Stay True to the Truth

'Stay True to the Truth."

“The Lord said to Abram: Leave your land, your birthplace and your father’s house . . ” To what may this be compared? To a man who was traveling from place to place when

he saw a palace in flames. He wondered, “Is it possible that the palace lacks an owner?” The owner of the palace looked out and said, “I am the owner of the palace.”

So Abraham, our father said, “Is it possible that the world lacks a ruler?”

The Holy One, blessed be He, looked out and said to him,

“I am the ruler, the Sovereign of the universe.”

God is calling to Abraham: "I need you to help me put out the flames."

Abraham is the first person to enter into a covenant with God.

God promises him that his descendants will be a great nation, that

they will inherit the land of Israel and that

God will protect them and be their "shield."

Abraham will circumcise himself and his sons and

will work tirelessly to bring kindness, goodness and

connection to the One God into the world.

Abraham spent his life

trying to put out the ‘flames’ engulfing the 'palace'’

by combatting wickedness,

doing good and

being worthy of bringing blessings down.

We all have the potential that Abraham had

to do our part today to dispel the evil that exists,

to put out the 'flames' that are destroying our world.

It is our job, since the time of Abraham,

to fight against iniquity and injustice.

We have been given the capacity to shed light and disperse darkness.

Abraham left his land, his birthplace,

his father's house not knowing where he was going or

where was his destination?

In order to forge his own unique identity

it was necessary to leave his old world behind and

create a new and healthier one.

Abraham had the ability to look at the natural world and be able to

see and hear the call of God and also

to deeply hear his own inner soul voice.

In response to this he knew that he must stand apart from

and leave the society that he was raised in.

Sometimes a change of place and a change of name

is what is needed to change our destiny.

The challenge is to be true to oneself

and to one's mission.

Sometimes we may need to be like Abraham

standing alone and separate from those around us.

May we, like Abraham be able to hear what God wants from us,

be able to stand apart from negative influences and stay focused,

be a vessel for receiving blessings,

shed light into the darkness, and

have the courage to go to places and

be with people who love us and help us be our best selves.

Much love for a Shabbat Shalom.

Elissa