Several weeks ago I was dining in the Sukkah with friends when one of them shared that he reads Torah teachings from the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks every week. As the conversation continued, I shared with them a story I heard from Rabbi Sacks at the International Chabad Conference over ten years ago. (Watch it here: chabadelpaso.com/1690783)
As a college student at Cambridge in the 1960s he traveled to the US during his summer break to meet with influential Jewish leaders at the time, including the Rebbe. After he concluded presenting his important questions during that late-night meeting, the Rebbe started asking him questions. “What are you doing to enhance Jewish life at Cambridge?” The young Sacks was astonished, as at the time he was not exactly the prototype of a traditional Jewish activist and he tried to politely extricate himself from the question. “In the situation in which I find myself in…” The Rebbe stopped him mid-sentence and said, “Noone finds themselves in a situation. You put yourself into a situation. And if you put yourself in one situation you can put yourself in another situation.” “That moment changed my life,” said Rabbi Sacks at the convention 50 years later. The rest is history. This week’s parsha opens with the first recorded communication between G-d and Avraham the first Jew. “Go forth from your land, your birthplace and your father’s home, and travel to the land I will show you.” Here are a few questions on this seemingly simple instruction. Why are there so many adjectives to describe the place he was moving away from? Why does G-d not tell Avraham his destination? Most importantly, why is this the first recorded communication between G-d and the man who initiated the most important monotheistic revolution in history? The key to being G-d’s ambassador to bring more goodness and light to the world is to realize that you are in control of your situation. Regardless of your nature, habits or familial attitudes, you can elevate yourself from it all and devote yourself to G-d’s cause; a cause greater than yourself. And when you do so, your destination will be something far greater than you can ever imagine right now. You will accomplish things you could have never dreamed of. All it takes is to make the move. Commit yourself to a new mitzvah, set aside time to learn more Torah and follow the inspiration as it elevates you, your family and everyone around you to a better and more wholesome place.