THE CONTEMPORARY LESSON FROM "LECH LECHA"
THE CONTEMPORARY LESSON FROM "LECH LECHA"
In the Torah-portion of Lech Lecha begins the era of Avraham Avinu, with the first commandment to him from Hashem: Go forth from your land, your birthplace and your fathers home, to the land which I will show you (12:1).
The sedrah continues with the subsequent journey of Avraham Avinu in Eretz Yisroel and Hashem's promise that He will give Eretz Yisroel to him and his descendants: "I will give this land to your offspring" (12:7); "The land that you see, I will give to you and to your offspring forever" (13:15); and in the covenant Hashem made with Avraham: "To your descendants I have given this land" (15:18).
Considering that we read this in the Torah every year, we have to better understand:
After Hashem had already given Eretz Yisroel to the Jewish people, as He said to Avraham Avinu "to your children I have given this land" [in the past tense, "I have already given"], and Avraham Avinu had already acquired Eretz Yisroel, how is the message of this parshah applied now in a contemporary context, and in practical, actual terms?
One would think that these are events which took place in the past, and are not repeated anymore?
This question becomes more emphasized in these later generations of golus:
In earlier generations the concept of "Lech Lecha – go forth to the land that I will show you" can be applied to the avodah (Divine service) of "make Eretz Yisroel here" – transforming outside of Eretz Yisroel into Eretz Yisroel. But after the abundant amount of avodah throughout the time of golus, and the great transformation of the world into Eretz Yisroel – although the avodah has not yet been totally completed, (as evident from the fact that Moshiach has not yet come) we have nevertheless progressed a lot, a very great lot from the beginning of the avodah, and much beyond that point.
To clarify the above:
When Hashem gave Eretz Yisroel to Avraham Avinu, He gave him all the "ten nations" also the three lands of the "keini, knizi and kadmoni," (not only the lands of the "seven nations").
Although in actuality the Jewish people only received the "seven lands, and the "other three will be an inheritance... in the days of King Moshiach," however Hashem gave the Jewish people all of Eretz Yisroel at once, they just obtained it in various stages. The receipt of these "three lands" complements the previous conquests of the "seven lands," accordingly, in this context we can relate contemporarily to the content of our parsha "to your children I have given this land."
We anticipate and await Moshiach to come every day – Jews in all generations have therefore yearned to "go forth from your land... to the land which I will show you" – to receive all the "ten lands."
This is especially relevant to our generation and our time: My father-in-law the [Previous] Rebbe has stated that teshuvah has already been done, the "buttons have already been polished," and according to all the signs our generation is the final generation of golus and the first generation of Geulah. It's therefore a timely issue to actually prepare to immediately "go forth from your land to the land that I show you" to acquire the complete Eretz Yisroel, all the "ten lands" which is an eternal inheritance of the Jewish people since the covenant Hashem made with Avraham.
What will now be so unique is that we will obtain these "three lands" in a pleasant way and a peaceful way, because in the time of Moshiach there will not be any wars etc., but the nations of the world will voluntarily give these lands to the Jews by their own good will.
(Shabbos Parshas Lech, 11 Marcheshvan 5752)
