I feel really blessed.
I have just arrived in Israel to spend some time with my dear Mother and then to participate in the long awaited Trip 17.
Jwcatlanta partners with Momentum to bring women to Israel for a week long immersive experience. We have been so blessed to take 16 groups to date. Hundreds of Atlanta women have journeyed with us to Israel on this unique mom centered trip.
Trip 17 was supposed to go two years ago. The women were poised for the trip of a lifetime.
Then came October 7!
The trip was canceled, our hearts were broken by the travesty and horrific tragedy that occurred in Israel.
The following year we were set to go once again.
Yet, it was not meant to be.
It was not the right time.
And now we are waiting for our Trip 17.3 sisters to come home.
Before I left the States, I called my Rabbi and shared that I was traveling to Israel with a group of women and I asked for a blessing.
He responded that it was just the right time to go to Israel (balm to our souls Trip 17), because the portion we have coming up is Lech Lecha.
This is how Gd commands Abraham our forefather to begin the journey to the Land which He will show him.
At the time Abraham did not know where that Land is, but we know that it was the Land of Israel.
Much ink has been spilled on the words Lecha Lecha and much commentary is found for those words.
The literal explanation is that Gd was telling Abraham just to go, the destination and change of venue would be good for him.
Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, 20th century rabbi, teaches that Gd wasn’t giving Abraham a physical destination but rather a commandment to go to himself. In other words it was to be a journey of self exploration to discover his own soul and essence.
Another explanation is given by the Chassidic Master, Rabbi Alter, the first rabbi of the Ger dynasty, who shares a fascinating insight. He posits that Gd was actually saying Lech Lecha to everyone at that time. But it was only Abraham who was on a spiritual journey of self refinement and connecting to Gd, who heard the message and then acted upon it.
By embarking on this
Lech Lecha journey Abraham becomes the primary example of how to live a meaningful life.
So as Shoshana Judelman, an educator in Israel writes, Abraham personified all the aspects of Lech Lecha.
“Physically, Abraham has to leave the place where he grew up and the way he was used to doing things. But Lecha Lecha also means go for yourself. To yourself. On a spiritual and and psychological level this journey would be one of even deeper personal growth and refinement.
And it’s meant for all of us.”
She quotes Rabbi Elimelech of Luzinsk, Polish 18th century Chassidic master, who explains that Lech Lecha is a “call to come out of our comfort zones”
(I doubt that was his original language)
It means reexamining ourselves and making sure that our behaviors are properly aligned with our exalted mission.

Just as Abraham was sent on a mission with destination unknown, so too do we traverse life not knowing at all where we will end up.
But the DNA of Abraham courses through our veins and he bequeathed us the super power to keep our hearts and faith strong.
We can continue on this path knowing Gd is by our side.
Bar Kuperstein is a recently released hostage. He told a story about his amazing mother who went on the darkest journey possible waiting for her son’s return while holding her faith as a light post.
Apparently the Hammas terrorist holding Bar called his mother to subject her to psychological warfare. He taunted her and told her that she wasn’t doing enough to save her son. Instead of responding with fear and tears, Mrs. Kuperstein answered that her son was not in his hands, “but always in the hands of the Creator, and you too are in the hands of the Creator”.
To which the stunned terrorist replied “well done Madam”.
How could Mrs. Kuperstein stand with such faith in the face of such evil?
She is the daughter of Abraham, and Abraham paved the way for her by plowing the fields with his faith and commitment to the Creator.
Our aforementioned Rabbi, Rabbi Dovid Cohen shlita, has written a number of books on this topic of how the deeds of our ancestors pave the way for us their children. This is seen very practically as we actually follow in their footsteps on a physical level as they traversed the Land of Israel and generations later we followed in their footsteps. And our ancestors paved the way on a spiritual level too as they created the highest forms of spiritual growth through the efforts they expended in these arenas. Those efforts have been one with the body corpus of the Jewish Neshama. Hence the superhuman strength evinced by Mrs. Kuperstein and many of those who have experienced this tragic time.
Rabbi Cohen finished his blessing to me by telling me it’s the perfect time to go to Israel, because of Lech Lecha and also because in this portion Gd blesses Abraham and tells him he will be for a blessing.
This can be interpreted in many ways but one understanding is that Abraham will merit to bring blessings and positive influences as he travels his journey.
So Trip 17 is beginning its odyssey, finally!
Because now is THE right time, the blessed time.
But each and every one of us is in the Lech Lecha journey.
For some it’s frightening, for others it’s their favorite parsha.
But for all of us, it’s a call, a challenge, and ultimately a source of unending blessing.
It’s the right time to embark.
It’s a time of blessing.
And we are the source of that blessing.
Safe travels all!!
Shabbat Shalom and so much love from the holy city of Jerusalem.