Avrohom Avinu's Path: Truth

הלכות גניבה ה"ה

(Painting by Miriam Schulman)

Avrohom Avinu was the first to reveal the truth of Hashem's oneness in the world. Therefore, he merited everything included in Torah 9 of the second volume in Likutei Moharan (and Torah 7 in LM I).  There, the Rebbe explains that through truth one is able to acquire Eretz Yisroel, prayer, faith in Hashem, and miracles.  Avrohom merited these items through his sincerity and simplicity, for Avrohom always conducted himself with simplicity and with truth, as our sages say, "The one who walks with simplicity - this is Avrohom." (Makos 24b)  Because of these traits that he possessed, Hashem commanded Avrohom to go to Eretz Yisroel.  And, by going to Eretz Yisroel Avrohom then meritted perfected prayer and faith in Hashem to the point that he was worthy of being included in every Shmoneh Esrei, as in "Elokei Avrohom, etc."  As such, anyone who desires to have perfect faith in Hashem and to pray to Him will say, "Elokei Avrohom."    

The Torah relates that "Lot went with him [Avrohom]," (Bereishis 12:4) to explain that by definition darkness will always be bound to holiness, for Lot always followed after Avrohom to create darkness for him.  Thus, we are taught that this is the main longing and service of the holy tzaddikim.  The tzaddikim must work to reveal the truth hidden within the darkness of falsehood.  This is the reason why Avrohom told Lot to separate from him - "If you go to the left I will go to the right."  Avrohom was indicating to Lot that he did not want to walk in his path, for if Lot wanted to confuse Avrohom via the left side, which is related to evil desires and thoughts, then he would go to the right, which is the path of Torah and truth.  However, if Lot preferred to go to the right, which in this case is the place of the evil inclination under the guise of mitzvos, then Avrohom conceded that he would go to the left, for nothing is worse then this falsehood of the "right".  

This is why Hashem told Avrohom to "go for himself" (לך לך).  Hashem implied that Avrohom should go to "himself" alone, to the essense of truth, which is Avrohom's essense and vitality.  

Go Forth From Your Land

הלכות שבת ה"ז

("The Negev" by Jordana Klein)

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל אַבְרָם לֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ

Hashem’s instruction to Avrohom to, "go forth from your land," was a hint to every person that he too should “go,” meaning that every person must be careful to “go” wherever he must for his own sake.  The essence of a person, which is what one alludes to when he refers to himself as “I,” is his soul.  The Torah is thus demanding each person to “go” to “himself,” that is, to the source of his soul, for every path one takes, and every journey upon which one embarks is really for the sake of his soul.  All of the paths upon which one walks in this world are really meant to bring him to the essence of his being, which is the source of the soul. 

Furthermore, this is why Hashem tells Avrohom to go forth “from your land,” as the word, eretz-land, literally refers to one’s coarseness and materialism.  One must strive to go forth from his "land" and his birth place, meaning the materialism in which he grew up and is accustomed to.  He must also go out from his father’s place, as sometimes one finds that the lifestyles and world views of his family, friends, and neighbors are the opposite of truth, and he must get up and go to a place where he can unite with the source of his soul.  Every person certainly has the strength to endure all of this, as the Rebbe explains in Torah 49 (LM II).  Hashem never gives a person obstacles he is unable to overcome. 

Hashem then states, “to the land I will show you,” which is Eretz Yisroel.  Eretz Yisroel is the source of the ultimate Holiness, for this is where the Beis HaMikdash stands, and it is the source of all the souls.  For this reason Hashem instructs every person to, “go forth from your land to the land I will show you” -  to the source of your soul.