On Sunday I found myself with my wife and children on a flight from Miami to New York. As we cruised at 35,000 feet, I was studying the daily portion of Chitas. The Chumash of the day, from this week’s parsha Lech Lecha, talked about the travels of Avraham and Sarah. Hashem had commanded them, “Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.”
How appropriate, I mused.
Although I was on a flight, it wasn’t the flight I had planned.
Ten days ago, I was in Florida for my nephew’s wedding. We had return tickets to Boise.
While we were in Florida, however, our son Dovid let us know that he was about to propose to a very special young lady. Instead of heading home, we switched gears and booked tickets to New York for the L’Chaim engagement celebration. On Tuesday, Dovid and Mussie Moscowitz were officially engaged and we celebrated Tuesday night.
We all had tickets to come home to Boise on Wednesday.
However, on Wednesday morning, our daughter Mushka delivered a healthy baby girl in North Carolina. We were now proud grandparents! But, we were still on the road.
A trip of a few days had stretched into ten.
So, we canceled Esther’s ticket home and booked her a new one to Durham, where she is currently tending to her daughter and newborn granddaughter.
Meanwhile, I finally arrived home with six kids in tow after midnight on Wednesday night.
It’s been a whirlwind. But, more than anything – it’s been a blessing.
And, it’s the story of our people. Starting from our founders.
The Sages teach us that everything that happened to the Patriarchs is a signpost for their children. Nachmanides explains that this is why the Torah elaborates its account of their journeys, their well-digging and the other events of their lives... These all come as an instruction for the future: for when something happens to one of the three Patriarchs, one understands from it what is decreed to occur to his descendant.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe adds a deeper dimension: It isn’t only a prediction or a prophecy. It’s not only a pre-enactment for the sake of teaching about the future. Its primary goal, rather, is empowerment.
Just as a seed contains the entire tree that will grow from it. And, just as an embryo contains the entire precious gem that will emerge from the womb. So too, the lives of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs contain all of Jewish history. And, that gives us strength to proceed with faith, resolve, and joy.
When, generations later, a Jew may be wondering why she ends up in a bizarre location or what his purpose is in an unforeseen situation – they must remember that this is a replay. Their Patriarchs and Matriarchs have already lived through similar circumstances – and succeeded.
Avraham and Sarah journey to an unknown destination. And, when they arrived, they were forced to relocate again. And, when they relocated, Sarah was abducted. Then, they were forced to relocate yet again.
And, it was all part of Hashem’s plan.
This week, Esther and I were fortunate to experience Hashem’s path in a way we did not fully anticipate. Baruch Hashem it was all for good news!
May our righteous ancestors give us the strength in all times, good and better!