Our Patriarch Abraham and Matriarch Sarah are introduced in this week’s Torah portion of Lech L’cha. God speaks to Abraham (or Abram as he is first known) and tells him ‘lech l’cha’ – 'go away from this place, away from your home and from everything and everyone you have ever known, and go to this other land which I will show to you’. This is seen as Abraham’s first of many tests which God will give him to prove Abraham’s faith. Abraham passes the test, goes willingly into the wilderness toward an unknown and uncertain future.
Today our country faces an uncertain future. People have different feelings about the election results. But the challenges we face will affect us all and our Jewish values impel us to stand up for women’s rights, the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, the rights of immigrants, and the rights of religious minorities. The next four years will be long and difficult. We will be tested, but like Abraham, we will rise to the occasion, speaking truth to power as he did, standing up for our values and what we believe in. Abraham did not face his journey alone, he was joined by family and the community he created for himself in Haran (Gn. 12:5). We, too, are not alone. We are part of a vibrant Jewish community that is committed to justice and equity for all, and we have allies who will stand with us in the days and years ahead.
The phrase ‘lech l’cha’ grammatically is an imperative “Go!”. But Rashi found a deeper meaning in the second element ‘l’cha’ – literally meaning ‘to you’. Rashi interpreted the phrase to mean ‘Go for yourself’ – that is, go for your own benefit, because in going, you, Abraham, will reap the rewards of God’s promise. As we enter this uncertain time, let us do our part to ensure that the outcome will, indeed, be to our benefit and to the benefit of all who reside in this country.
This morning, Rabbi Liz Hirsch offered this prayer, and I’d like to share it with you. May it bring comfort to all who are struggling in this time. -Rabbi Bonnie Margulis
A Post-Election Prayer by Rabbi Liz P.G. Hirsch, CEO of Women of Reform Judaism
Nachamu, Nachamu ami To be prophetic pursuers of justice
To hold our kings and rulers to account.
As Isaiah called out to God, To declare that pikuach nefesh is paramount
Today, I do, too To protect the lives and bodies of women,
of all people who can become pregnant.
Nachamu, Nachamu Ami To safeguard trans individuals
Comfort us, comfort our people. To stem the rampant destruction of our earth
To defend our very democracy.
You don’t speak directly to us To heal the fractures of our divided land.
Like you once did your prophets
Why, God?
And still Al tasteir paneha
We tried, so hard, to follow in their footsteps Don’t hide your face from us
Answer us.
We walk humbly into a new reality
Sh’ma koleinu A time of disappointment and fear
For those crying out, angry, afraid A time not to forget what we can and must do.
Answer us
Hear our voices. Like Queen Esther,
What is our mission now? We rise to the challenge of our new era.
What lies on the road ahead?
For who knows?
We look to the prophet Mikah. Maybe it is just for this moment
Your prophets can still be our guide that we find ourselves
in a position to exercise leadership.
We have been told before,
and we know what we must do Be strong and resolute
Only this: Find comfort in each other.
Do justice Together,
Love mercy We will pursue justice and mercy
Walk humbly with your God and walk humbly onward.
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