God's "Lech L'cha" (Genesis 12:1) command to Avraham is usually understood to be directional or geographic; he is supposed to begin a journey. But the grammar of the command "go to yourself," or "go for yourself," has inspired much commentary fro Hasidic masters. Here's one I love from the Isbitza Rebbe's Torah commentary, Mei Hashiloach ("Living Waters").
I also like that he says that the pleasures of this world are not without use and are not in any way "evil." There's no body/spirit dichotomy here. The pleasures are there to relieve anxiety; he's simply asking what's to do or be after the anxiety is gone.
"Avraham Avinu began to investigate and seek after the own source of his life, for he realized that it is inconceivable that all the lusts of this world could be called true life, for all this-worldly desires and lusts only serve to remove the numerous anxieties and obstacles we face. Then once all the anxieties have been negated, what will be the true core of life upon which the world was created? Conecrning this the blessed God said to him 'lech l'cha,' move yourself forward, meaning to yourself, to your true source, for truly all the matters of this world cannot be termed "life,' and the main point of life you should find in yoursel...this is The life."--
Ishbitzer Rebbe on Lech L'cha
Thursday, February 4, 2010
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