Importance of what you leave behind

Sep 27 2008 With Rabbi Yossi Jacobs

THIS coming week the Jewish community will be celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, and next week Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

In the beginning of Genesis we read the portion Lech Lecha: G-d speaks to Abraham and tells him: "Go from your land, your birth place, and the home of your parents, to the land that I will show you."

Yet it seems so strange how G-d describes to Abraham the point of departure. In fact, he even stresses the point by mentioning that place in several different ways, but does not tell him where to go.

Instead he says: "To the land which I will show you."

Normally when you want someone to go on a mission or on a journey you tell them the destination. You focus on the destination and make little mention of where they are leaving from. But here we see just the opposite. G-d stresses the point of departure but does not tell Abraham of his final destination.

Here G-d was teaching Abraham an important lesson, a lesson which has meaning and relevance to us all. When you are ready to journey, you must leave certain baggage behind. When you are ready to travel, wherever the destination may be, you must leave your surroundings and environment.

As Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur approach, we begin to think about the year ahead. We pray for a year of life and blessing. We make strong resolutions to change our lives for the better.

But often, however sincere our intentions are, we find it difficult to carry them through. For when the New Year begins we are mentally still in the same location as we were last year.

Therefore if we want this year to be one of change and growth, then we must first do what G-d told Abraham: "Go from your land, your birth place, and the home of your parents, to the land that I will show you."

When we want to make strong resolutions to move on, it's not so important to know how to get to a new place, it's knowing how to unload the past. That way we can start a fresh, and mould and carve our new life styles without any previous influences.

May this year be one of good health and peace for all of mankind.