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Dvar Torah - Parshat Lech Lecha – R’ Erez
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Who is the first person who set out on a journey to Eretz Yisrael?
It is well accepted that this person is Avraham Avinu in the beginning of Parashat
Lech Lecha. Indeed, it is true that Avraham was the first to come here but he was
not the first to set out to here!
At the end of Parashat Noach we are told of Avraham’s father Terach, and this is
what’s written (Bereishit 11:31): Terach took his son Avram, and Lot the son of
Charan, his grandson, and his daughter in law Sarai, the wife of Avram his son,
and they departed with them from Ur Kasdim to go to the land of Canaan, and they
arrived at Charan and they settled there.”
It is very odd- why did Terach depart to Canaan? Why at the end did he stay in Charan
and didn’t continue his journey that he began?
When we compare the torah’s description of Avraham’s Aliyah to the land we see the
clear similarities in the way in which he departed to that of his fathers departure
from Ur Kasdim to Canaan.
(Berieshit 12:5) “Avram took his wife Sarai and Lot, his brother’s son, and all
their wealth that they had amassed m and the souls they made in Charan, and they
left to go to the land of Canaan, and they came to the land of Canaan.”
The Torah seems to be teaching us an important essential value in Zionism. There
are two types of Zionism. There are those who come to the land since they understand
and feel that this is the promised land, the land of prophecy and of divine providence.
The only place in the world which belongs to Am Yisrael due to the Godly commandment.
However, there are those who come to Canaan only for other reasons, such as financial
or political calculations. What caused Terach to set out on his journey to Canaan?
It seems that he felt that the local ruling authority (Nimrod) was not as welcoming
as in the past, or perhaps terach tought it would be better for business and so
on, and so once he arrived in Charan, he saw that it was good and therefore stayed.
On the other hand, Avraham set out on his journey due to the prophetic commandment
of Lech Lecha, without any personal interests involved.
This is the difference between religious Zionism and secular Zionism. Secular Zionism
is the one which for the most part built up the state of Israel, and it is for this
reason that many problems and hardships have accompanied the state’s birth and existence
till this very day.
The more ideal and complete approach in which we believe in is the Derech of Avraham
Avinu nad not that of Terach. The more the Jews of the world act out of a viewpoint
that Israel is the national Jewish compass that we received from prophecy and Torah,
the more we will merit to hasten the Geulah process to the building of the Beit
HaMikdash and the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days. Amen. |
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