Lech Lecha
This week 90 year old William Shatner fulfilled his life long dream to blast into space (for approximately 10 mins) and described it as the most profound experience he had ever had.
This could well be the beginning of more private journeys to space and exploration as private companies develop technologies and the know how.
I thought it was apt that this journey to space took place on the week of Lech Lecha when teh founder of Judaism Abraham together with his wife Sarah began their journey that has changed the world ever since.
Whilst their journey was epic in terms of the physical distance and the environmental challenges, it was as even greater spiritual journey as I will note.
In terms for the geography Abraham leaves Ur Kasdim (most scholars agree this is located approximately 200 miles south of Bagdad) with his father and family -as recorded in Noach -and journeys a few hundred miles North west to Charan (Turkey). The journey pauses and Terach dies there. This weeks portion Lech Lecha the journey continues except this time by an explicit command from God who finally reveals Himself to Abraham who is now 75 years of age.
Whilst Abraham had been seeking God at some level since the age of 3 (The Midrash discusses a number of different ages when Abraham discovered God, but all are true as he went through several stages of evolution in His conception and relationship to God), his true journey toward Infinity only began later on in his life when God finally called to him.
As Abraham lived to 175 years of age, then relative to our current life expectancy this is quite mid 30’s to 40’s.
However the text clearly indicates that Abraham is old by age 99 because in response to God’s promise of a child the Torah states
“And Abraham fell on his face and rejoiced, and he said to himself, “Will [a child] be born to one who is a hundred years old, and will Sarah, who is ninety years old, give birth?”
There is no coincidence that the founder of Judaism and Monotheistic faiths and probably the most influential man that has ever lived was of an older age when he left everything he knew behind (his land (wider society influence), his birthplace (local influences) and even his fathers house where patterns of behaviour become ingrained.
This teaches us that no matter our background or our upbringing if we open ourselves up to Hashem then we can start our spiritual journey at any time in our lives. It is never too late.
Abraham and Sarah teach us that to truly live a life of meaning and purpose we can’t have everything. We must be ready to sacrifice a lot in the pursuit of truth.
Whilst the mastery of our world and the development of technology helps man live an easier, more comfortable and pleasurable life (which is important*), it does not address the spiritual thirst for deeper meaning and purpose.
Abraham was also fascinated by outer space. His discovery of the One God began with his curiosity of the sun moon and the stars. But it led Abraham to an even deeper journey into the inner space of man.
this is the meaning of God’s call to Abraham “Lech Lecha” God to Yourself.
Its never too late the journey begins one step at a time.
So Lech Lecha – “Go to yourself”. The opportunity to connect to our deeper self is there for anyone to access. God’s call to Abraham is now embodied our vast Torah that is wider than the sea and higher than the heavens.
It is embodied in every nuance of Jewish law and ritual, every custom however small the detail.
We are blessed with a tradition that enables us to transform every moment of life into eternity.
This path is not always the easiest or the most comfortable path but the rewards are infinite !
Lets get going!
*Maimonides explains that the Torah promises us physical rewards – eg rain in its time and harvest as per second para Shema- so that man is freed from toiling and becoming immersed in the material and can have the time and capacity (time-wise,emotionally and psychologically) to dedicate to his/her service of God.
Shabbat Shalom