Lech Lecha: Right, Left, and Centered: A Shared Mission for a Divine World
Liluei Nishmas Ita bas Chanoch Aharon Bistritzky
Parshas Lech Lecha introduces us to the journey of Avraham, the first Jew, who leaves Charan with his wife and nephew Lot, setting forth toward the land of Canaan. Along the way, Avraham inspires countless others to join him, planting the seeds of monotheism and righteousness. Yet, paradoxically, we find that Avraham’s influence seems to fall short with his own nephew, Lot. When Lot’s shepherds graze their animals on others’ land, causing disputes with Avraham's herdsmen, Avraham decides they must part ways: “If you go right, I will go left.” Lot then chooses to settle in Sodom—a place known for its corruption.
It seems puzzling: How could Avraham inspire so many but fail to guide his own nephew? Yet the answer lies not in failure but in Avraham’s profound success. Far from failing, Avraham’s influence on Lot is perhaps one of his greatest achievements.
The Torah’s wording reveals a deeper connection: When Avraham says, “If you go right, I will go left,” it implies that they were fundamentally aligned in direction. Avraham instilled in Lot the soul of a Jew—a soul described in this parsha as one that courageously leaves their “land, birthplace, and father’s home” to embark on a divine mission, journeying “to the land that I [Hashem] will show you.”
Chassidus explains this soul through the metaphor of a flickering flame: a Jewish soul has an inherent drive to reach beyond, to seek out its source, even if that means leaving its comfort zone. This soul’s “irrational” longing to connect with Hashem was present in Avraham, and it was bequeathed to all his descendants and to anyone who joins the Jewish nation.
Lot, despite his choices, possessed this soul as well. Though he distanced himself, living in Sodom’s morally depraved environment, he retained a core of Avraham’s teachings. We see this when he welcomes guests into his home, even at great personal risk. In a city hostile to kindness, Lot’s hospitality lead to threats against his life and his family’s safety. Despite knowing the risks, he could not turn away his guests, a testament to Avraham’s influence.
This reflects a powerful truth: a Jewish soul may seem far from its source, but it never truly loses its inner drive for goodness. Lot may have strayed, yet Avraham’s legacy held firm within him, compelling him to embody the value of chesed (kindness), even in Sodom.
Historically, we see that Jews have often been at the forefront of revolutionary movements. From socialism to communism, Jews have initiated movements that aimed to disrupt the status quo. This impulse stems from the Jewish soul’s resistance to stagnation and its desire to improve the world—a spark of Avraham’s spirit. Though these movements didn’t always result in positive outcomes, their origins reflect an unyielding drive to better the world, a reflection of the Avrahamic soul.
The symptom of a Jewish soul is “Lech Lecha”—the urge to “go forth” and create change. Jews, whether on the “right” or “left” of the ideological spectrum, are united in their desire for a world of true peace and unity. Though Avraham and Lot parted ways, they remained aligned in purpose. Their shared legacy teaches us that, at our core, we are driven by the same mission: to uplift the world and make it a dwelling place for Hashem.
Adapted from “Life Talks on the Parsha”