לא כתוב שאברהם הי' צדיק ומתחיל הסיפור עם לך לך

1. The Torah’s Introduction to Avraham Avinu

The transition from the parshiyos of Bereishis and Noach to Lech Lecha is striking. At the end of Parshas Bereishis, the Torah quickly lists the ten generations from Adam to Noach, and then in Parshas Noach, we read about the flood and Noach’s righteousness. Again, at the end of Parshas Noach, the Torah lists another ten generations, this time leading down to Avraham. With the arrival of Parshas Lech Lecha, we begin reading about Avraham Avinu. The Rebbe notes in Hayom Yom—a daily Chassidic teaching—that this parsha is a more joyous one, as it marks the beginning of the story of Avraham, the first Jew who recognized Hashem. In contrast to last week’s parsha, which was filled with destruction and challenge due to the flood, this week’s portion is already happier with Avraham’s birth and his journey.

2. The Absence of an Introduction for Avraham

The mefarshim—commentators—point out something unusual: unlike with Noach, where the Torah introduces him as a tzaddik—a righteous person—and describes his relationship with Hashem before commanding him to build the ark, there is no such introduction for Avraham. We know from last week’s parsha that Avraham’s father was Terach and that he had brothers, but there is no mention in the text that Avraham was righteous or special in any way before Hashem commands him: “Leave your land...to a place I will show you.” There are hints in midrashim and Rashi brings various interpretations about events like Ur Kasdim and how Avraham discovered Hashem on his own or broke his father’s idols. Still, none of this appears explicitly in the Torah’s narrative at this point.

3. The Deeper Message: Bechira and Hashem’s Choice

Why does the Torah omit any mention of Avraham’s greatness before Hashem chooses him? The Rebbe explains that this omission is deliberate and deeply meaningful. It reflects the unique connection between HaKadosh Baruch Hu—the Holy One Blessed be He—and the Jewish people, which begins with Avraham. This connection is rooted in true bechira—free choice. When someone chooses something because of a specific quality or preference, it isn’t true freedom; there is always a reason behind that choice. True choice means everything is equal and one simply chooses without any external reason. In human terms, it’s almost impossible to choose without some subconscious preference unless it’s arbitrary like rolling dice. But Hashem’s choice of Am Yisrael was not based on any merit or special quality they possessed at that moment. If it were based on merit, then our relationship with Hashem would depend on maintaining those merits or qualities.

4. The Unconditional Bond Between Hashem and Am Yisrael

Hashem approaches Avraham “cold turkey,” so to speak—not because he was already a tzaddik, not because he had proven himself worthy according to what we read in the text. Unlike Noach who was chosen for his righteousness among humanity after the flood, Avraham represents something new: Hashem choosing a people not for their accomplishments but simply because He willed it so. This unconditional choice means our bond with Hashem is internal and unbreakable; it does not depend on external factors or achievements. That is why even if we falter or lack merit at times, our essential connection remains intact—it is rooted in Hashem’s pure will.

5. Lessons from Avraham’s Challenges and Perseverance

Once chosen by Hashem, Avraham responded with total dedication even though he did not know where he was being led. He faced tremendous challenges: standing alone against a pagan world that rejected his beliefs, enduring personal hardships such as famine and having his wife taken away. People could have told him he must be wrong since things were going so poorly despite following what he believed was right. Yet Avraham persevered despite these tests and ultimately succeeded in spreading belief in Hashem. This teaches us an important lesson: when we try to do what is right—whether as individuals or as a community—we may encounter setbacks or suffering that seem unfair or inexplicable.

6. Faith Amidst Difficulty: Drawing Strength from Avraham

Many people ask why bad things happen when they are trying to do good or follow Hashem's will—“Why does Hashem do this to me? I deserve better.” While these questions are difficult to answer fully, we can draw strength from how Hashem dealt with Avraham Avinu: unwavering faith even when things don’t make sense leads ultimately to success. We must remain strong in our emunah—faith—and trust that just as with Avraham, perseverance through challenges will lead us to prevail in the end.