Parshat Lech Lecha

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In this week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, Avraham is commanded to leave his home and travel to an unknown destination. Hashem said, ‘Lech lecha- Go to yourself.” Hashem is telling Avraham to leave all that he knows behind and enter the unknown. He is testing Avraham yet again (this is Avraham’s third of ten tests). In actuality, what Hashem is telling Avraham when He says, ‘lech lecha- go to yourself’- Hashem is telling Avraham to find himself. Hashem wanted Avraham to leave everything he had known and reestablish himself in the world. Because he had developed and reached such a high level it was time for him embark upon a new journey and implement all that he has learned.

Similarly, in our own lives, Hashem too tells us, ‘lech lecha,’ explore yourself and take leaps towards new discovery. Throughout our lives, as we develop more spiritually and religiously, our growth tends to get impeded upon our inability to take that ‘leap of faith.’ Rather than implementing a life more connected to Hashem, we get scared and sometimes let that fright take us in the opposite direction! What we can learn from Avraham is to have the utmost trust- bitachon- in Hashem, and know that these struggles are tests from Hashem. Hashem wants to see how far we are willing to go for Him, and how far we are willing to go for ourselves. 

Moreover, this should push in the direction of self discovery. This parsha should push us to contemplate who we are. What is our potential is this world? What steps can we take towards developing that potential? These were all questions Avraham undoubtedly asked himself and these too are questions we should constantly be asking ourselves! May Hashem give us all the clarity to uncover our inner most essence and what our potential in this world is!