Friday, November 8, 2024/7 Heshvan, 5785

Friday, November 8, 2024/7 Heshvan, 5785

Parashat Lech L’cha Genesis 12:1−17:27

Dear Friends,

The journey begins. This week’s Torah Portion (Lech L’cha), the third in our reading cycle, is the Jewish origin story. It is intriguing, and invites a good deal of commentary. From its title to its content it just seems to scream for attention.

Lech L’cha itself can be translated in several ways. Lech in Hebrew means simply, “go.” Often the second word of the title is ignored, but L’cha can mean, “to you,” “for you,” “to, or for, yourself,” or even, “this is yours.” And this command to leave everything that Abram had known behind, comes out of a vacuum in the text. There is no preamble as there was with Noah (he was righteous in his generation). In this case God seemingly just talks to Abram.

One might ask, was this really a command, or was it the sound of a door opening? Perhaps that is why “L’cha,” is included in the text. There was as there is in interactions with the Divine, free will. An ultimate command would have simply been, “Lech,” go! Here, though, Abram is being told to go for himself, i.e. if he wants, or chooses to go. He has to be willing to head out for an adventure with few details, but ultimately would change the world. Lech L’cha, go to be the person you were supposed to be.

There are some promises for encouragement: And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you; and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed. This is an interesting set of incentives, but Abram was going to have to make a great leap of faith, but he managed to take that leap. We can hope that Sarai went along with this willingly, as a partner, because her life was going to change as well.

The uncertainty of all of this is underscored by the fact that no sooner do they arrive in the Land of Canaan, then there is a severe famine, and they have to leave and to Egypt to find food. Yet, the text never mentions any doubt on their part, which may be a symbol of true commitment to the journey and what it may bring. It reminds me of the quote from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the bible, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning.” Beginnings are uncertain, while with endings we know how things turned out.  

We relive this concept every week. We begin the new week with hope and anticipation, seeking opportunities and blessings. At the end of the week we arrive at Shabbat, a construct in time, which is supposed to allow us to catch our breath, pause, and look back at the week that has passed. With the mystery of the week revealed, we can revel in the good we have done and the good we have received, and prepare in a moment of Shalom, for the new week with its great potential, to be better.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Marv
rabbischwab@bethelsp.org

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Ilan Davidson

Cantor

Cantor Ilan Davidson has been pleasing audiences with his singing since before he could read. At age five, he began singing with his Cantor, Philip Moddel, and hasn’t shut up since. At ten, he made his Operatic debut with the Fullerton Civic Light Opera’s production of Bizet’s Carmen, as a street urchin. Since then, he has performed roles in opera and musical theatre, performing, directing, and producing world-class productions.

Among his many accomplishments, Cantor Davidson is also known as a contemporary Jewish songwriter and performer, having delighted audiences all over the world, including Israel and Lithuania with the soulful sounds of his music. His recordings, Stained Glass (1995) and In A Hanukkah Mood (2007) are collections of original and covered songs by himself and many contemporary Jewish artists. His most recent recording, God Is In This Place (2020), is a collection of original liturgical pieces for the Friday night Shabbat Service, commissioned and written in honor of his 25th Anniversary as the Cantor of Temple Beth El.

Cantor Davidson left the stage and in 1995 joined the Temple Beth El family, in San Pedro, where, in his nearly 30 years of service, he has brought many new programs and much enthusiasm to all he does. Coming from a long line of Cantors, it must have been Besheret for Cantor Davidson, although talented in all areas of musical performance, to finally settle down into his career as Hazzan for Temple Beth El in San Pedro, California. In 2007, Cantor Davidson founded a new foundation, KindredSPIRITS, producing an annual world humanitarian aid event. KindredSPIRITS premiered on June 5, 2008 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, adding that prestigious concert hall to the ever growing list of venues around the world, where Davidson has performed. During the 10 years of humanitarian events, Global KindredSPIRITS, Inc., as an official 501©3, raised awareness and close to $500,000 for its beneficiaries over the decade.
As a past president of the South Coast Interfaith Council, Ilan fought for tolerance and understanding of ALL faiths in a difficult climate. For the past 7 years, Cantor Davidson has been service as an LA County Commissioner, representing the 4th District on the Human Relations Commission, where he currently serves as President. Whether it is raising his voice for justice, Hazzanut, Pop, Opera, Musical Theatre, or folk music, Cantor Ilan Davidson shares his soul and genuine love in every note.

When asked about his finest accomplishment, Cantor Ilan invariably responds, “After all the great concerts, services, and roles, my finest role in life is that of husband to my beautiful wife, Jodi, and daddy to my gorgeous daughters, Jordan and Zoe.”

cantor@bethelsp.org

Office: (310) 833-2467 Ext. 106

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