Lech Lecha (1): Faith Foot Forward

לך לך מארצך

Go from your land...

Rav Avraham Yaakov, the first Sadigura Rebbe (son of R' Yisrael of Rhizhin) taught how these words express a fundamental key in religious growth.

The palatial Sadigura Shul

The word for land - ארץ - philosophically connotes Emunah, faith. The Passuk in Koheles states והארץ לעולם עומדת, the land is ever standing. This connects to a statement of Chazal: בא חבקוק והעמדן על אחת, Chabakuk came and stood all the Mitzvos on one, namely Emunah. We see just as the land is called standing, Emunah is also referred to as standing. Furthermore, the entirety of Seder Zra'im, the section of Mishnayos dealing with the laws of agriculture is called "Emunas" because when a Frum farmer plants his crops he merely drops in the seeds and realizes that the rest of the work (the rain) is all up to G-d. ארץ connotes faith.

Emunah implies coming to grips with a reality that seems either beyond comprehension or paradoxical. I don't understand it, but I believe it anyway. The Rebbes taught that the ultimate test of Emunah comes in the form of Bitul HaAtzmius, self nullification.

Bitul, in one form, means that I look at my accomplishments and Hasagos and then say, "I'm just starting" or "I can do so much better." I'm only able to take haughty pride in my action if I feel that they are comparatively significant. But If the potential for growth in Ruchniyus is endless, then no matter how much I do it's still only the tip of the iceberg. To constantly be starting no matter how far I've come is the paradox of the spiritual ideal. This requires Emunah.

But if channeled properly it is also the greatest motivator. The inspiration engendered by the knowledge that the potential for connection to Hashem is endless is the ultimate spark required to push me forward. I'm never at the top of the mountain. The challenges, and therefore the rewards are forever developing.

The Emunah makes me move.

This is the meaning of לך לך מארצך, go from your land. Once we realize that Eretz is referring to Emunah, we can understand the Passuk in a new light. לך לך, for a person who wants to go forward and grow is must come מארצך, from Emunah. This is the message that Hashem was sending Avraham. And by telling it to him, Hashem was implanting that ideal into the spiritual DNA of his descendants. In order to grow we must believe that the path is never-ending.