Parshat Lech Lecha: Genesis 12:1 – 17:27 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger

This week’s portion, Lech Lecha records the initial covenant between God and the progenitors of the Jewish people, Abraham and Sarah. When we meet them their names are Abram and Sarai. Abram is called to leave his ancestors homeland, in the city of Ur and make his way to the land of Canaan that will become the Promised Land. This is a journey towards God and a journey to become the father of many nations. The promise made to Abram is “I am making you a father of a multitude of nations. I am making you exceedingly fruitful and turning you into nations; kings shall come forth from you” (Gen. 17:5-6). Abram and Sarai do not have children but as this portion unfolds, Sarai becomes the mother of Ishmael born to Abram and her hand-maiden, Hagar. Later she will have her own child with Abraham, Isaac. And it is through Isaac that the Jewish people trace their lineage.

But as part of this covenantal promise, Abram and Sarai undergo a name change. God adds the Hebrew Letter Hay to each of their names. Thus Abram becomes Abraham and Sarai becomes Sarah. This change of name shows that both are included in this covenantal promise and future and both have a special relationship with God. Both Abraham and Sarah have a unique and important role with the Eternal. The covenant is not made with Abraham alone. The Midrash teaches:

Rav Manna said: Formerly she was a princess (Sarai) to her own people only, whereas now she is a princess (Sarah) to all humanity” (Genesis Rabbah 47:1). Tradition teaches us then that the covenantal promise to be the source of many nations is fulfilled through both Sarah and Abraham.

Too often Jewish tradition emphasizes the patriarchal parts of our religion. But here at the core, at the beginning Sarah is included in the promise. The covenant is made with Sarah as well. This is very important in understanding the fundamental core of our tradition that includes both women and men. Our Reform Jewish tradition made this even more explicit in its dedication to religious egalitarianism—the full religious equality of women and men—to be counted fully in a minyan, to be obligated by mitzvot, to serve as rabbis and cantors. This plays itself out liturgically in our prayers by adding the imahot, our matriarchs to the Amidah. Reform Judaism has done this for several decades now. But we can see the core of understanding of the power of this from this week’s portion and the inclusion of Sarah as part of the covenant.

Today we must ask how we are helping to uphold this ancient covenant. What Abraham and Sarah began so many centuries ago, when they heard God’s voice calling them to journey towards a new life, a life lived through this special covenant is still with us today. The journey hasn’t stopped. The Jewish people are still on that same pathway trying to reach out and fulfill the covenantal promises made so long ago. Even as we read the story of Abraham and Sarah we must ask ourselves how we can best uphold and fulfill the covenant of loving God, walking in God’s ways and helping transform ourselves into the spiritual and moral beings that God desires for us to become. This is the journey the Abraham and Sarah were on. It is ours as well. May we walk with God just as Abraham and Sarah did.

Posted by Jimmy at November 3, 2008 11:53 AM