Shabbat Lech Lecha
Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27 / Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:27-41:16
“The Land”
Dear Friends,
In this week’s Torah portion, Abraham is called upon by God to leave his home in Mesopotamia and go west to the land of Cana’an, which would become known as the land of Israel. The Hebrew word for “The Land” which God would show Abraham is “ha’aretz.” Ha’aretz has come to mean not just any piece of land, but rather The Land, the holy land, the Land of Israel. That is why one of Israel’s leading newspapers is called “Ha’aretz.” The title refers to only one area of land – The Land – our Jewish homeland. In everyday Hebrew conversation, when talking about the land of Israel, one would refer to “Ha’aretz.”
Ha’aretz – The Land – is the homeland of the Jewish people. It is where our Jewish foundations were laid, where our Biblical history took place. It is where Jews have lived continually from Abraham up to the present time. It is the place to which we direct our prayers. It is the source of our Jewish inspiration for all Jews everywhere.
For those who have never been to Israel, I urge you to make plans and go visit soon. Those who have visited already, go again. It is a great and meaningful experience to walk in the footsteps of Abraham in The Land – Ha’aretz.
Shabbat shalom.
Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
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