A Covenant is Forever

Avraham and Sarah were the father and mother of the Jewish people. They made great sacrifices and bucked all the trends.  In a generation overcome by idol worship they, alone, believed in one G-d and publicized that belief at great danger.  Avraham was thrown into a fiery furnace by Nimrod and, with Hashem’s help, miraculously survived.  They had many challenges and tests of faith, but they endured, and gradually created a huge following of hundreds of thousands of believers.

Hashem rewarded them greatly, as we read in this week’s Parsha.  One reward was the “Covenant Between the Parts,” in which Hashem promises the land of Canaan (what would later be known as Israel) to Avraham’s descendants.  Later, when a barren Sarah convinced Avraham to marry her maidservant Hagar, Yishmael was born and Hashem told Avraham to circumcise himself and his household as a sign of the covenant they entered into.  The word “bris” - covenant - appears 13 times in this Parsha, signifying that 13 covenants were made relating to the circumcision.

Then Hashem told Avraham that he will have a child with Sarah.  At this point Avraham was 99 and Sarah 89, and Avraham wondered about having a child at this advanced age.  He said to Hashem “if only Yishmael would live [a moral and spiritual life] before you.”  Hashem responded (Bereshit 17:20 & 21): “Regarding Yishmael, I have heard you; behold I have blessed him, and I will make him fruitful, and I will multiply him exceedingly; he will beget twelve princes, and I will make him into a great nation.  But My covenant I will establish with Yitzchak, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time next year."   The promise of the land of Israel was specifically for Yitzchak and his descendants.  

Many have challenged Hashem’s promise throughout the ages.  But a covenant is forever.  The final, undisputed, complete fulfillment of this covenant will be realized when Moshiach comes, may it happen immediately.  We desperately need it.

As a largely anti-Semitic world continues to question and deny this covenant, I believe it is important for us to reaffirm and strengthen it.  We as Jews should recognize that our connection to the land of Israel is not because of the UN, or any other governing body, but because Hashem, the Creator of the world, gave it to us as an everlasting inheritance.  

In addition, it is very important for us to strengthen our bond with Hashem, and our awareness of our spiritual connection to the Land, by taking real, practical action.  Studying Torah, in addition to bringing Hashem’s wisdom and will to the world, also increases our faith and understanding of the true source of our claim to Israel.  

We must also bring light in the darkness by increasing our observance of the Mitzvot.  Jewish women around the world have accepted upon themselves to  light Shabbat candles at the right time on Friday evening, at least 18 minutes before sunset, and Jewish men the world over have been putting on Tefillin daily, which increases protection for Jewish people everywhere, especially our soldiers.  These two mitzvot, as well as others like loving your fellow Jew or buying more Jewish books for your home, are part of a broader, easily attainable mitzvah campaign started by the the Lubavitcher Rebbe almost 50 years ago  (See the complete Mitzvah campaign here.)

Oh and by the way, speaking of Torah learning and our spiritual bond with Hashem, I’m leading a fascinating course on Kabbalah beginning this Wednesday.  If you have any interest in what Kabbalah really teaches and how it can enhance your day-to-day life, this course is for you.  Please see details here.