5784/2023

Parshat Lech Lecha begins with Avraham’s journey to Eretz Yisrael. Soon after he completes this journey Avrham travels to the east of Beit El near Ai and builds a mizbeach there. Rashi explains that Avrham davened there since he knew Bnei Yisrael would sin in the future at Ai because of Achan. Soon after, Avraham heads down to Mitzrayim due to a famine in Eretz Yisrael. When Avrham returns to Eretz Yisrael from Mitzrayim the pasuk says “El Mikom HaMizbeach Asher Asah Sham BaRishonah VaYikrah Sham Avram Bishem Hashem,” “To the place of the altar, that he had made there at first, Avram called there in the name of Hashem”(Bereishit 13:4). Why does the Torah mention “To the place of the altar, that he had made there at first”? Is it that important that we know that he davened at the same place that he did previously in the Parsha? The Radak answers that the Torah specifically mentions that it was the same place in order to teach us about davening. The Torah is trying to teach us that it is important to have a set place when davening. The reason for this is because it's easier to concentrate when everything around you is familiar. We usually think of Avraham as the איש חסד but here we see the importance of Tefillah in Avraham’s life. Avraham is teaching us that we need both Chesed and Tefillah for a meaningful relationship with Hashem. This is something we can all strive for.