This week’s Torah portion is Lech Lecha, which teaches us the importance of leaving behind what is familiar and stepping into the unknown. We see this in the story of Abraham, who is told by G-d to leave his lifelong home and go to a new land that He will show him—the land of Canaan. Abraham agrees to this, even though it represents one of the ten trials he will face on his spiritual journey, five of which are found in this portion.

When Abraham was commanded to leave, he was 75 years old, which may seem like an unlikely age to start over. But G-d recognized that Abraham had reached a high spiritual level in his life. However, this spiritual development was the result of intellectual inquiry. Abraham had a deep tendency to analyze and think critically, which led him to greater understandings of spirituality. This approach had served him well up to that point, but G-d knew that in order for Abraham to evolve further and reach a higher spiritual level, he needed to experience G-d in a more profound and direct way. He needed to truly live that Godliness, rather than just thinking about it. And so, G-d decided that Abraham must leave his land.

We, too, are made up of three essential elements: soul, body, and intellect. These three elements are mirrored in our environment. The land we live on represents our body; our birthplace, where our soul first entered the world, represents our soul; and our father’s house represents our intellect, where we are taught how to live. Leaving these things behind is not easy, and it can be a major challenge to our sense of self. However, for Abraham, this challenge was necessary for his spiritual growth. He had learned a great deal, and now G-d sent him to share his knowledge with others.

What is most admirable about Abraham is his willingness to leave. He did not shy away from G-d’s command to leave his familiar surroundings. We can learn much from his example. Firstly, we learn the significance of stepping into new lands in relation to our spiritual development. Secondly, we learn the importance of committing fully to the guidance of a teacher.

Let’s consider land in a more literal sense. Not all soil is the same, and not everything grows well in the same environment. If you stay in one place your whole life, how can you be sure that you’ve reached your full potential? There may be a much better environment for you elsewhere. It’s natural to feel attached to the familiar, but we must be careful not to let our comfort zone become a crutch. It is often through novelty and the discomfort of the unknown that we grow and become better. We humble ourselves by adopting the role of a beginner when faced with new situations.

Of course, during times like the COVID pandemic, we are not able to interact and travel as freely as we once did. However, we must still find ways to expose ourselves to new experiences without necessarily embarking on a physical journey. Remember that Abraham was asked to leave so he could spread the knowledge he had gained. In today’s world, we have many tools to do this—tools that allow us to broaden our horizons and transcend our current knowledge. In fact, we are using one of these tools right now! By embracing new opportunities and technologies, we can expand our understanding and enrich our spiritual lives.

This example teaches us that there is a great risk in remaining too long in our comfort zone. But where is our "land" specifically? Our "land" is wherever we remain out of habit alone. It could be a job we’ve grown apathetic about, a relationship that no longer serves us, or perhaps a city or environment we’ve outgrown. Change can come in many forms, but it is essential that we embrace it. Otherwise, we risk spiritual stagnation. The good news is that when we step out of our comfort zone and try new things, we discover new blessings. After all, it is unrealistic to expect great gifts without making great changes.

We are not Abraham, and the Creator will not come knocking on our doors. Instead, we must take action and show ourselves to be open to G-d’s blessings. This means we cannot simply settle into what is familiar. A spiritual journey is endless, and to make progress, we must remain in motion. Abraham demonstrated his openness by accepting G-d’s request to leave his land. This is a powerful lesson for us, too. As spiritual students, we must be willing to take action and grow.

In choosing a teacher, we should not expect perfection. Expecting perfection only leads to dissatisfaction and disappointment. However, once we commit to a teacher, we must commit fully. True commitment means being open to their guidance, even when it challenges us. If we subscribe to multiple teachers halfheartedly, we will learn much less than if we devote ourselves wholeheartedly to one. Our job, then, is to find the teacher who resonates with us. A simple way to test this is to ask ourselves: Am I seeing positive changes in myself? Am I becoming a better person? For Abraham, the answer was yes. That’s why he accepted G-d’s command and moved to Canaan. He left his land for the greater good, and we must be willing to do the same.