Parashat Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1 - 17:27)

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

Parashat Noach was about the universal; this weeks's parasha, Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1 - 17:27) begins the particular story of the Jews. God calls to Abram and his wife Sarai sending them on the special journey that in many ways we continue to this day. It is interesting how little fanfare there is about Abram accepting the call from God, the excitement begins after that.

As the parasha begins, God tells Abram to leave "your native land, your birthplace, from your father's house.(12:1)" Why does God use three different terms for the place Abram is leaving but nothing specific about where he is going? What kind of lesson about life in general can we learn from this moment? Why doesn't Abram say anything here?
Lot's employees and Abram's employees have some kind of dispute (13:6 - 12) and Abram tells Lot that he can choose whichever side of the land he wants. Does Lot really have a choice here? One side is well-watered and the other isn't. Which would you choose? Since God has already promised the land of Canaan to Abram, it would seem that Lot's choice would have to be limited in someway. What would God have done if Lot had chosen the "Abram" side? How much free will do you think we have in life? How many of the things that happen to us in life are pre- determined? How much is in our hands?
God promises, "I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring too can be counted. (13:16)" Are we that numerous? Have we ever been that numerous? If this statement is not meant literally, what else might it mean? Can dust even be counted? What are some phrases like this that you use in your life?
In 14:18 we meet a king named Malchizedek which means, "my king is righteous (or something like that)." He brings out bread and wine and in 14:19 he makes a very Jewish sounding blessing. After the blessing Abram give him 1/10 of everything. What do you make of this scene? How about this guy's name? What do you think of that? What if that is not really his name and that is just what Abram and the guys called him? Does it matter? Who is this guy anyway? What do you think when you hear non-Jews making brachot (blessings)?
In Chapter 17 Abram and Sarai get their names changed to Abraham and Sarah. The new names reflect their special relationship with God. Why do you think that God waited until after the birth of Ishmael (Abraham's first son) to make this change? Why didn't God change their names as soon as they headed off on this journey? And, if the eventual birth of Isaac fulfills a prophecy of God to Abraham why doesn't he have a Hey in his name? What does your name mean? What others names do you go by (sister, brother, daughter, son, etc)?