VOLUME 118 NUMBER 3
Cheshvan 9, 5786
October 31, 2025
Parshas Lech Lecha
Candlelighting Time 5:41
Maimonides explains that Avrohom stood against the entire civilized world and preached about that there is only one Guiding Force in the world, Hashem. He wrote books proving his beliefs and even broke his father’s idols to demonstrate that they are powerless. Eventually Nimrod cast him into a fiery furnace and the heat was cooled off by the angels and he came out unscathed. Certainly, a strong show of his faith in Hashem and he had no doubts that he would be saved! Despite the fact that Hashem did not appear to him at all, still Avrohom was thoroughly convinced that there is a Ruler of the Universe who created everything from nothing.
Avrohom’s first ordeal was to leave his land and go to Eretz Yisroel. Chasam Sofer examines the language that Hashem used and finds that it is troubling. First he is told to leave his land, then his city and finally his father’s house. In the normal order of events, it would seem that Hashem should have commanded him to initially leave his father’s house, then his city and finally his land. Why is the order in the reverse?
He answers that it was easier to first direct him to leave his land, and then his city and at the end his father. We mentioned that Avrohom was a powerful man and withstood the pressure of society to worship idols. Even the threat of death did not deter him from his mission to educate the masses about Hashem and worship the true Creator. Nonetheless. Hashem does not compel us to serve him if it too difficult. The Talmud states that Hashem does not require us to perform if that situation is very challenging.
Perhaps one might question why doesn’t Hashem create the challenge immediately if the person is indeed capable of surpassing the hardship. Indeed, Nachmonides explains that Hashem tests us not because He is unaware of our capabilities but rather when we ace the adversity it strengthens our neshama and elevates our position towards Hashem in an extremely elevated manner. The ability to perform doesn’t actually impact the individual unless one truly performs it well.
Maimonides writes that we are commanded to perform 613 mitzvos because there is an anticipation that at least one mitzvah a person will do perfectly, with all the details of the mitzvah and all the intent required. That one mitzvah that is done flawlessly will enable him to enter into Gan Eden, the Garden of Eden. Maybe someone will think that of course I can do a mitzvah impeccably, however, upon further examination of the mitzvah and its myriad details one will discover that it is easier said then done.
Therefore, Hashem in His great mercy always ‘desirous’ of the grander benefit for our nation provides us with opportunities to ‘reach’ Him. Indeed, this characteristic of Hashem follows from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We are judged with such compassion and empathy that we say on Rosh Hashanah that Hashem turns a ‘blind eye’ to some of our sins rather accepting the mitzvos that we do as a saving grace on the Day of Judgment. This is the lesson that we can gather from Avrohom and introduce this into our daily lives.
A BYTE FOR SHABBOS
Avrohom accepted to go to the land of Canaan and that is exactly what he did. When one consents to accomplish a goal, he must carry out his mission and not falter. CHOFETZ CHAIM
GOOD SHABB0S
