relatives where sometimes their opinions are the opposite of truth. From all of them you must leave and go to your soul. And this is final piece of the command - go “to the land that I will show you” - this is Eretz Yisrael, which is the epitome of holiness where the Beit HaMikdash is found and where all souls originate”
Our neshama longs and yearns for its creator, HaKadosh Baruch Hu. It’s not ready to compromise or settle for anything less. That’s why it is so important to remember that we are truly our soul. And, if Chas VeShalom, we fall into the lusts of this world or experience negative thoughts, jealousy, haughtiness or pride, we must know that it is not our true selves acting, but, rather, the Yetzer Hara taking over. Since the soul constantly yearns to do good, therefore what transpires in the negative realm is not from the side of the holy neshama.
In the work, Yemey Moharn”at, it tells of a conversation between Rabbeinu z”l and a wealthy man just before Rabbeinu’s journey to Eretz Yisrael. The wealthy man wanted to accompany Rabbeinu z”l on his journey. Rabbeinu z”l asked the man, “Why have you not traveled to Eretz Yisrael (already)?” The wealthy man replied, “If you take me with you, I will travel with you right away!” Rabbeinu was shocked by the response and said, “When one really wants to come to Eretz Yisrael, is it appropriate to say, “If I take him, he will travel”!? “This is the way to come to Eretz Yisrael? When one wants to come to Eretz Yisrael, one is obligated to go by foot (and not to be taken by anyone!), because HaShem Yitbarach said to Avraham, “Lech Lecha” - Specifically, YOU must walk - that one must go with one’s own feet in order to merit to come to Eretz Yisrael”
Going to one’s soul is akin to going to Eretz Yisrael, to the Holy Land, the source of all souls. Therefore, we must yearn to come to Eretz Yisrael, and, similarly, we must be persistent and yearn to reach our soul despite whatever trials and tribulations we undergo.
Sometimes we need to pass through darkness in order to reach the Great Light. Our soul inherently knows this and is ready to go through thick and thin so that, in the end, it will connect to HaShem. Avraham Avinu goes down the Egypt “because there was a heavy famine in the Land”. The Zohar HaKadosh tells us that HaShem, in fact, did NOT command Avraham to go down to Egypt. Rather, “And Avraham went down to Egypt”; went on his own volition. Rabbi Moshe Tzanani shlit”a points out that Avraham Avinu came to Mitzrayim because he knew deep within that only after arriving at a place of much greater darkness can one come out into a place of much greater light. The famine was just an external reason for the mission. This is exactly the reason that HaShem Yitbarach did not immediately reveal the location of Eretz Yisrael to Avraham. Rather HaShem said, “to the Land that I will show you” and Avraham began the journey without knowing where he was going. Rav Noson writes in Likutey Halachot (Nefilat Apayim 6,8) that, “in order to be compelled to seek and ask the Desire of HaShem, in order that one be frustrated and doubtful yet continue to seek and ask for HaShem - the search and request to find HaShem will result in a great elevation for the person.”
This, my dear friends, is the secret of life. From great darkness, from confused search and doubt, to reach the Great Light. And the soul, knowing this truth, is ready to go through everything to reach the light and unite with its creator. As the Sefer Otzar HaYir’ah teaches us, “Because truly within every Jew is a precious soul that possesses great power to stand against the Yetzer Hara and its forces. And whoever wants to walk the holy path, must draw himself to the point of Absolute Truth that is rooted within him from the aspect of his soul which is part of HaShem, which is the essence of Truth, the essence of man. For when a person says, “I” or “to me”, or “to you”, it is all directed at the person’s very being which is his soul, and not to the body, which is only flesh and blood.”
My dear friends, this is a long and sometimes tiring struggle. Every time a person draws himself to holiness, which is essentially the journey of Avraham Avinu to Eretz Yisrael, it is the way of impurity, deceit, and darkness to pursue him and darken his path. This was represented by “And Lot went with him”, Lot symbolizing darkness and deceit. As our commentators teach us, it was only after Avraham separated from Lot that HaShem further revealed Himself to Avraham.
May it be the will of HaShem that the spirit of Truth and Emunah that emanates from this Parasha awaken us to strive and reach our Absolute Truth, to the source of our soul, and to be strengthened with Emunah. By doing so we will transform our lives into a life of joy and love, beholding the final Geulah. Shabbat Shalom!
