Rabbi Minkowicz Weekly Torah Lesson Parsha Lech Lecha 5778

[Applause] it's time for rabbi mankiewicz weekly Torah lesson a place where life's most difficult questions are answered here with his spiritual perspective and insight rabbi megawatts welcome to this week's Torah lesson this week's Torah portion is Pontius Lacroix the question of the week is what is a Jew so in this week's Torah portion consciously Koha we have where God comes to Abraham and he tells him to leave his land and to go to the land I will show you and here the Torah starts recording different tests that God gave to Abraham so the question the Rebbe asked a simple question we know every Abraham at this point was 75 years old now Abraham recognized God when he was really three years old and there's many many stories that took place from eighth Street at 75 and the question is why does a Torah specifically tell us the story starting at age 75 what all the 75 years are in - the three years at 72 years that he was serving God is nothing why isn't it recorded in Torah and Rebbe explains there's a major difference between the relationship Abraham had with God from age three until age 75 versus where it started at age 75 from age three to 75 Abraham yes he loved God and he was in awe of God and he did things to show his respect for God and show his love for God but all the things he's done and great things was a Abraham's yearning and journey to God at age 70 find something new and unique took place over here God comes along to Abram he tells him you to leave your your your land your family but the key word God tells him you're gonna go we're all right so sure I record that I'm going to show you where is that and that's made the world of a difference not what you think not what you want and not what you're excited about not when you're in the mood of but then you're gonna go where I show and Abraham sure enough he followed God to the place that God showed him and this was a turning point in other words up until now Abraham did great things for God he liked it he didn't like it it was exciting there was a done out of love out of fear but it was all Abraham's initiative here started a whole new initiative God told him go in other words simple English here's where faith kicked in here's where Abraham had to have 100% faith to follow the Roxxon Hashem the will of God and that's when Abraham became the Abraham that's recorded in the Torah worthy of being recorded the Torah because he was now following God by God being the leader so the answer the question what is a Jew a Jew is one that will follow God where God asks him to go what God wants him to do and that is what a real Jew is this week's Torah lesson is a memory of bora pandari liebe and Ben Yosef may their souls be elevated for the Torah that we're studying in their memory thanks so much for joining us for our weekly Torah lesson for more information on Habad please see our website [Music]