November 7, 2008
9 Cheshvan, 5769

“Lech Lecha…Take yourself, go forth.” This week’s Torah portion immediately draws us into a story of transitions and new beginnings with these well-known words. Abraham and Sarah’s journey involves leaving the known and venturing to an unknown place, guided only by their newly-expressed faith in God. This unspecified place will be the physical testimony of God’s everlasting covenant with the Jewish people, the concept of which Abraham could only begin to grasp as he set forth. Along the way, he will discover that the challenge of fulfilling this partnership with the Holy One entails shaping his complex and diverse family into a people worthy of this inheritance.

Journeys, as we well know, often do not go smoothly. Almost from the start, Abraham encounters a challenge concerning his nephew, Lot. In order to calm the potential dissent within the family, Abraham suggests that he and Lot choose separate land in which to raise their livestock: “Let there be no strife between you and me…for we are kinsmen.” (Gen. 13:8). This is a pivotal moment for Abraham. God has provided the vision and blessing for the new nation, but Abraham must now provide the leadership. He knows that even though members of a family disagree, they can work to stay united. When faced with a conflict, rather than cast Lot out, Abraham offers him a chance to remain connected with the emerging community. Abraham had faith that the covenant God established was not just for one or two generations of his own family, but for all time, and the scope of this vision would transcend differences or conflicts. He knew that keeping the family united was essential, so that the new nation would fulfill the vision laid out by God.

With the election this week of our next President, America begins a new journey. As our ancestors experienced, setting out on a journey can be challenging. Abraham and Lot’s commitment to each other, and the future of their family/nation, regardless of their differences, speaks to us as Jews and as Americans. We come from diverse backgrounds. We may each be on different paths. But our community and our nation are built on strong ethical principles, and together we can meet the challenge of our united journey if we stay true to those principles.

My father used to say that the glory of America is not just that we regularly elect new leaders, but that the next day, in peaceful coexistence, we all get up and go to our jobs, united again in the building of the country. Today, we find ourselves at an exciting time in our history. We are about to “Lech” –Go forth into uncharted territory. As we embark, with faith in the inherent potential of humanity, with determination to remain united, with a shared vision, we pray that like Abraham and Sarah, our journey will be guided by blessing.

May your Shabbat be filled with faith and renewed hope for this next journey.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Nina J. Mizrahi & Anita Silvert