Lech l'cha

Lech l'cha.  Go for yourself.  These are the opening words of Genesis, Chapter 12 as God instructs Avram and Sarai to leave their country, their birthplace and their father's home to go to a land that God will show them...the Promised Land.

The medieval Jewish commentary, Rashi notes, that this journey is like no other.  Rashi explains the unusual word order of the journey that Avram and Sarai were instructed to take.  Rashi understood that there was something special about this particular journey and that it was not simply a "trip".  For if this were an ordinary trip, it would begin at one's home and then go out from there to explore, other towns, cities, and even countries.  In this case, Avram and Sarai are not simply travelers, but are making a more personal, spiritual journey.  In order to grow, they must first leave behind their fundamental notions about their world.  They must leave behind their idols, and harder still, they must leave behind the beliefs taught by their parents.  They needed to be open to the possibility of a new land, a new beginning, and a new belief.   The only way to make this significant journey was to travel inward first.

This Sunday, 16 travelers from Houses of Worship throughout the South Shore of Boston and one traveler from Florida, will journey to the land of Israel and Jordan.  We have been meeting throughout the year to learn from each other and to learn with each other about commonly held beliefs about Israel and the Middle East.  We have shared our own prayers and our own understandings about religion and history.  We have read The Source by James Michener together. We will be much like Avram and Sarai, looking forward to journeying with each other, leaving ourselves open to new ideas, new experiences, new sights, new sounds and even new foods.

Lech L’cha, we will go on this journey for ourselves, to learn and see, experience and hear the sights and sounds of Israel and Jordan.  We will leave our preconceived notions behind and like Avram and Sarai go to a land that God will surely show us.  But surely, we will return as friends, anxious to share what we have learned with all of our respective communities, friends and family.

May our journey be sweet.  Follow us as we share our lives with all of you.

Rabbi Shira Joseph