Avraham Avinu was the first to recognize the Creator through his own understanding. Without being taught, he sought truth and found Hashem. Tens of thousands were drawn to his teachings, yet his life was not one of comfort or serenity. Again and again, he was put to the test.
The ten nisyonot of Avraham were not isolated events. Each carried profound meaning for all future generations. What Avraham achieved through these trials became part of the spiritual inheritance of Am Yisrael. His mesirut nefesh, his readiness to give everything for Hashem, became a defining quality of the Jewish soul.
The Midrash tells of the mother who gave up her seven children al Kiddush Hashem. Before her youngest was killed, she kissed him and said, “Look for Avraham and thank him.” Her words convey the profound connection between her strength and the spiritual legacy that Avraham established. Every act of Jewish courage and faith draws its roots from him.
Avraham’s tests embraced every dimension of human experience: leaving family and his homeland, facing famine and war, enduring loneliness, and ultimately the Akeidah. Each trial refined his faith and strengthened the spiritual core of his descendants. Through these experiences, he transmitted to us the ability to overcome every hardship and remain attached to Hashem.
When we study Lech Lecha, we are not merely recalling the past—we are returning to our source, the origin of our strength as a people of faith and devotion. The trials of Avraham are the foundation upon which all of Jewish history stands.