Parsha Lech Lecha
November 1, 2025/10 Cheshvan 5786
Greetings friends:
Pirkei Avos, Chapters of our Fathers states – “our forefather Abraham was tested with ten trials, and he withstood them all.” However, it is up to later commentators to list exactly what those trials were as they are not specifically listed there. While I am not going to compile a list here, I want to see if we can apply some of the lessons of this parsha to the day-to-day trials we face at home, school, work, and social life. This is just as it states in this parsha, G-d says to Abraham “and you shall be a blessing”, which the Midrash describes as a reference to the first blessing of Shemonah Esrei, our daily blessings where we pray to the G-d of Abraham.
When I think about how Abraham faced these significant trials, such as the Akeidah, when he is commanded by G-d to sacrifice his son, we are in awe of his commitment. But there are other significant challenges he faced that we can also learn from in this parsha. One thing which differentiates a person of faith is their positive outlook in contrast to the easy trap of negative thinking. A common description of negative thinking is the five Cs – complaining, criticizing, concern, commiserating, and catastrophizing.
Abraham had none of this. For example, he arrived in the land of Canaan as G-d commanded only to be faced with famine. Did he complain? No. He is forced to descend to Egypt where he realizes that his wife is at risk of kidnapping. Does he descend into concern and anxiety? No, he trusts in G-d but has a plan to present Sarah as his sister. Abraham is so blessed that barren women come to him to pray, and they conceive, yet his own prayers for himself and Sarah go unanswered. Does he join in a cycle of commiseration with others? No, he and Sarah are credited with “making the souls” of those they bring to recognize G-d. His nephew Lot experiences friction with Abraham over muzzling livestock (for which Lot did not do and was therefore guilty of theft) but he does not criticize, he instead states “let there be no strife between me and you.” And when Lot is captured in the war of four and five kings, Abraham does not expect catastrophe, but despite all odds, he joins battle and succeeds in mounting a rescue.
We all face our own challenges that are subjectively bigger or smaller, but next time we engage in our daily Shemonah Esrei, give a moment to consider how Abraham faced his trials and avoided negative thinking, instead engaging in faith and prayer and ultimately succeeding despite the odds.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
Pirkei Avos, Chapters of our Fathers states – “our forefather Abraham was tested with ten trials, and he withstood them all.” However, it is up to later commentators to list exactly what those trials were as they are not specifically listed there. While I am not going to compile a list here, I want to see if we can apply some of the lessons of this parsha to the day-to-day trials we face at home, school, work, and social life. This is just as it states in this parsha, G-d says to Abraham “and you shall be a blessing”, which the Midrash describes as a reference to the first blessing of Shemonah Esrei, our daily blessings where we pray to the G-d of Abraham.
When I think about how Abraham faced these significant trials, such as the Akeidah, when he is commanded by G-d to sacrifice his son, we are in awe of his commitment. But there are other significant challenges he faced that we can also learn from in this parsha. One thing which differentiates a person of faith is their positive outlook in contrast to the easy trap of negative thinking. A common description of negative thinking is the five Cs – complaining, criticizing, concern, commiserating, and catastrophizing.
Abraham had none of this. For example, he arrived in the land of Canaan as G-d commanded only to be faced with famine. Did he complain? No. He is forced to descend to Egypt where he realizes that his wife is at risk of kidnapping. Does he descend into concern and anxiety? No, he trusts in G-d but has a plan to present Sarah as his sister. Abraham is so blessed that barren women come to him to pray, and they conceive, yet his own prayers for himself and Sarah go unanswered. Does he join in a cycle of commiseration with others? No, he and Sarah are credited with “making the souls” of those they bring to recognize G-d. His nephew Lot experiences friction with Abraham over muzzling livestock (for which Lot did not do and was therefore guilty of theft) but he does not criticize, he instead states “let there be no strife between me and you.” And when Lot is captured in the war of four and five kings, Abraham does not expect catastrophe, but despite all odds, he joins battle and succeeds in mounting a rescue.
We all face our own challenges that are subjectively bigger or smaller, but next time we engage in our daily Shemonah Esrei, give a moment to consider how Abraham faced his trials and avoided negative thinking, instead engaging in faith and prayer and ultimately succeeding despite the odds.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh
