WRJ Voices: Lech Lecha

I first heard Debbie Friedman’s music in 1976 at an Ohio summer camp. Twenty years later I heard “L’chi Lach”, a song Debbie Friedman and feminist biblical scholar Savina Teuba wrote based on this week’s parashah, Lecha L’cha (“go forth”).  Friedman’s text uses the feminine words “l’chi lach.”

Genesis 12:1-3 tells the story of Avram and Sarai as they begin a journey of faith and to be blessed on this journey. God says, "Leave your land, your birthplace, and your father's house and go to the land that I will show you." It was difficult for Avram to leave behind everything he has ever known. He does not know where his journey will lead him, but he is courageous enough to take his first steps because he has faith that God will deliver according to the promise that has been made. Where did Avram find his faith? Why did God choose Avram for this journey?

Rabbinic literature provides some answers to these questions. First, Rashi, the medieval commentator, interprets the first verse as “Go for yourself.” This translation offers an insight into this passage by suggesting that Avram’s journey is not simply to leave his father’s land and venture to a new land. His journey will be one of self-discovery, self-direction, and personal choosing. 

Second, Maimonides, medieval Sephardic Torah scholar, explains in Mishneh Torah, Avodah Zarah that describes Avram as a self-taught philosopher who studied the world as a young child. He was confident in what he saw in his truth and in his faith. He engaged those around him in conversation until crowds of people gathered around him to learn his teachings.

Third, Midrash HaGadol, the largest of the midrashic collections, tells the famous story of Avram breaking the idols in his father’s shop and then moving to worship the sun and the moon. He moves to different locations with his new beliefs but always disappointed. He concludes that someone needs to be in charge. It is not right to bow down to idols but to the One in charge. This is when God reveals Godself to Avram.

Throughout our lives we choose paths for ourselves that lead to various places. Sometimes these pathways lead to the home of our ancestors. Sometimes these journeys are to places that hold meaning to us in our current lives. I started a journey with my daughter 11 years ago when we moved to New Jersey. We left our family, friends, and birthplace so I could marry my bashert (soulmate). Nevertheless, I knew there were deeper reasons for the move. I was not living life to its fullest in either my secular or Jewish world. I knew marrying my best friend in the world and living on the East Coast would bring more to my life than living in the Midwest. It took a lot of self-reflection, faith, and trust to uproot me and my teenage daughter. This journey allowed us to be blessed with a deeper understanding of who we are within a larger global, Jewish world.

God instructs Avram to pull himself away from the negative behaviors of the people around him and be his own man. Our values are the most important thing we have within us as humans. October and November are the WRJ District Conventions, where new leadership will be installed for 2018-2020. Ten months ago, I stepped into the presidency of the WRJ Atlantic District because our dear friend and president, Nanci Pompan passed away suddenly. I was already a District leader. Being part of a community is wonderful, but it can also drag us down if there is some negative behavior in the group and we feel pressured to go along. Nanci and I would speak about our morals and values and how to incorporate them into a leadership role. As the new district leadership take their places we can learn from Avram to stick to our values of right and wrong even if those around us try to get us to act otherwise. Our values are not up for a vote.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes that leaders have the courage to not conform. What they follow is different from what most people follow. They follow an inner voice, a call. They have a vision, think outside the box, march to a different tune. God says to Avram to be different for the sake of starting something new and to “teach your children and your household afterward to follow the way of Adonai by doing what is right and just.” As new district leaders, we should look toward these verses for inspiration. For myself, it is my responsibility to use my values to be who I am. I know I am different. Leadership can be lonely, yet you continue to do what you have to do because you know that the majority is not always correct, and conventional wisdom is not always wise.

Listen to “L'chi Lach” as Debbie Friedman applies God’s famous, powerful words to Avram to something broader by using the feminine words. The feeling is that we are all a blessing and we are all on this great journey.

Annice M. Benamy will be formally installed as president of the WRJ Atlantic District on October 19,2018. She is Vice-President of Ritual and Social Justice of the Sisterhood of Temple Sinai of Bergen County, Tenafly, NJ. She is also cantor at the Reform Temple of Putnam Valley, Putnam Valley, NY.