Recap for 11 Cheshvan 5777 (Parsha Lech Lecha)

This Shabbos we discussed parsha Lech Lecha, including commentary by Rav Yeager.  We also discussed halacha related to melachot.   It was a special Shabbos, as this is Norm’s barmitzvah parsha.  Lech Lecha also marks the anniversary of our early minyan.  I would like to thank David and Linda for hosting our Kiddush.  David Schlesinger led discussion.

Rav Males spoke about how Hashem wants us to finish the act of creation with both the body and soul.  He spoke about how brit milah, which is a part of the parsha, symbolizes man finishing the act of creation with the body.  The same way we do the mitzvah of brit milah, we also need to finish the act of creation with the neshama (soul).  Rav Males spoke about how we can do this by trying our best to develop positive character traits, and remove (or diminish) negative character traits. 

One of the halacha we discussed is that when a prophet contradicts an earlier prophet, we go with the first prophet unless the second prophet gives us good news.  David shared from his father, Rav Dr. George Schlesinger, the idea that being commanded by Hashem to do something, even something like sacrificing your own child, is always good news.  This is because the command  is coming from Hashem, who has the complete picture and knows everything.  Although Hashem first said that Isaac would have children, which is contradicted by later asking us to sacrifice him, in this case the second prophecy does override the first.  The lesson here is to be careful judging what is and is not good news.  

This Shabbos, we discussed the meaning and reason for Shabbos, which we observe every 7 days.  We discussed how we imitate Hashem, who also worked for 6 days, and then rested on the 7th.  We discussed exactly what it means to "rest" on Shabbot.

“Rest” means first of all that on Shabbos we are prohibited from performing the 39 types of melachot(work) that were performed in building the temple.  We discussed how these original 39 types of work need to be interpreted and applied to the current times.  For example, the Rabbis have determined that operating an automobile, causes fires to be started in the engine, and have ruled that this is prohibited work on Shabbos, even though automobiles are not mentioned in the Torah.

Jason shared about how the Torah is written for the times, which is why there is nothing in there about automobiles on Shabbos.  Jason mentioned that historically, we could best relate to phrases such as “hand of Hashem”, although today we know that Hashem does not have a physical hand.  We discussed how we rely on Rabbi’s to interpret the Torah and apply it to the current times.  Jason shared how the Torah is true, even though we may not be able to take certain things literally.  He shared that there is an idea that some of the passages in the Torah may actually be from a dream.

We discussed how “rest” also means that we take a break from our weekday activities, even those that may not specifically be one of the 39 types of work.  David spoke about how removing the distractions of our normal routines, makes it possible to engage in spiritual activities on Shabbos and find and experience meaning in the day.  We discussed how it is very important to not just refrain from work, but to have a spiritual, special day as well.  One of the ways we do this very well in Memphis, is with our kiddush and learning. 

It is easier for Hashem to communicate to us on Shabbos, with distractions removed.  On Shabbos, we should listen to what he is telling us, through his Torah and in other ways.  By removing the distractions of our everyday activity, such as smart phones and televisions, we can better focus in, pray and meditate and focus in on the spiritual nature of the day.

We discussed why Hashem choose Abraham to come to Israel and be the beginning of our nation that has a special relationship with Hashem.  Yaki spoke about how Abraham exhibited a large amount of chesed (kindness).  We discussed the idea that Abraham was chosen because not only did he reject idol warship, he taught and inspired others to believe in Hashem and did this for many years.  We also discussed the idea that Abraham was chosen, simply because this was Hashem’s plan, and that Hashem maintains a special relationship with all Jews regardless of whether or not we are all deserving, and this included Abraham. 

Regardless of the reason, we discussed that coming to Israel was simply the next step in Abraham’s spiritual growth.  Just like Abraham, the next step in our own spiritual growth may be to go to Israel.  We discussed from Rav Yeager how Noah was just a private individual, whereas Abraham represented all the Jewish people.  Therefore there is a big difference between Hashem choosing Noah, and Hashem choosing Abraham.  We discussed how Abraham was not explicitly mentioned in the Torah as a righteous man, and this could be either because we are expected to figure this out on our own, or because it wasn’t just Abraham being chosen but the entire nation which would follow.

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.