Debbie Friedman & Abraham
Lech Lecha Drash by Mat Sgan
Go Forth! Genesis 12:1-17:27 Debbie Friedman
Lech L’cha (LL) to a land that I will show you
LL to a place you do not know-
LL On your journey I will bless you and you shall
be a blessing LL
LL and I shall make your name great
LL and I shall praise your name
LL to a place that I will show you
God said to Abram, Go forth from your land, from your birthplace, from your father’s house.
Genesis 1 & 2 featured Adam and Noah. God must have felt great disappointment about the
high points of his morality plans for humanity- He had differentiated humankind from his
other creatures and creations and provided them with free will and reason. He had provided a
Garden of Eden for the first man and woman. That hadn’t worked. And providing the seven
Noahide laws- mostly DO Nots-had not worked either.
God regretted the humanity he had created in His image and established a different plan- He
would start a subgroup within humanity with principal agents. God settled on a man and a
woman, Abram & Sarai from the Ur of Chaldeans, to carry his message forward,
UR of Chaldeans was well chosen in its time -it was a flourishing city; its pagan religion was
thriving -idol sales were up! Huge Temples called Ziggurats about which it is said “its
towers reached toward the Heavens and its foundations create aura” had been built . It was
the site of pagan worship of a moon god, who was the supreme god among a pantheon of
gods. They controlled the heavens & the earth as well as the fertility of crops, herbs, and
families. Ur was moreover a seat of sophisticated Sumerian astronomy with star charts and
all. The gods seemed to be looking in favor on UR.
As physicist-Rabbi Jeremy England writes-God’s action initiated a unique form of religious
particularism. As we recite in our Alenu Congregational prayer- God made our lot unlike
other people and assigned to us a unique destiny. Our task, however, was and is not
particular-it was and is universal- to bring moral guidance to all humanity. Abram was
chosen to initiate a movement that would struggle to introduce and perpetuate Ethical
Monotheism in human affairs.
Biblical writing & mishnaic mythology indicate that Abram had doubts about the moon god
& the pantheon of gods. In a midrash-Genesis Rabbah chapter 38- Abram is said to have
smashed their idols. When challenged by his father Terah, an idol maker, Abram proclaims
that the idols attacked each other. Terah responds that that explanation is ridiculous since
idols have neither soul nor spirit. Abram makes his point by asking -why do we worship idols
who can’t do anything?
We do not need to accept this mythology as proof of anything to appreciate its wisdom in
illustrating how change occurs in human affairs and describing it as based on the most
compelling evidence and inspirational sources of the times with the highest possible motive.
It asserted the idea that life has meaning and that humanity was created and Judaism was
chosen to understand and further the best aspects of it for all for eternity. Consider the role of
the Jewish people historically and culturally since then.
Just as Noah was a good man “in his time.” Abram was a good man in his time and setting.
Abram sought to find a good life through reason, experience, spiritual pursuit, and
understanding. Abram realized that there is one God. It is not the supposed moon God. Rather it
is one who demands righteous behavior, unconventional thinking, and human kindness, God
decided that Abram of UR had the attitude and background to be capable of knowing and loving
Hashem and leading a nation on God’s behalf.
God proposed a covenant with Abram. The covenant contained obligations & responsibilities;
expectations & rewards- both ways. Holy Land, numerous heirs and adherents, behavioral
guidelines, and eternal recognition would be God’s gifts to Abram. Loyalty, devoted generations,
male circumcision, an eagerness to learn and be creative, & a willingness to help keep the world
in good repair would be Abram’s gifts to God.
God said to Abram , in so many words, up-grade and complete your way of life by being my
agent. Sarai and you will have name changes to highlight your change of status. Henceforth you
will be called Abraham and Sarah.
It is said that Abraham faced ten tests after his selection and agreement. Most of the tests are
found in this sedrah. They range from going forth from his country, his kindred, and his father’s
house to later on being told to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. Abraham met his tests with guile,
deception, force, loyalty, and determination. Now Jews are tested yet again by an implacable enemy that wants to destroy them. Who will be our Abrahams and Sarahs?
