The Torah portion Lech Lecha marks the beginning of Avraham Avinu's era
The Torah portion Lech Lecha marks the beginning of Av-raham Avinu's era, featuring Hashem's first commandment to him: "Go forth from your land, your birthplace, and your fa-ther's home to the land I will show you" (12:1).
The sedrah continues with Avraham Avinu’s journey in Eretz "seven nations." Yisroel and God’s promise to give the land 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 G.od made with Avraham: ―To your descendants I have given this land‖ (15:18).
Since we read this in the Torah annually, we must deepen our understanding.
After Hashem gave Eretz Yisroel to the Jewish people, as He told Avraham Avinu, ―to your children I have given this land‖ (past tense), and Avraham Avinu had already acquired it, how is this parshah’s message relevant today in practical terms?
One might assume these events occurred only in the past and no longer happen.
This question is increasingly emphasized in recent generations of golus.
The concept of ―Lech Lecha – go forth to the land I will show you‖ can be applied to the avodah (Divine service) of ―making Eretz Yisroel here‖—transforming the diaspora into Eretz Yisroel.
After extensive avodah during golus and the world’s significant transformation into Eretz Yisroel, although the work is not yet complete (as Moshiach has not come), we have made tremendous progress far beyond the initial stages.
To clarify the above points:
When Hashem gave Eretz Yisroel to Avraham Avinu, He granted him all the "ten nations," including the three lands of the Keini, Knizi, and Kadmoni—not just the lands of the
Although the Jewish people were promised the "seven lands" initially and the "other three" as an inheritance in the days of King Moshiach, Hashem granted them all of Eretz Yisroel at once, with the land acquired in stages. The receipt of the "three lands" completes the earlier conquest of the "seven lands," reflecting the parsha's message: "to your children I have given this land."
Jews of all generations eagerly await Moshiach’s arrival, yearning to ―go forth from your land... to the land which I will show you‖ and receive the ―ten lands.‖
This is particularly relevant to our generation and era.
My father-in-law, the previous Rebbe, stated that teshuvah is already complete—the ―buttons have been polished.‖ Signs indicate our generation is both the final generation of exile and the first of redemption. It is therefore timely to prepare to ―go forth from your land to the land I will show you‖ and claim the complete Eretz Yisroel—the ―ten lands,‖ an eternal inheritance promised to the Jewish people through Hashem’s covenant with Avraham.
What will be unique is that we will acquire these "three lands" peacefully, as in the time of Moshiach there will be no wars. Instead, the nations of the world will willingly give these lands to the Jews.
