Lech-Lecha – Leaving Your Comfort Zone
Lech-Lecha – Leaving Your Comfort Zone
By Rabbi Ezra Friedman
One of the most basic needs to succeed as a religious Jew is surrounding oneself with the tools to keep a Jewish lifestyle. A devout community, Kosher food and a Mikveh are just some of the necessities for a Jew in order “to keep” his Judaism. As much as this surrounding is important, many times a Jew’s faith is tested when he leaves his comfort zone and is exposed to outside world. A Jew can judge himself based on the experience and perseverance when his or she is not in his/her comfort zone. Avraham Avinu is the best example of this, and this idea is emphasized in the introduction to his journey (Breishit 12:2-3):
וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה וַאֲבָֽרֲכָה֙ מְבָ֣רְכֶ֔יךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ֖ אָאֹ֑ר וְנִבְרְכ֣וּ בְךָ֔ כֹּ֖ל מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת הָאֲדָמָֽה׃
I will make of you a great nation, And I will bless you; I will make your name great, And you shall be a blessing.I will bless those who bless you And curse him that curses you; And all the families of the earth Shall bless themselves by you.”
Avraham Avinu is promised that he will merit fathering a great nation, that his name shall be glorified and his will merit to be blessed. On the blessing of “I will make your name great” Rashi brings down from our Sages that the travel decreases one’s respect. When one relocates to a new place he has to restart gaining respect from his surroundings, his previous accomplishments are not known in his new community. Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky explains that Avraham didn’t need respect, he was very humble and never expected fame and glory. Rav Kaminetsky explains that when a person is constantly on the move the adjustment takes a huge part of a person’s personality. Avraham deserved to be promised that even though the journey he will go through will be difficult and he must work hard adjusting spiritually to every environment he will triumph and only grow spiritually. Avraham Avinu needed such a blessing since, our Sages teach us that Avraham went against the tide, the entire world was devoted to idle worship and Avraham stayed dedicated to Hashem the only God.
This lesson is very relevant in today’s Jewish world. Avraham Avinu is considered the first convert, when someone converts he is called the son or daughter of Avraham Avinu. Avraham Avinu didn’t just become the first convert, his actions represent what it means to be a convert. Avraham left a fortunate life and successful life, when he was commanded to leave he had to be prepared to open a new page in his life book and never turn back. Avraham changed everything about him when he left on his journey a convert as well is considered like a newborn child in certain areas of Halacha. The world has been witness to many new converts to the Jewish religion, People who transformed themselves in order to join Am Yisrael. This phenomenon is not only common amongst converts; many Jews who were very distant from Judaism have returned to their roots and become Ba’alei Teshuva. These Ba’alei Teshuva are many times chastised by their families, friends and coworkers. Other Jews should show compassion and love for the journey these Jews have made. When we read the story of Avraham Avinu we get a glimpse to what converts and Ba’alei Teshuva have gone through. It is our duty to love and embrace them, we should welcome them with open arms love them and care for them.
In our generation more than ever before we must manifest the lesson we learnt from Avraham Avinu. We should never be ashamed of our sacred tradition. Whenever we leave our comfort zone, we should hold our heads high and feel pride in keeping Torah and Mitzvot. The first Halacha brought down by the Rem’a (Rav Moshe Isserlis) the source for Ashkenazik tradition is that someone should not be scared to keep Halacha even in front of those who mock him. No matter what the circumstance we should feel security in keeping our Torah, just as Avraham went against the tide, he knew he was doing the right thing helped guide him through his journey. In our generation as well, if we truly believe and cherish our Torah nothing can stand in our way.