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A Journey Into the Unknown
I will never forget what happened that night. After going to hundreds of lectures, and giving quite a few myself, I thought I’d seen it all. But I had never seen anything quite like this. To give you a little background, there are protocols for the introductory process of a speech. At major events, like the one taking place that night, there are always two microphones. The first is for the person who gets up to introduce the main speaker. After finishing his introduction, he walks off with his microphone, and the second microphone is waiting on stage for the main speaker.
But not that night. That night there was only one microphone. After the introductory speaker concluded his opening remarks, the main speaker walked onto the stage and headed towards the podium. But as you already guessed, the introductory speaker was still holding onto the only microphone. At this point, the main speaker was expecting him to simply hand over the microphone so that he could begin his speech. But that’s not what happened. Instead, the introductory speaker just kept hold of the microphone. He then took a deep breath, and said something I will never forget.
Lech Lecha: No Simple Journey
When Hashem commands Avraham to leave his home and embark on a journey, Avraham is told “Lech lecha me’artzecha… – Go for yourself, from your land….” (Bereishis 12:1). This directive is quite strange. Avraham is told where to leave from, but he is not told his destination. What kind of journey lacks a destination? Generally, the destination, not the starting point, is most important. For example, imagine being invited to a wedding, but instead of being told where the wedding will take place, you are told only where to leave from. Good luck getting to that wedding!
The fact that Avraham is not told his destination is not merely a practical issue; it is a fundamental challenge to the idea of a meaningful venture. In order to accomplish anything great, we must first identify a clear target and then determine the path required to get there. One does not accidentally achieve spiritual greatness; it requires extreme focus and dedication. A great journey must begin with a clear goal and destination. As we say every Friday evening in Lecha Dodi: “Sof ma’aseh be’machshava techila,” the physical result originates first within the mind. Only when we first determine a clear destination can we achieve the extraordinary. If so, why wasn’t Avraham given a clear destination for his journey?
The Punchline to Your Story
There is probably something bothering you, something in the back of your mind making you a bit uncomfortable. Did you forget something, is there something missing? Perhaps it’s the fact that the introductory story that I laid out above had a set up but no punchline; a beginning, but no conclusion. Did you think I forgot about that?
Everyone will agree that a story needs an ending; unless a story goes somewhere, it’s pointless. The purpose of a setup is to lead towards a conclusion, towards a destination. A story without an ending, without a purpose, is not a story worth telling.
The same is true for our lives: we need a destination. We are all part of a larger story, but we’re also writing our own individual stories. Hashem created us in this world with unlimited potential, but that was only the “setup,” the beginning of our story. Without a purposeful direction, a clear goal, and a deeper understanding of who you are and who you are meant to be, the setup lacks its true meaning. We need to make this a meaningful journey, a story of growth, creativity, and contribution.
And while the ultimate destination remains unknown, the journey towards it is the essence of our lech lecha mission. That is why I wrote my parsha sefer, “The Journey to Your Ultimate Self.” I hope it will serve as a guide and tool as you embark on your personal lech lecha journey towards your ultimate self. So as we begin the new parsha cycle, I invite you to get a copy of this sefer and take this journey with me into the deepest and most inspiring ideas of Torah thought. This sefer serves as an accessible and inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish wisdom, living a life of higher truth, and achieving your ultimate purpose. It is organized according to the weekly parsha, providing a consistent guide for learning and spiritual growth. The ideas in this sefer are rooted in the full range of Torah wisdom, spanning Tanach, Gemara, midrashim, and the writings of classical Jewish thinkers, including the Maharal, Ramchal, Nefesh Ha’Chaim, R’ Tzadok, and Sfas Emes. And each chapter concludes with a summary to help you remember the main concepts and ideas, as well as action points and discussion questions to help close the gap between intellect and action. I can’t wait to embark on this journey with you as we continue journeying to our ultimate selves!