The central theme of this week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, is the command for Avraham to leave his homeland and journey to Eretz Yisrael, the land that Hashem promised to show him. The words “לךְ־לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָ”/“Go forth from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you” are the very first mitzvot ever given to a Jew. Rav Meir Yechiel of Ostrovtza points out that Hashem could have begun Judaism with any number of commands. Yet, the first message to Avraham, the first Jew, was to leave his familiar surroundings and settle in the special land that Hashem chose.
Why did Hashem choose this as the foundational mitzvah? Rav Yehudah HaLevi, in Sefer HaKuzari, explains that Avraham, already the most righteous person of his generation, had reached a spiritual level where he was ready to connect with the Divine in an even deeper way. Eretz Yisrael, the land uniquely suited for spiritual perfection, was the only place where Avraham could reach his full potential. Even though Avraham had already attained a high level of closeness to God outside of Eretz Yisrael, Hashem knew that only in the Land could he fully realize his destiny.
Avraham’s life in Chutz La’Aretz was not lacking in purpose. He was discovering Hashem, fighting against idolatry, teaching monotheism, and performing acts of kindness—just as many Jews in the diaspora today raise families, run businesses, study Torah and lead communities. However, Hashem told Avraham, “All this is good, but you are doing it in the wrong place. In My special land, you will achieve so much more.” The message of Lech Lecha is that Hashem’s call to live in Eretz Yisrael is timeless.
For years, people delayed making aliyah due to material concerns. Today, with a comfortable life possible in Israel, the real barrier is often spiritual complacency. Many feel they have everything they need in Chutz La’Aretz: thriving communities, Torah learning, chesed organizations, kosher restaurants and yeshivas. But Lech Lecha teaches us that while it’s possible to reach spiritual heights in Chutz La’Aretz, even greater achievements await in Hashem’s chosen land.
October 7 served as a wake-up call, prompting many Jews to consider aliyah more seriously than ever. It’s not an easy decision. Uprooting from the familiar, selling a home, leaving family and friends and adjusting to a new life can be daunting. Yet the blessings Hashem promises to those who move to Eretz Yisrael, as outlined in this parsha, speak to our time as well: “I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.”
Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin comments in Oznayim LaTorah that this promise applies to Avraham’s descendants as well. Am Yisrael can only reach its true greatness—militarily, economically and spiritually—when we are in our Land. The Shechina does not dwell in the diaspora; we need to open our eyes to the miracles Hashem performs in Israel daily.
The Netziv adds that Avraham’s example of acting immediately upon Hashem’s command to leave teaches us how to approach the mitzvah of aliyah. He didn’t wait for everything to be perfect; he set out immediately, leaving others to handle his affairs. For us, this can mean making small concrete steps: talking about aliyah, choosing careers suited for Israel, renting instead of buying in Chutz La’Aretz,or investing in property in Israel. Such steps lock us into the journey toward aliyah, making it easier to follow through when the time is right.
Even with all the challenges, R. Chayim of Volozhin teaches that the trials Avraham endured were meant to strengthen his descendants. His steadfast commitment to aliyah instilled within each Jew the ability to heed Hashem’s call to move to Eretz Yisrael. The recent events have sparked a renewed desire for aliyah, reminding us that every Jew possesses the inner strength and spiritual DNA to make this journey.
At this time, it is imperative for Jewish leaders—rabbis, teachers, and mentors in diaspora schools and shuls—to emphasize the centrality of Israel in Jewish life. As role models, they have a responsibility to inspire their communities to recognize that the future of Am Yisrael lies in Eretz Yisrael. This message needs to permeate our educational systems and our daily conversations, instilling within each of us the drive to fulfill Hashem’s timeless command: “Lech Lecha”—Go to the land He has shown us. I know for a fact that this constant message works. In my shul, Congregation Ohav Emeth in Highland Park, the rabbi constantly talked about the importance of Eretz Yisrael and aliyah. Consequently, over the years, this shul had by far the highest percent of aliyah of any shul in the community.
Let me end with a beautiful thought from the Sfas Emes, who raises a question about the closing words of the first blessing in our Shmoneh Esrei, “Magen Avraham”—“the Shield of Abraham.” Why do we ask Hashem to protect Avraham? Avraham Avinu has been gone for thousands of years; why would he need protection? The Sfas Emes, in a classic insight of his Hasidus, explains that we are not asking Hashem to shield Avraham himself. Rather, we are asking Him to preserve within us that spark of Avraham Avinu—the essence that drove him to leave his homeland, come to Eretz Yisrael, and settle and conquer the Land of Israel.
We seek to retain the strength Avraham embodied, the unwavering commitment to avodas Hashem, enabling him to pass all his tests, from bris milah to the battles he entered, enduring hardship with an indestructible faith. Avraham’s life was built entirely on the will of Hashem, unshaken by the surrounding cultures and norms. This enduring spark, this legacy of resilience and faith, is the true blessing we ask for.
Ultimately, the question we must ask ourselves is: Are we listening to Hashem’s call?
