Each week we take a look at the Torah Portion of the week and offer up Torah Thoughts from the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. Thanks for coming by!
This week we read from the Book of Bereishis (Genesis) 12-17. The portion is called Lech Lecha meaning "go" as we read G-d speaking to Abram: "Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives and from your father's house to the land that I will show you."
And so we start the journey with the man and woman (Sarah) who will become the parents of our faith. The interesting thing about this first sentence is that it is a commandment to "do something". Faith, without actually doing something, fails in its call to live a life of purpose. Here we see Abram (who later would become Abraham) commanded to step out of his comfort zone. To leave all that he knew and move on to a cause.
Also in this reading we read where G-d gives to Abram, and the entire world, this message, "I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you."
Pretty stunning. Is it any wonder that Israel, among all the nations in what we call the "Middle East", is truly a land of milk and honey. Deserts that grew nothing are now rich with produce. Israel is a technological wonder having given the world drip irrigation, roof top solar water heaters, USB drives. In every area from mathematics to medicine to optics Israel creates. Yet, there is also hatred. And that hatred brings a curse of instability, war, famine....the list is endless.
This is not to say we, as Jews, are superior. We do, however, have a mission to do what we can to repair a broken world so that truly "all the families of the earth shall bless themselves".
It is more than a faith it is a responsibility.
In this Parsha we read about the trip to Egypt the birth of Ishmael, the Mitzvah (Commandment) of circumcision and the promise of a child to Sarah.
It is a stunning story and one we'll talk about this Shabbat and at our Midrash.
Shabbat Schedule
We will meet for Erv Shabbat at 7:15 Friday evening and then our Midrash (Study Session) on Shabbat (Saturday) starting at 10:00am where we will dive deep into this week's Torah Portion.
Everyone is welcome. See you in Shul!
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