Lech Lecha
Parshat Lech - Lecha
This morning’s reading from the Torah marks the beginning of Jewish history. We read about the unique relationship between God and Abraham. Since Abraham had an ongoing dialogue with God and since God promised Abraham that he would be father of a great nation living in the Land of Israel, Abraham is considered the first Jew.
First Aliyah Genesis chapter 12:1-13 pp. 45-47
God commands Abram (his name is changed later to Abraham) to leave his homeland and go to the land that God will show him. There God will make Abram into a great nation, bless him, and cause his name to be well known. Abram was 75 when he embarked on this journey with his wife, Sarai (to be changed later to Sarah) and nephew, Lot. As soon as they settle in Canaan, there is a famine in the land. Abram and Sarai go down to Egypt for food.
Second Aliyah 12:14-13:4 pp. 47-48
Sarai finds favor in the eyes of the Egyptians and Pharoah, so Abram is rewarded with cattle, sheep, and camels. However, Pharoah and his household are stricken with a plague because Sarai is Abram’s wife. Pharaoh expels them from Egypt.
Third Aliyah 13:5-8 pp. 48-50
Both Lot and Abram have a great deal of cattle so Abram decides they should live further apart. Lot chooses to settle in the Jordan Valley near Sodom and Gomorrah. God then promises the whole land of Canaan as an inheritance for Abram’s descendants.
Fourth Aliyah - 14:1-20 pp. 50-53
A war breaks out between nine kings in the land of Canaan. During the course of battle, Lot is captured. Abram musters troops, chases the kings up to the North, and rescues his nephew.
Fifth Aliyah - 14:21-15:6 pp. 53-54
God tells Abram not to worry, He will be a shield for Abram. Abram complains to God about being childless. God promises that Abram will have a child and Abram has faith in God.
Sixth Aliyah -15:7-17:6 pp. 54-58
God tells Abram to take a three year old calf, a three year old goat, a three year old ram, a turtle dove, and a pigeon, split them open, lay them on the ground,
and walk between the pieces. A deep sleep overcomes Abram and in a dream God tells him that his descendants will be slaves in a foreign land for 400 years. Sarai tells Abram to take her maid Hagar, and to have a child with her. Hagar conceives and Sarai is jealous. Hagar runs away and an angel appears telling her that her child will be father of a great nation. God then changes Abram’s name to Abraham to symbolize being the father of a great nation.
Seventh Aliyah - 17:7-27 pp. 58-60
To show everlasting commitment to the covenant, God commands Abraham to circumcise himself and all male children at the age of eight days for all time. God changes Sarai’s name to Sarah to show that she will be a mother. Abraham laughs and God says that the child will be named Isaac (Hebrew for “he laughed”). The reading ends with Abraham circumcising his household.
Maftir - 17:24-27 p. 60
Haftorah - Isaiah 40:27-41:16 pp. 60-62
Israel is in exile and Isaiah encourages the people not to fear. God will be with them and be their shield. Just as God was Abraham’s shield, so too will He be the shield of the people.
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