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Lech Lecha- Developing Potential

For this year’s Parsha Lesson I will be focusing on a chinuch (parenting/ educational) lesson that can be derived from the Dvar Torah.

Background

At the beginning of this week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, we learn about Avraham and the various happenings of his life- which was the beginning of the Jewish people, our nation. The parsha begins by telling us about one of the first of the famous ‘10 tests’ that Hashem tested Avraham with. This test was the test of leaving his family, his homeland and travelling away by himself- with his wife and household- to ‘a place that I (Hashem) will show you’.

This was either the first or the second, depending on the different views of the commentators, of the tests of faith of Avraham. The final, culminating test was the ‘Akeidah’, which we will read about in next week’s parsha. 

Question

Why would Hashem, who is all knowing and seeing, test man? What is the point, what is the purpose? 

Take, for example, a teacher testing their student’s knowledge of certain material- that test is for the teacher to ascertain whether or not the student has attained certain knowledge in order to be able to progress in their studies. But when it comes to an omnipotent G-d, who reads the minds and hearts of all of mankind, there is no point in ‘testing’ in order to ascertain what is there! It is clearly known! Does Avraham have full faith in Hashem, and to what extent is his faith- those were all clearly known to Hashem!

So why would Hashem test Avraham and why was this such an important foundation of the Jewish people, our nation?

Answer

The Ramban (22:1) explains that the concept of Hashem testing someone is in order to provide an opportunity for the person to take an undeveloped, hidden, strength of theirs and for it to be manifest in their being. This concept is known in Torah literature as ‘מן הכח אל הפועל’.

Man’s behavior and actions are up to him and subject to his choice and will. Man has latent potential for greatness (refining his character) but that greatness needs to come out in actuality. So long as it doesn’t, it remains merely potential and it is not incorporated into the person and does not become who he is.

This is Man’s job on this world! Each and every person has the ability to improve themselves and better themselves- regardless of which level they start off at, their job is to improve and to grow. Someone who is born as a 90 and dies as a 60, was a failure. Someone who is born as a 1 and dies as a 10 is a tremendous success. However, this improvement must be actual, real improvement which is inculcated into one’s character- not just one’s mind or heart. In order to develop, therefore, a person needs tests of character, of faith, etc. in order to actualize greatness. 

Hashem provides everyone tests in order to allow them to reach their full potential. What was special and unique about the 10 tests of Avraham was that Avraham had already grown and developed into a tremendous person. These 10 tests he faced were what brought him over the top and catapulted him beyond the rest of humanity and into being the ‘Greatest Of All Time.’ This was then the foundation for his descendants to be the Jewish nation with whom Hashem made an eternal covenant with (the Torah) in order for them to become even greater and of more refined and developed character, building on the greatness and accomplishments of Avraham.

Chinuch Lesson

In order for someone to grow and develop they need to manifest and put into practice that which they have learned intellectually. So long as what they are taught or learn remains an inspiration of the heart or intellectual exercise of the mind, the person is not changed. The person must outwardly manifest this inspiration and newfound knowledge- and not just as a recipient but as an active part of the process.

In the bracha of ‘Asher Yatzar’, that we say each time we use the facilities, we mention that Hashem was ‘מפליא לעשות’, ‘did wondrousness’. Chazal (the great Rabbis through whom the oral tradition of the Torah was handed down) explain that what this refers to is that Hashem took the Neshama, which is purely spiritual, and fused it with the body, which is purely physical, to such an extent that the spiritual is dependant on the physical for its development and growth.

In other words, in order for us to improve and develop we need to incorporate our physical senses in an active process of growing and changing. To speak out something we have learned, will make it a part of ourselves in a meaningful way. To write down something that we know makes it part of ourselves in a more permanent way. To act on that which we have learned will make what we have learned part of our character and more ‘real’. 

By following this process, the process that the Torah itself mandates for us, we will develop and grow, over time, into completely different people who are really and fundamentally, improved.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Shabbos!

Rabbi Eli Meir Kramer

What's happening...

Message from our Principal

Mrs. Aviva Hoberman

Shabbos is in the air at Shalom Torah Academy! Today our Erev Shabbos Program began for elementary students. Linoy and Tehilla M. did a fantastic job breaking out the Shabbos program jingle!

Once everyone was up to speed with the motions, Morah Ben-David enthralled our students with the annual introduction of the Shabbos program. With a palatial backdrop behind her, she told the story of a king who had a marvelous treasure. He wanted to reward his loyal servants by sharing the treasure with them. He proclaimed, “I have a treasure…who wants my treasure…?!?” The first servant came and had his hands behind his back, not able to accept his treasure. The second servant came, and just took a little bit of the amazing treasure. The king was so disappointed. Finally, his most loyal servant came and said, “This treasure is so amazing! Can I stay in the treasure house for a day and just enjoy the treasure to the utmost?” The king was so happy that someone was appreciating the treasure he was offering to the utmost. So too, we want to appreciate Shabbos to the greatest degree possible, and spend the day in the King’s treasure house, so to speak, basking in the glory of Shabbos. We will spend each Shabbos program learning how to do exactly that, so that we can maximize this special gift, week in and week out.  

Shabbos is a treasure from Hashem, a sign of our close relationship with Him. A beautiful present in His treasure house, He reserved it for the Jewish people. To appreciate that, an exciting game of “Pass the Present” was played by all, with fun prizes found in each layer. We love Shabbos so much, and look forward to it each week.  

In Shalom, we take the learning home and make it real! Each week, students will bring home a raffle ticket, which they should fill out by completing at least 3 items on the checklist. EVERY raffle ticket is entered into a raffle for an exciting prize. This week, our winner, Linoy, won a fuzzy pink pillow!!

Additionally, on our Shabbos bulletin board, we keep track of each completed raffle ticket. Every time a student completes 4 raffle tickets, they earn a Shabbos-themed, cool key chain. Try to collect them all!

Judaic Studies

7th/ 8th Grade boys- Rabbi Sholom Jacoby

We have seen an amazing start since the culmination of the Yomim tovim. Our Gemara class is in the middle of a sugya/discussion regarding types of damages that in a court of law you are exempt, but with regards to your responsibility to Hashem you are obligated to pay. There are many examples to discuss, examine and compare, really bringing out the best, great minds of our class.

In the morning our davening has reached a new level, as we began to daven "minyan style," in our shul. Even though we don't have a minyan yet, we daven with a chazan and incorporate most of the prayers that are said in a minyan. It is wonderful to see our students leading the davening and becoming accustomed to davening the way they daven in shul. 

Pre-School

Torah Tots- Morah Shuly Amsel

This week in Torah Tots was transportation week in honor of Parsha Lech Lecha. We learned that like Noach, Avraham was a very big Tzadik. Hashem was so happy with Avraham. He didn’t want Avraham and his family to live in a place filled with people who weren’t doing the right thing. Hashem told Avraham to go. Avraham trusted Hashem so much that he packed up his family and went.

To celebrate transportation week the children each brought in a bike or riding toy. They rode them all around our classroom and even down the hall to the playground! On Friday, we learned how to pack a suitcase. We put on our pilot hats and took a pretend trip to Israel on the airplane we made out of our classroom chairs. Once we got there, we talked about places to visit and pretended to eat yummy falafel! We had so much fun, and there was so much to see!

Specials!

Morah Rikki Dayan

How nice to start the year by singing, dancing, and playing fun games in a special class that’s called עברית בשיר וריקוד (Hebrew in songs and dance)! We enjoyed new songs relating to the word Shalom, and, of course, played many games and sang songs for the New Year using different holiday related props

It is so beautiful to see the kids enter the room with a big smile on their face, very curious to know what are we going to use today, what song we are we going to learn today and what game we’re going to play! It is amazing to see the students leave the class dancing!

We started learning about the Autumn season (in Hebrew סתו) learning the different colors of the leaves, and all the changes in the weather.