The Torah portion Lekh Lekha begins with God's instructions to Abraham, "Go forth from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you." And with that instruction comes a powerful promise.
"I will make you a great nation, I will bless you [vaavarekhekha], I will render your name great, and you shall be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2).
But what does that really mean? It’s not just a nice sentiment; it’s a multifaceted promise, brimming with layers of meaning that our sages have been unpacking for centuries. Let's dive in, shall we?
The Midrash, specifically Bereshit Rabbah 39, teases out the nuances of this loaded verse. When God says, "I will make you a great nation," Abraham, ever the pragmatist, apparently responds, "Didn't you already make seventy nations from Noah?" God's reply? "The nation about whom it is written, 'For what great nation is there that has a god so close to them as the Lord our God is to us?' (Deuteronomy 4:7) – that nation I will produce from you." It's not just about quantity, but about quality and closeness to God.
Rabbi Berekhya offers another perspective, suggesting that "I will make you [ve’e’eshkha]" implies a new creation. That from the moment of this new creation, perhaps alluding to the covenant of circumcision or the changing of Abram's name, procreation and legacy will spring forth.
And the blessings keep coming! Rabbi Levi bar Ḥavyat and Rabbi Abba, son of Rabbi Ḥiyya, point out that the verse contains three "greatnesses" and four "blessings." The Midrash sees these as allusions to the three patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) and the four matriarchs (Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah).
Rabbi Ḥiyya takes a practical angle. Travel, while broadening, can also diminish things: procreation, resources, and reputation. But God assures Abraham that he will be protected from these losses. "I will make you a great nation" counters diminished procreation; "I will bless you" addresses dwindling resources; and "I will render your name great" safeguards his reputation. It's like God is saying, "I've got you covered on all fronts."
Now, here's where it gets really interesting. Rabbi Berekhya, citing Rabbi Ḥelbo, says that "I will make you a great nation" means a coin with Abraham's image went out into the world. Imagine that! According to this interpretation, Abraham's image on these coins was an elderly man and woman on one side (representing Abraham and Sarah) and a young man and maiden on the other (symbolizing their rejuvenation upon Isaac's birth). The Midrash then extends this idea, noting that Joshua, David, and Mordechai also had their images on coins, each reflecting aspects of their lives and legacies.
But beyond fame and fortune, there's a deeper layer. Rabbi Yudan states that God will institute a blessing for Abraham in the eighteen benedictions – the Amidah prayer. And Rabbi Aḥuya, in the name of Rabbi Ze’eira, points out that Abraham's blessing precedes God's in the prayer ("Shield of Abraham" before "He revives the dead"), signifying Abraham's pivotal role in our connection to the Divine.
Rabbi Abahu brings a linguistic twist, noting that God doesn't say "Look now heavenward [hashamayim]," but "look now toward heaven [hashamaima]" (Genesis 15:5), with an added heh. The Holy One, blessed be He, says: 'I created the world with the letter heh. I will add the letter heh to your name and then you will procreate.’ It’s a divine makeover, a literal upgrade!
And Rabbi Yudan adds that the numerical value of the letters in "I will bless you [avarekhekha]" equals 248 – a subtle hint at the blessings to come.
But perhaps the most beautiful interpretation is this: Rabbi Berekhya notes that "I will bless you" is already stated. So why does the verse continue with "And you shall be a blessing"? The answer: God is saying, "Until now, I blessed the world. From now on, the blessings are passed to you. Whomever you deem worthy to bless, bless him."
Think about that for a moment. The power to bless, to bestow goodness and favor, is passed on to Abraham, and by extension, to us. It's a profound responsibility and an incredible gift.
This isn't just about receiving blessings; it's about becoming a conduit for them. It's about using our lives to bring goodness into the world, to heal, to uplift, and to connect others to the Divine. It's about recognizing the spark of the Divine within ourselves and nurturing it, so that we, too, can be a source of blessing for all.
So, how can we be a berakha, a source of blessing, in our own lives? How can we use our unique gifts and talents to make the world a little brighter, a little kinder, a little more connected? That, my friends, is the challenge and the promise of Lekh Lekha.