Lech Lecha 5769 #1 in english
Rav David Daniel Hacohen שליט״א
Summary
At the start of Parashat Lech Lecha, Hashem tells Avraham to leave Babylon for Eretz Yisrael and promises to make him a great nation. The Rav discusses Rashi's explanation of why the Amida says «God of Avraham, God of Yitzchak, God of Yaakov» but ends the blessing with Avraham alone. He explains that Hashem judges us in three ways, with chesed, with strict judgment, or with both together, and that giving requires knowing when to stop. According to the Rav, the excess of chesed that left Avraham went into Yishmael, and the excess of strictness that left Yitzchak went into Esav, while Yaakov is a perfect blend of both. He concludes that Hashem always ends His judgment with chesed because He loves Am Yisrael, and that we must follow Avraham's way by opening our homes and bringing people closer to Hashem.
Highlights
- 0:03 Hashem tells Avraham to leave Babylon and go to Eretz Yisrael The Land of Israel The Patriarchs
- 0:46 A great nation and a blessing: the promise to Avraham Faith The Patriarchs
- 1:06 Rashi: why the Amida names the three fathers but ends with Avraham alone Torah study Prayer
- 3:18 Three ways Hashem treats us: chesed, judgment, or both Kabbalah Character traits
- 3:49 Giving needs judgment: the example of someone who asks for money Love of Israel Mussar
- 4:43 Yishmael takes the excess chesed of Avraham, Esav the excess strictness of Yitzchak Edom and Ishmael Tikkun
- 6:12 Yaakov is the perfect mixture of chesed and judgment The Patriarchs Character traits
- 6:37 Hashem always ends His judgment with chesed because He loves Am Yisrael Love of Israel Faith
- 7:46 Follow Avraham's way: open home and bring others closer to Hashem Education Mitzvot