Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this first aliyah of Parshas Lech-Lecha, we begin the holy journey of Avraham Avinu. Hashem commands Avram to leave his land, his birthplace, and his father's house, and to travel to the land that Hashem will show him. Along with this command, Hashem promises to make him into a great nation, to bless him, and to make his name great. Avram sets out immediately with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all their belongings and the souls they acquired in Haran, heading toward the land of Canaan.

Upon arriving in Canaan, Avram travels through the land, reaching Shechem and the plains of Moreh. Hashem appears to him and promises to give this land to his children, prompting Avram to build an altar to Hashem. He then travels further, pitching his tent between Bethel and Ai, where he builds another altar and calls out in the name of Hashem. However, a severe famine soon strikes the land, forcing Avram to travel down to Mitzrayim to find food.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoאַבְרָםAvramלֶךְgoלְךָfor yourselfמֵאַרְצְךָfrom your landוּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָand from your birthplaceוּמִבֵּיתand from the house ofאָבִיךָyour fatherאֶלtoהָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרthatאַרְאֶךָּ׃I will show you

רַשִׁ״י

לךGoלך.for yourselfלַהֲנָאָתְךָfor your benefitוּלְטוֹבָתְךָ,and for your goodשָׁםthereאֶעֶשְׂךָI will make youלְגוֹיinto a nationגָדוֹל,greatכָּאןhereאִיnotאַתָּהyouזוֹכֶהmeritלְבָנִים,childrenוְעוֹדand furthermoreשֶׁאוֹדִיעַthat I will make knownטִבְעֲךָyour characterבָּעוֹלָם:in the world

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Pasuk 2

וְאֶעֶשְׂךָAnd I will make youלְגוֹיinto a nationגָּדוֹלgreatוַאֲבָרֶכְךָand I will bless youוַאֲגַדְּלָהand I will make greatשְׁמֶךָyour nameוֶהְיֵהand you shall beבְּרָכָה׃a blessing

רַשִׁ״י

ואעשךAnd I will make youלגויinto a nationגדול.greatלְפִיBecauseשֶׁהַדֶּרֶךְthat the journeyגּוֹרֶמֶתcausesלִשְׁלֹשָׁה· threeדְבָרִים,thingsמְמַעֶטֶתit diminishesפְּרִיָּהfruitfulnessוּרְבִיָּהand multiplicationוּמְמַעֶטֶתand it diminishesאֶת—הַמָּמוֹןthe wealthוּמְמַעֶטֶתand it diminishesאֶת—הַשֵּׁם,the reputationלְכָךְthereforeהֻזְקַקhe neededלִשְׁלֹשָׁה· threeבְּרָכוֹתblessingsהַלָּלוּ,theseשֶׁהִבְטִיחוֹthat He promised himעַלconcerningהַבָּנִיםthe childrenוְעַלand concerningהַמָּמוֹןthe wealthוְעַלand concerningהַשֵּׁם:the reputation

רַשִׁ״י

ואברכך.And I will bless youבְּמָמוֹןwith wealthבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

והיהAnd beברכה.a blessingהַבְּרָכוֹתthe blessingsנְתוּנוֹתare givenבְּיָדְךָ;in your handעַדuntilעַכְשָׁוnowהָיוּthey wereבְיָדִי,in My handבֵּרַכְתִּיI blessedלְאָדָםAdamוְנֹחַ,and Noachוּמֵעַכְשָׁוand from nowאַתָּהyouתְבָרֵךְshall blessאֶת—אֲשֶׁרwhomתַּחְפֹּץyou desireבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah.דָּבָרAnotherאַחֵרexplanationואעשךAnd I will make youלגויinto a nationגדולgreatזֶהthisשֶׁאוֹמְרִיםis that they sayאֱלֹהֵיGod ofאַבְרָהָם,Avrahamואברכךand I will bless youזֶהthisשֶׁאוֹמְרִיםis that they sayאֱלֹהֵיGod ofיִצְחָק,Yitzchakואגדלהand I will make greatשמךyour nameזֶהthisשֶׁאוֹמְרִיםis that they sayאֱלֹהֵיGod ofיַעֲקֹב.YaakovיָכוֹלOne might thinkיִהְיוּthey shouldחוֹתְמִיןconcludeבְּכֻלָּן,with all of themתַּלְמוּדthe teachingלוֹמַרsaysוֶהְיֵהand beבְּרָכָה,a blessingבְּךָwith youחוֹתְמִיןthey concludeוְלֹאand notבָהֶם:with them

רַשִׁ״י

מארצך.From your landוַהֲלֹאbut did notכְבָרalreadyיָצָאhe departמִשָּׁםfrom thereעִםwithאָבִיוhis fatherוּבָאand comeעַדas far asחָרָן?CharanאֶלָּאratherכָּךְthusאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himהִתְרַחֵקdistance yourselfעוֹדfurtherמִשָּׁםfrom thereוְצֵאand go outמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofאָבִיךָ:your father

רַשִׁ״י

אשרWhichאראך.I will show youלֹאHe did notגִּלָּהrevealלוֹto himהָאָרֶץthe landמִיָּדimmediatelyכְּדֵּיin orderלְחַבְּבָהּto make it belovedבְּעֵינָיו,in his eyesוְלָתֵתand to giveלוֹto himשָׂכָרrewardעַלforכָּלeveryדִּבּוּרutteranceוְדִבּוּר;and utteranceכַּיּוֹצֵאSimilarבוֹ,to itאֶת—בִּנְךָyour sonאֶת—יְחִידְךָyour only oneאֲשֶׁרwhomאָהַבְתָּyou loveאֶת—יִצְחָקYitzchakברא'Bereishisכ"ב22,כַּיּוֹצֵאSimilarבוֹto itעַלuponאַחַדone ofהֶהָרִיםthe mountainsאֲשֶׁרwhichאֹמַרI will sayאֵלֶיךָ,to youוכיו"בּAnd similar to itוּקְרָאand callאֵלֶיהָto itאֶת—הַקְּרִיאָהthe proclamationאֲשֶׁרwhichאָנֹכִיIדֹּבֵרspeakאֵלֶיךָto youיונהYonahג'3:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַאֲבָרֲכָהAnd I will blessמְבָרְכֶיךָthose who bless youוּמְקַלֶּלְךָand the one who curses youאָאֹרI will curseוְנִבְרְכוּand shall bless themselvesבְךָby youכֹּלallמִשְׁפְּחֹתthe families ofהָאֲדָמָה׃the earth

רַשִׁ״י

ונברכוAnd shall be blessedבך.in youיֵשׁthere areאַגָּדוֹתAggadothרַבּוֹת,manyוְזֶהוּand this isפְשׁוּטוֹ,its plain meaningאָדָםa manאוֹמֵרsaysלִבְנוֹto his sonתְּהֵאmay you beכְּאַבְרָהָם,like Avrahamוְכֵןand soכָּלeveryוְנִבְרְכוּand shall be blessedבְךָin youשֶׁבַּמִּקְרָא,which is in Scriptureוְזֶהand thisמוֹכִיחַprovesבְּךָby youיְבָרֵךְshall blessיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלֵאמֹרsayingיְשִׂמְךָmay God make youאֱלֹהִיםGodכְּאֶפְרַיִםlike Ephraimוְכִמְנַשֶּׁהand like Menasheבר'Bereishisמ"חforty-eight:

פָּסוּק ד

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וַיֵּלֶךְAnd wentאַבְרָםAvramכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֶּרspokeאֵלָיוto himיְהוָהHashemוַיֵּלֶךְand wentאִתּוֹwith himלוֹטLotוְאַבְרָםand Avramבֶּןwas the age ofחָמֵשׁfiveשָׁנִיםyearsוְשִׁבְעִיםand seventyשָׁנָהyearsבְּצֵאתוֹupon his leavingמֵחָרָן׃from Charan

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיִּקַּחAnd tookאַבְרָםAvramאֶת—שָׂרַיSaraiאִשְׁתּוֹhis wifeוְאֶתand —לוֹטLotבֶּןson ofאָחִיוhis brotherוְאֶתand —כָּלall ofרְכוּשָׁםtheir wealthאֲשֶׁרthatרָכָשׁוּthey had acquiredוְאֶתand —הַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulsאֲשֶׁרthatעָשׂוּthey had madeבְחָרָןin Charanוַיֵּצְאוּand they went outלָלֶכֶתto goאַרְצָהto the land ofכְּנַעַןKenaanוַיָּבֹאוּand they cameאַרְצָהto the land ofכְּנָעַן׃Kenaan

רַשִׁ״י

אשרthatעשוthey madeבחרן.in Charanשֶׁהִכְנִיסָןwhom he broughtתַּחַתunderכַּנְפֵיthe wings ofהַשְּׁכִינָה;the ShechinahאַבְרָהָםAvrahamמְגַיֵּרwould convertאֶת—הָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menוְשָׂרָהand Sarahמְגַיֶּרֶתwould convertהַנָּשִׁים,the womenוּמַעֲלֶהand accountsעֲלֵיהֶםupon themהַכָּתוּבthe Scriptureכְּאִלּוּas ifעֲשָׂאוּם;they made themוּפְשׁוּטוֹand the plain senseשֶׁלofמִקְרָאthe verseעֲבָדִיםservantsוּשְׁפָחוֹתand maidservantsשֶׁקָּנוּthat they acquiredלָהֶם,for themselvesכְּמוֹlikeעָשָׂהhe acquiredאֵת—כָּלallהַכָּבֹדthe wealthהַזֶּהthisשםthereל"א31,וְיִשְׂרָאֵלand YisraelעֹשֶׂהacquiresחָיִלwealthבמדברBamidbarכד24יח18,לְשׁוֹןan expression ofקוֹנֶהacquiringוְכוֹנֵס:and amassing

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיַּעֲבֹרAnd passedאַבְרָםAvramבָּאָרֶץthrough the landעַדuntilמְקוֹםthe place ofשְׁכֶםShechemעַדuntilאֵלוֹןthe plain ofמוֹרֶהMorehוְהַכְּנַעֲנִיand the Canaaniteאָזthenבָּאָרֶץ׃was in the land

רַשִׁ״י

ויעברAnd Avram passedאברםAvramבארץ.through the landנִכְנַסhe enteredלְתוֹכָהּ:into its midst

רַשִׁ״י

עדUntilמקוםthe place ofשכם.Shechemלְהִתְפַּלֵּלto prayעַלon behalf ofבְּנֵיthe sons ofיַעֲקֹב,Yaakovכְּשֶׁיָּבֹאוּwhen they would comeלְהִלָּחֵםto fightבִּשְׁכֶם:in Shechem

רַשִׁ״י

אלוןthe plain ofמורה.Morehהוּאit isשְׁכֶם.ShechemהֶרְאָהוּHe showed himהַרMountגְּרִיזִיםGerizimוְהַרand Mountעֵיבָל,Ebalשֶׁשָּׁםwhere thereקִבְּלוּacceptedיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelשְׁבוּעַתthe oath ofהַתּוֹרָה:the Torah

רַשִׁ״י

והכנעניAnd the Canaaniteאזthenבארץ.in the landהָיָהwasהוֹלֵךְgoingוְכוֹבֵשׁand conqueringאֶת—אֶרֶץthe land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelמִזַּרְעוֹfrom the seedשֶׁלofשֵׁם,Shemשֶׁבְּחֶלְקוֹfor in the portionשֶׁלofשֵׁםShemנָפְלָהit fellכְּשֶׁחָלַקwhen dividedנֹחַNoachאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe earthלְבָנָיו,to his sonsשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidוּמַלְכִּיand MalkiצֶדֶקTzedekמֶלֶךְking ofשָׁלֵםShalemברא'Bereishisי"ב12,לְפִיכָךְthereforeוַיֹּאמֶרand saidה'HashemאֶלtoאַבְרָםAvramלְזַרְעֲךָto your seedאֶתֵּןI will giveאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landהַזֹּאת,thisעָתִידdestinedאֲנִיam Iלְהַחֲזִירָהּto return itלְבָנֶיךָto your childrenשֶׁהֵםwho theyמִזַּרְעוֹfrom the seedשֶׁלofשֵׁם:Shem

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיֵּרָאAnd appearedיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoאַבְרָםAvramוַיֹּאמֶרand He saidלְזַרְעֲךָto your offspringאֶתֵּןI will giveאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landהַזֹּאתthisוַיִּבֶןand he builtשָׁםthereמִזְבֵּחַan altarלַיהוָהto HashemהַנִּרְאֶהWho appearedאֵלָיו׃to him

רַשִׁ״י

ויבןAnd he builtשםthereמזבח.an altarעַלforבְּשׂוֹרַתthe good tidings ofהַזֶּרַעthe offspringוְעַלand forבְּשׂוֹרַתthe good tidings ofאֶרֶץthe Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵל:Yisrael

פָּסוּק ח

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וַיַּעְתֵּקAnd he movedמִשָּׁםfrom thereהָהָרָהto the mountainמִקֶּדֶםfrom the eastלְבֵיתof BeisאֵלElוַיֵּטand he pitchedאָהֳלֹהhis tentבֵּיתBeisאֵלElמִיָּםfrom the westוְהָעַיand the Aiמִקֶּדֶםfrom the eastוַיִּבֶןand he builtשָׁםthereמִזְבֵּחַan altarלַיהוָהto Hashemוַיִּקְרָאand he calledבְּשֵׁםon the Name ofיְהוָה׃Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

ויעתקAnd he removedמשם.from thereאָהֳלוֹ:his tent

רַשִׁ״י

מקדםFrom the eastלביתof Beisאל.Elבְּמִזְרָחָהּon the eastשֶׁלofבֵּיתBeisאֵלElנִמְצֵאתit turns outבֵּיתBeisאֵלElבְּמַעֲרָבוֹ,was on his westהוּאthatשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרis what is saidבֵּיתBeisאֵלElמִיָּם:on the west

רַשִׁ״י

אהלו.His tentאהלהher tentכְתִיב,is writtenבַּתְּחִלָּהin the beginningנָטָהhe pitchedאֶת—אֹהֶלthe tent ofאִשְׁתּוֹhis wifeוְאַחַרand afterכָּךְsoאֶת—שֶׁלּוֹhis ownבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

רַשִׁ״י

ויבןAnd he builtשםthereמזבח.an altarנִתְנַבֵּאhe prophesiedשֶׁעֲתִידִיןthat are destinedבָּנָיוhis childrenלְהִכָּשֵׁלto stumbleשָׁםthereעַלoverעֲוֹןthe sin ofעָכָן,Achanוְהִתְפַּלֵּלand he prayedשָׁםthereעֲלֵיהֶם:for them

פָּסוּק ט

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וַיִּסַּעAnd journeyedאַבְרָםAvramהָלוֹךְgoingוְנָסוֹעַand journeyingהַנֶּגְבָּה׃toward the south

רַשִׁ״י

הלוךgoingונסוע.and journeyingלִפְרָקִיםby stagesיוֹשֵׁבhe would dwellכָּאןhereחֹדֶשׁa monthאוֹorיוֹתֵר,moreוְנוֹסֵעַand journeyמִשָּׁםfrom thereוְנוֹטֶהand pitchאָהֳלוֹhis tentבְּמָקוֹםin a placeאַחֵר,anotherוְכָלand allמַסָּעָיוhis journeysהַנֶּגְבָּה,were toward the Southלָלֶכֶתto goלִדְרוֹמָהּto the southשֶׁלofאֶרֶץthe land ofיִשְֹרָאֵלYisraelוְהִיאand itלְצַדis toward the sideיְרוּשָׁלַיִם,of Yerushalayimשֶׁהוּאwhich isבְּחֶלְקוֹin the portionשֶׁלofיְהוּדָה,Yehudahשֶׁנָּטְלוּwho tookבִּדְרוֹמָהּin the southשֶׁלofאֶרֶץthe land ofיִשְֹרָאֵלYisraelלְהַרto the mountain ofהַמּוֹרִיָּהMoriahשֶׁהִיאwhich isנַחֲלָתוֹhis inheritanceבראשיתBereishisרבהRabbah:

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וַיְהִיAnd there wasרָעָבa famineבָּאָרֶץin the landוַיֵּרֶדand went downאַבְרָםAvramמִצְרַיְמָהto Mitzrayimלָגוּרto sojournשָׁםthereכִּיforכָבֵדsevere wasהָרָעָבthe famineבָּאָרֶץ׃in the land

רַשִׁ״י

רעבA famineבארץ.in the landבְּאוֹתָהּin thatהָאָרֶץlandלְבַדָּהּ,aloneלְנַסּוֹתוֹ,to test himאִםwhetherיְהַרְהֵרhe would questionאַחַרafterדְּבָרָיוthe wordsשֶׁלofהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy One Blessed Be HeשֶׁאָמַרWho saidלָלֶכֶתto goאֶלtoאֶרֶץthe land ofכְּנַעַן,Kenaanוְעַכְשָׁוand nowמַשִּׂיאוֹforces himלָצֵאתto leaveמִמֶּנָּה:from it

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיְהִיAnd it wasכַּאֲשֶׁרasהִקְרִיבhe drew nearלָבוֹאto enterמִצְרָיְמָהMitzrayimוַיֹּאמֶרand he saidאֶלtoשָׂרַיSaraiאִשְׁתּוֹhis wifeהִנֵּהbeholdנָאnowיָדַעְתִּיI knowכִּיthatאִשָּׁהa womanיְפַתof beautifulמַרְאֶהappearanceאָתְּ׃you are

רַשִׁ״י

הנהBeholdנאnowידעתי.I knowמִדְרַשThe Midrashicאַגָּדָהexplanation isעַדuntilעַכְשָׁוnowלֹאhe did notהִכִּירperceiveבָּהּin herמִתּוֹךְowing toצְנִיעוּתthe modestyשֶׁבִּשְׁנֵיהֶם,of both of themוְעַכְשָׁוand nowהִכִּירhe became cognizantבָּהof herעַלbyיְדֵיmeans ofמַעֲשֶׂה.an eventדָּבָרAnotherאַחֵר,explanationמִנְהַגthe custom ofהָעוֹלָםthe worldשֶׁעַלis that byיְדֵיmeans ofטֹרַחthe exertion ofהַדֶּרֶךְthe journeyאָדָםa personמִתְבַּזֶּה,becomes uncomelyוְזֹאתbut this oneעָמְדָהremainedבְּיָפְיָהּ.in her beautyוּפְשׁוּטוֹAnd the plain senseשֶׁלofמִקְרָאthe text isהִנֵּהBeholdנָאnowהִגִּיעַhas arrivedהַשָּׁעָהthe timeשֶׁיֵּשׁthat there isלִדְאֹגreason to worryעַלaboutיָפְיֵךְ,thy beautyיָדַעְתִּיI have knownזֶהthisיָמִיםdaysרַבִּיםmanyכִּיthatיְפַתfair ofמַרְאֶהappearanceאַתְּ,art thouוְעַכְשָׁוbut nowאָנוּweבָאִיםare comingבֵּיןamongאֲנָשִׁיםpeopleשְׁחֹרִיםblackוּמְכֹעָרִים,and repulsiveאֲחֵיהֶםbrethrenשֶׁלofכּוּשִׁים,Cushitesוְלֹאwho have notהֻרְגְּלוּbeen accustomedבְאִשָּׁהto a womanיָפָה;beautifulוְדוֹמֶהAnd similarלוֹto it isהִנֶּהBeholdנָּאnowאֲדֹנַיmy lordsסוּרוּturn asideנָאI pray youבר'Genesisי"ט19:

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וְהָיָהand it will beכִּיwhenיִרְאוּwill seeאֹתָךְyouהַמִּצְרִיםthe Egyptiansוְאָמְרוּand they will sayאִשְׁתּוֹhis wifeזֹאתis this oneוְהָרְגוּand they will killאֹתִיmeוְאֹתָךְand youיְחַיּוּ׃they will let live

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

אִמְרִיsayנָאpleaseאֲחֹתִיmy sisterאָתְּyou areלְמַעַןso thatיִיטַבit will go wellלִיwith meבַעֲבוּרֵךְfor your sakeוְחָיְתָהand will liveנַפְשִׁיmy soulבִּגְלָלֵךְ׃because of you

רַשִׁ״י

למעןso thatייטבit will be wellליwith meבעבורך.for your sakeיִתְּנוּthey will giveלִיto meמַתָּנוֹת:presents

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah follows Avram's journey from Haran to Canaan and then down to Mitzrayim due to the famine. After receiving Hashem's command and beautiful promises of blessing, Avram travels to Canaan, where Hashem promises the land to his offspring, and Avram builds altars to Hashem at Shechem and near Bethel. When the famine forces them to go down to Mitzrayim, Avram realizes the danger Sarai's beauty poses to his life among the Egyptians, and he asks her to say she is his sister so that they will spare his life and treat him well for her sake.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is showing us a tremendous chiddush in the very beginning of Avraham Avinu's journey. Hashem commands him to leave everything behind and promises him unbelievable brachos, but the moment he arrives in the Promised Land, what happens? A heavy famine hits, and he is forced to leave and go down to Egypt. Lichoira, we would ask a huge kasha: is this the reward for listening to Hashem? Where are all the promises of blessing?

The yesod here is that the path of avodas Hashem is not a straight line of immediate comfort. Avraham Avinu does not ask questions, he does not complain, and he does not lose his emunah. He understands that the nisayon itself is part of the process of building his neshama and preparing him for his ultimate destiny. When Hashem sends a challenge right after we make a commitment to do the right thing, it is not a sign of rejection; it is the very way Hashem refines us.

When you make a kabbalah to improve in your learning, your davening, or your middos, and suddenly you face an unexpected obstacle or a cold shoulder, do not get discouraged. Mimeila, you must realize this is just the "famine" before the growth. Keep moving forward with simple emunah, just like Avraham Avinu.

Today, when you encounter a sudden frustration or difficulty in your daily schedule, do not ask "why is this happening to me?" Instead, take a deep breath, accept it with love, and say to yourself: "This is my nisayon right now, and I am going to keep serving Hashem through it."