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Orchard of Delights Lech Lecha

meditation and prayer immediately alerts us to the fundamental this process has the power to even alter a seemingly unchangeable
bond between these two activities. Furthermore, it is no accident destiny.
that the verse is set in nature either. Indeed, the Hebrew word for Not content with merely providing, the peshat, remez, and derash
“to converse” (la-su’ach) is similar to that for “plant” or “bush” interpretations of this verse, Rashi concludes by offering an even
(siach), thus alluding to the profound connection between nature and deeper level of textual understanding, sod, the mystical meaning. In
meditating or praying to God.
this interpretation, Rashi suggests that God took Abraham outside
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, following in the footsteps of the the Earth’s atmosphere and lifted him above the stars where he could
patriarch, Isaac, and his own illustrious great-grandfather the Ba’al look down upon the situation. This indicates God granting Abraham
Shem Tov, established the spiritual service of hitbodedut (literally, a more objective, Divine perspective on the situation. From that
lone meditation), where a person would go out into nature alone and lofty viewpoint Abraham could come to understand the Divine plan
commune with God. Rebbe Nachman’s followers have continued behind his own life.
this tradition to this very day. The following poetic words, which Notably, even this sod interpretation still contributes to a literal
paraphrase Rebbe Nachman’s teachings, movingly tie together reading of the verse as it provides an explanation for the following
prayer, meditation, music, and nature:
question: If all God wanted was for Abraham to step outside his tent,
You should know It is very good why not just ask him to do this? Why does God have to literally
that each and every shepherd to pray among them “take him”? The sod interpretation explains that God would only
and with joy have had to take Abraham “outside,” if outside was further than we
has his own melody.
serve God. might at first suspect.
Rashi’s comments give us deep insight into not only this particular
You should know And from the song of the grasses verse and its manifold levels of meaning but also into the interpretive
that every herb and grass the heart is filled and longs. tools and methodology, he routinely uses. We see that the various

has its own melody. levels of interpretation are ultimately all connected and play off each
And when the heart
is filled with song other in a dynamic yet subtle manner.
From the song of the grasses,
and yearns for the Land of Israel,
they make up the melody
of the shepherd. a great light
is drawn forth ££Abraham the HebrAbraham the Hebr
Abraham the Hebrewewew
£Abraham the HebrewAbraham the HebrewAbraham the Hebrew
How beautiful! from the holiness of the Land. ££
How beautiful and pleasant And from the song of the grasses
when hearing their song. is created the melody of the heart. In this week’s portion Abraham is referred to for the first time as
“Abraham the Hebrew” (Genesis 14:13). The root of the Hebrew
Jewish meditation includes a surprising array of techniques and word for “Hebrew” (ivri) literally means “to cross over.” Why does
forms. A meditation can take but a few seconds or minutes to perform, the Torah give Abraham this name? One opinion is that he gained
such as when one totally focuses one’s mind during the performance this name because in coming to Israel he left his birth place in Ur
of a mitzvah, the singing of a song, or the recitation of a prayer, Kasdim and crossed over the Euphrates, a major geographical

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