Review of Lech Lecha

Summary of פרשת לך לך

· At the end of last week’s Parsha we learnt that even after the Mabul (when we would have thought that people learnt their lesson), people continued to rebel against Hashem. By the time Avram Avinu was born in the year 1948, ten generations had passed since the Noach. The people were bowing to the sun and the stars and all sorts of idols and icons. By observing the world and examining the worthlessness of the idols, Avram came to believe in and recognize Hashem. In this Zechus, Hashem appeared to him.
· Hashem told Avram to leave his land, his birthplace and his father's house and travel to the land that Hashem will show him. Hashem promised to make him a great nation and gave him a special bracha: “I will bless those who bless you, and if someone curses you I will curse them”.
· If someone is very happy and has a lot of food and a good life, and he wants to give someone blessing He will bless him to be at least as happy and healthy as he is. That is why HaShem made sure to bless people before they blessed Avraham, so that they would give a really good blessing. On the other hand, when a poor man curses he will hope that the person he hates will be even poorer than him. That is why HaShem did not make people cursed until after they cursed Avraham!!
· Avram and his wife Sarai and their servants, left Charan. They were joined by their followers along with his nephew (her cousin) Lot. When they reach the land of Canaan, G-d appeared to Avram and told him that this is the land that He will give to his descendants.
· Before long, there was a famine and Avram was forced to relocate to Mitzrayim to find food. This was one of the ten tests that Hashem gave to Avram.
· Avram was scared. The Egyptian’s were very careful not to marry someone who was already married but they didn’t mind killing people. Realizing that the Egyptian’s would try to kill him and kidnap Sarai, Avram asked Sarai to say that she was his sister. This was partly true because their Sarai’s father was Avram’s brother. Sure enough, Sarai was taken to Pharaoh, but Hashem afflicted Paraoh and his people with severe and unusual illness. Sarai was released unharmed. Avram returned to Eretz Yisrael (Canaan) with much wealth given to him by the Egyptians.
· Avram’ nephew Lot knew that Hashem would one day give Eretz Yisroel to the family of Avram. Since he was the only family Avram had he assumed that the land would be his and he acted like he owned it already. Avram was very careful not to let his sheep graze in private property but Lot thought he owned the place and let his sheep graze wherever they desired. During an argument over grazing rights between their shepherds, Avram decided to part ways with his nephew Lot. Avram said, “It is a Chilul Hashem for me to remain with you, but I will always be nearby in case you need help”.
· Lot chose to live in the rich but corrupt city of Sodom in the fertile plain of the Jordan. A war broke out between the kings of the region and Sodom was defeated. Lot was taken captive. Together with a handful of his students (some say that it was just אליעזר), Avram rescued Lot, miraculously overpowering vastly superior forces with dirt that became arrows when thrown. Avram refused to accept any of the spoils of the battle, not even a string or a shoelace.
· Hashem revealed to Avram that his descendants would be exiled to a strange land where they will be oppressed for 400 years, after which they will leave with great wealth and return to Eretz Yisrael, their inheritance.
· Sarai was an עקרה and gave Hagar, her Egyptian שפחה, to Avram in the hope that she will provide them with a child. Hagar became arrogant when she discovered that she was expecting a child. Sarai dealt harshly with her, and Hagar ran away. On the instruction of a מלאך, Hagar returned to Avram, and gave birth to Yishmael.
· The parsha concludes with Hashem commanding Avram to give a Bris to himself and to his descendants throughout the generations. Hashem changed Avram's name to Avraham, and Sarai's name to Sarah. Hashem promised Avraham a son, Yitzchak, despite Avraham being ninety-nine years old and Sarah ninety. On that day, Avraham circumcised himself, Yishmael and his whole household.