Confessions of a Tired Torah Portion: Rescuing ‘Lech Lecha’ from the New-Age Cliché

This weeks Torah portion Lech Lecha, "showed up" —moving in for the week to inhabit the collective Jewish imagination, for its tenured annual slot in the rotation.

But just barely.

Situated in the prime and coveted third spot from the start of the new yearly cycle is both a privilege and a responsibility, so not putting in the appearance would be unimaginably scandalous and reckless to boot.

But the haggardness shows.

During a brief lunch break he shared his frustration with the strange guy from the reputable (somewhat annoyingly so) folks who manage the post production details of the previous portion of Noah. Though well regarded in the industry for their professionalism and competence, and notably for arriving punctually, they are thus tolerated but barely so for their tendency for interminable lingering on site( it's a predictable occurrence that is regularly and rather begrudingly budgeted for) well past their contracted time, while enthusiastically availing themselves of the luxurious all inclusive amenities.

"I feel like I'm trapped inside a new age cliche."

"Wow that's intense, I was just about to head over to the bar, care to join me?" "Hmmm it's a bit early, I really shouldn't, oh whatever, I can get away with one drink and who knows maybe I'll lighten up a bit?"

"Great! So, you were saying, something about a cliche?" "Yes, I feel like I have become a 21st century Jewish sound bite, a stereotypical self help one liner "Lech Lecha" ....embark on this journey, (literally embark toward yourself.... yourself??? "Ahhhhh...hmmm... deep breathing, eyes closed, gradually eyes reopened, flash semi glazed beautific smile, "yes that's right (enunciate slowly after third pause) the seemingly superfluous word "yourself" is there to remind you to fully embrace YOUR self, to trust in your inherent goodness, in your boundless untapped potential, in your ability to model your genuine best self, etc etc....") "Wow, that's so powerful!!!" "What, really?" So you mean I'm not a walking talking spiritual punchline?" "No, but you have clearly become uncharacteristically cynical."

"I think I can see why you would say that, but go on, I'm listening."

"Ok, so here's the thing, I see your concern and get that the whole concept of focusing inward can be a sly trap set out by the ego, frequently leading to an obsessive self-centredness and the insufferable entitlement that trails in its wake."

"Exactly!!"

"Not so quick my sad friend, I'm not done."

" Oops, sorry, please go on."

"No worries, here's what I'm getting at. While the risk of (the downside) of unwittingly activating a Glatt Kosher Biblically certified megalomania is a valid concern, the benefits of a modality of "going toward" enroute to being truly aligned with the Holy—istic aspect of one's self (the upside) —are incalculable."

After about an hour of deep and candid talk they both made ready to leave.

"Whoa, we just met, but I feel as if we've known each other forever." "Would it be ok for me to summarize what I think was the crux of our interactive experience?"

"Sure thing, go ahead."

"In fear of oversimplifying, here goes nonetheless. "I feel radically uplifted, but you managed it somehow without even once pointing to the need for me to change, to be better, without implicitly implying that I'm not good enough. A refreshing and deeply validating approach that doesn't require me to reinvent myself into something NEW, something better; instead you simply pushed me to a better understanding of my own advice, encouraging me to be MY MYself, but THAT self, my DEEPER self that is. It's like you peered into the highest place in my soul, ironically, a place whose existence I was advertising for others to visit, but incapable of locating and connecting to within myself, at least not on my own."You encouraged me, like a Shaman of sorts, quite skillfully I might add, to venture beyond my accumulated cynicism and fear, managing to empower me to override my own resistance to MY best self— actually you basically read my essential self back to me!"

"That's right he said." "I was being honest in helping to reacquaint you with your own innate fundamental goodness."

As he was talking, I noticed a change come over him, almost as if his whole over tne top "room service shtick" was a ruse, a way to disguise the angelic nature of what now struck me as resonating with traces of an ancient Prophetic messenger, appearing now before me utterly stripped of the prior nudnik persona, replaced fully by someone, (or something) foreign and unrecognizable— emerging "Elijah like" in mysterious wispy shades of incandescence.

"You my Lech Lecha friend are still a fine and much needed message but as you know, every good idea— like nuclear energy, can be misused, and the sublime message you bear is no exception."

His homily delivered, he turns, as if to head to head to the lobby for check out, but in actuality he is simply fading, or indeed checking out but only dimensionally. "Thank you for this I blurt out, but please, don't leave until you've given me some way to hold onto the truth of this message, something to help me resist my tendency to slip back into tne flawed thinking of my false self and then risk lose my mental grip on this priceless clarity."

He responds with an impish grin, silhouetted by barely discernible facial features, leaving shades of what could have been the mischievous winking of an eye: "I think I've already overstayed my welcome, but yes, here's what I can offer you. Read yourself next time"

"What, I can't do that, only you ....."

"Stop, we are both running out of time (and this article is already way too long as it is) so I need you to please just listen." When I say read yourself, I'm not suggesting another "Castaneda" styled trip, which in any event I wouldn't recommend without me facilitating, as your guide, your "Don Juan."

"I simply meant read the rest of your own Biblical verse!"

The way to avoid the "pseudo Lech Lecha,"ego centric trips, that justifiably irk you so, is by invoking the latter clause of the "Lech Lecha" verse itself, "go to the land.... ASHER AREKA" — to the land that I will show you" Meaning, if you can be mindful of your good ( G-d is Good without the extra o) intentions at the outset, and remain grounded in them, you will begin to feel the rightness of it, of "being shown," a significant step up from merely "finding."

"Watch yourself gradually becoming aware of a strange new sensation of fullness, less charged with the usual manic urge to prove yourself, freed from the crushing weight of always needing to vindicate, to radiate success, to be admired and praised—in its place a fullness of a different nature—inexplicably but mistakenly light— and yet no less robust."

"But how will I know that I'm there, how do I really know that it's not the ego up to it old tricks?" "Is there some kind of sign you could show me?" "An internal verification process of sorts?"

"Ok, I see what you need and here's what I can offer, but I urge you to be mindful of the subtlety here by paying close attention to context and accompanying layers of nuance."

"Great, I will do my best but let's hear it before you disappear entirely."

"So, you should be able to recognize the appearance of your higher self, of fullness as lightness, primarily in the way your behavior lands on those around you as you embark on your path toward self discovery. It's really quite simple. You will know when you are armed with your higher self only when your needs and your hoped for arrival in the new land of your individuation doesn't come with a built in requirement for inflicting damage and hurt in the name of authenticity."

"Wow, I never thought of it that way but it makes total sense."

"What were you referring to though with the whole "context and nuance thing?"

"It's complicated, but here it is in a nutshell. The need for context is the requirement to pursue the discovery of self without damage to others, whilst of course still upholding the right and necessity to establish and maintain healthy boundaries where they become necessary for your own well-being. (allowing others to redefine one's basic legitimate boundaries as aggressive hostilities— is a common example)

---

"And then he was gone, but indeed, as he is wont to—he lingers, leaving shades of his impact that are unmistakeable. I notice them everywhere, but especially so in my newfound understanding, my sudden surge of energy, wonderfully driven by a renewed sense of purpose!"

Shabbat Shalom!

Much Love,

Rabbi Yossi