I have always believed that The Torah is a reflection of reality.  From the beginning of our history as a People and at the time when Rabbis started trying to better understand and decipher its words, there have been two different ways of understanding its message.

Rabbi Akiva, for example, believed that every word, every letter, every space in The Torah serves a specific purpose and has a specific meaning.

Rabbi Ishmael, on the other hand, was the one who taught us that The Torah speaks the language of human beings. Truth be told, whichever our approach to understanding our sacred literature, one thing is certain — somehow we can always see our own reality reflected in its powerful words.

The Torah Portion which we read this week is no exception. Parashat Lech Lecha tells the story of our father Abraham. It tells the story of a man that dared to change the world in an age when everything seemed to be engulfed by darkness.

Abraham had the courage, both moral and spiritual, to start anew and go on a journey that would not only change his life but the life of all those around him. Today our country starts a similar journey.

I understand that for many of us the past few months have been charged with tremendous anxiety. Some of us feel elated and some of us perhaps devastated — but the truth is that whatever the outcome was, we are all together on this journey.  If you had the opportunity to listen to the words spoken by President Elect Barak Obama last night, I am sure that you were as moved as I was. I believe the words of Senator McCain were also powerful and inspiring. As a new American Citizen, it is hard for me to put into words what it feels like to be part of a nation where corruption, violence and anarchy are not what we live by but rather truth, freedom and hope.

Parashat Lech Lecha introduces a unique way to start chapters within a particular story. It uses a phrase that is used on and off throughout the first part of The Book of Genesis; “Vayehi Ahar Ha Devarim Ha Ele…” which according to The Midrash Rabbah may be translated as, “And it came to pass after all these words were spoken…” and the text uses that sentence structure to fast forward to the future and jump from scene to scene and from story to story.

I feel as if this morning we woke up to a whole new reality in our world we ourselves could use those words; “And it came to pass after all these words were spoken…” Truth be told, the historical events that are unfolding before our eyes belong not to one candidate or one person or one political party — they belong to the entire American People. This is our journey — some of us willingly and many a bit reluctantly but we are all together in our nations own Lech Lecha.

Look at our Torah; it contains eternal truth, its words are not only wise and meaningful but also powerful and relevant. When Abraham smashed the idols in his father’s shop, he did not know what would happen next. He set off on his journey and after listening to God’s voice and to the voice of his own heart, Abraham becomes the father of a great nation.

Change is one of the most difficult things in life to understand because it challenges us to see reality in a different way. Change can be difficult and many times it signals abrupt changes in culture and in conduct but when change comes and when it is needed, it is impossible to stop.

Abraham was a revolutionary figure. He changed the world not because he could but because he had to.  Abraham’s journey was not easy, it was filled with trials, tears and fear but it was rewarded with life, hope and accomplishment! The Jewish People have looked at Abraham’s journey for centuries and through it we have found renewed strength and an everlasting impetus that has caused us to walk through time and never give up no matter how difficult the road ahead may seem.

It is my prayer that starting today we understand the true essence of a life-changing journey. We are the people who gave the world the concept of change! Before Abraham, everything was always the same, through our narrative we gave all humanity the opportunity to be inspired and to understand that journeys begin with one individual but are completed by all of us together.

No matter who you are and what political beliefs you hold, you must agree last night was a tremendously moving night — both Barak Obama’s words and John McCain’s words have the power to change the course of history. For the first time in my life, I recited Shecheyanu after witnessing a political event. I prayed to God and recited a blessing for having granted me the opportunity to witness such an important moment in the life of our nation. Like in our own story, it all started with a dream, with a call that developed into a vision that set us on a journey. May this journey bring change for good and for blessing and may it take us from strength to strength.

© Rabbi Felipe Goodman

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Torah, religion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.