Va-yera' (Gen 18:1-22:24)

Are You Ready For The Test?

           Parasha Va-yera’ is what I like to call a “testy” parasha. It’s chock-full of examples of tests on obedience and faith. We continue to read about the lives of Abraham and Sarah and their nephew Lot. Va-yera’ begins with a visit to Abraham and Sarah from 3 men who tell them that by that time next year Sarah, who was past child-bearing age, was to have a son. Sarah is recorded as having laughed, but later tried to lie to the L-rd about it. The next major event is the destruction of the evil cities, Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot, who has settled near there, is told to take his family and depart. They are strictly warned to go forward and not look back. Lot’s wife cannot obey and turns around and is swiftly turned to salt. Later, as promised, Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah. The final test of the reading comes in Chapter 22. The L-rd commands Abraham to give Isaac as a burnt offering. Abraham binds the boy to the wood and places him on the altar. Just before Isaac was to be slain, Hashem stops it and commends Abraham for his fear of Him and sets a ram in the midst to be used instead.

            As I said earlier, this parasha is a great example of tests; not as pronounced as the Book of Job, but it still merits being looked at. The first comes from Sodom and Gomorrah (18:22-20:38). Lot, being kin to Abraham, is to be saved from the destruction. He and his family have to trust the L-rd to deliver them and are told to not look back. We know what Lot’s wife’s fate was in regards to that. This was a test of obedience. The second test was the announcement Sarah’s impending pregnancy (18:9-15). Sarah’s laughter was show of the result of a test of faith. The final test in the reading was the Binding of Isaac, which was another test of faith (22:1-18). This may be a huge cliché, but we will take tests in this life. Not just SATs, MCATs, or LSATs, but tests that will affect our eternal future. Let’s take time to study up and make the grade.

Lekh Lekha (Gen 12:1-17:27)

Stepping Out on Faith

            This week’s parasha, Lekh Lekha, introduces us to the 1^st Patriarch, Abraham. It begins with G-d’s command to Abram to take up his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot and leave for Canaan. The parasha features their journey from Haran through Egypt and into Canaan. In the final chapter, the L-rd makes a covenant with Abram and changes his name to Abraham and his wife’s name to Sarah. The L-rd tells Abraham that this covenant will be maintained for all his offspring to come and declares the land of Canaan to be the land of this people. Lekh Lekha concludes with the bris of Abraham as the sign of the covenant between G-d and Abraham.

            The translations of the words “Lekh Lekha” that I found were “Go to yourself” and “Go to your faith.” Both are quite applicable. Not much is said of Abraham’s life before he was called up. However I’m sure that once he followed Hashem, it was imminently better. You could say he “found” himself. The second translation is even more noticeable. Once Abraham reached his destination, the L-rd extended his covenant and Abraham became the father of the Jewish faith. Also, just by observing the L-rd’s command to leave, he began his faith walk; a sojourn we take everyday. This journey requires the faith that our upbringing, values and observances will too lead us on the right path.

Noach (Gen 6:9-11:32)

Stand Your Ground Before It’s Gone

This week’s parasha is Noach, which is known for the Flood story. The Earth had become an evil place and the L-rd wished to wipe it out. However, He felt that one man, Noah was righteous and should be preserved along with his family. The L-rd gave Noah specific directions on the building of an ark, which would become their home until the destruction of the Earth was over. Noah and his kin, along with two of every animal, followed Hashem’s instructions and after 40 days and nights of unimaginable rain found themselves with the challenge of repopulating the Earth.
Even though we may not be tasked to gather up two of every animal or build an ark, our lives obviously have their challenges as well; especially when we try to live more righteous lives and follow certain guidelines. People may question our dietary choices, prayer times, or other religious commitments, but we can look to men like Noah as an example of staying strong. Imagine the looks and insults he probably received while building a 300 cubits by 50 by 30 (about 440 feet long, 73 feet wide, 43 feet high) ark in the middle of a desert. But with every instruction, Noah did “just as G-d commanded him” (Genesis 6:22). Had he not followed the L-rd’s commandment, Noah would have been swept away with the rest of the population. He stood his ground and ended up as one of only a few people with a ground to stand on. When we have our “rainy days” in life, we too can look forward to a rainbow.

Bereishit (Gen 1:1- 6:8)

Establishing Order for a New World

The first parasha of the yearly cycle is Bereishit, which is also known as the Story of Creation. It describes the steps that were taken by the L-rd in order to bring about this world. Gen1:1-6:8 tells of the 6 days, in which this was done as well as the story of the lives of the first two humans and their kin.

The first four days include the creation of Heaven and Earth, Light and Dark, Evening, and Morning, and Seas and Plants. Day 5 introduces sea-creatures and birds. Day 6 sees the creation of insects, beasts of land, and humans. On day 7, the L-rd rested, establishing what would become the Sabbath. The next 4 and a half chapters share the story of Adam and Eve, the Garden of Eden, the first sin, the first murder, and man’s expansion on Earth until the time of Noah.

I choose to hone in on the story of Creation for this particular summary. In today’s time-senstive, get-it-done-yestarday age, it seems appropriate. Our L-rd is all-powerful and therefore could’ve created everything with the snap of a finger. However, He chose to do it over the course of 6 days. I feel that this detail is note-worthy because anything worth doing takes time. We should feel an awesome self-worth. More importantly, we should value the time we have on this planet that was so lovingly made. In valuing that time, we can stop and think about that the order that should be kept in our own lives. The L-rd knew that the fish couldn’t be created without having an ocean to live in. The same goes for people and land. You can’t build a house from the top down. You must build a foundation first. Time for work, school, etc is important, but there should also be time set aside for Torah study, prayer and mitzvot. The latter are the foundation for a good and purposeful life. In parting, remember to keep order in your life and that even G-d rested!