The Torah selection for this Shabbat, Lech L'cha, shares the narrative of Abraham and Sarah. The Torah begins with the call to Abram, the patriarch's original name. The commentators note that Abram is called upon to leave his country, his kin, and his father's house. The ordering reflects the spiritual process of shaping a unique identity, rather than the physical departure from the city of Ur. Abram leaves for the land of Canaan with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot.

The patriarchs and matriarchs are portrayed as donkey nomads. As donkeys cannot travel without stopping for water, all the place names where the Hebrews lodged are mentioned. The city of Shechem is prominent in the narrative. It is identified with today's Nablus, a large Palestinian city on the West Bank Abram continues southward towards Beth-El, which is sixteen miles north of Jerusalem.

The Torah shares the wanderings of Abram in Egypt. The strange narrative presents Abram as lying about Sarai's identity, claiming that she is his sister. Both traditional and modern scholars find the story disturbing. Traditional interpreters claim there was some basis to Abram's assertion about Isaac. Modern scholars claim this tale comes from the wife-sister motif of Babylonian law. A man could protect the legal status of his wife as inviolate by claiming she was also his sister.

We read of the strife between the shepherds of Lot and those of Abram. Abram emerges as the peacemaker by permitting Lot to choose the grazing area that he prefers. Lot chooses the plain of the Jordan River, in the area of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The inferior land is left to Abram and his shepherds. Abram settles near the city of Hebron. Today, Hebron has grown to be a large Palestinian city on the West Bank with a small Jewish population within the city. Historically, Jews had always lived in Hebron until the Arab riots against them in 1929.

Genesis 14 presents the narrative of the four kings against the five. Lot, Abram's nephew is taken captive during this battle. Abram enters the struggle in order to liberate his nephew. He is successful in freeing his nephew as well as restoring the stolen property of Sodom and Gomorrah. The strange character of King Malchitsedek rewards and blesses Abram. Abram refuses any reward for his valor in battle.

G-d promises Abram that he will indeed produce an heir and that his descendants shall be as numerous as the stars in the sky. The "covenant of the pieces", the "brit bein hab'tarim" creates this special relationship between Abram and G-d. The sacrificed animals are divided in half with the exception of the birds. After performing this ritual, Abram has a vision of the future of his people. G-d promises that the children of Abram will inherit the land of Canaan.

Genesis chapter 16 shares the narrative of Sarai and Hagar. Sarai offers her maid Hagar to Abram as a concubine. Sarai asserts that the offspring will legally belong to her. Hagar conceives a child with Abram. Hagar is haughty towards her mistress, Sarai. Sarai demands that Abram take charge of the situation. However, Abram returns the matter to Sarai. Sarai's harshness towards her maid causes Hagar to flee the household. A messenger from G-d comforts Hagar. The Egyptian maid will also be the ancestress of a powerful clan. Hagar gives birth to a son, Ishmael.

The names of Abram and Sarai are changed to indicate their religious transformation. Abram is given the name "Abraham", interpreted to mean "father of many nations". Sarai is given the name "Sarah", interpreted to mean "princess". A beautiful Jewish legend shares that the "feelings" of the letter "yod" were slighted as the letter was removed from Sarah's name. In order to compensate for this slight, the "yod" was added to the heir to Moses' leadership. The young Hosea became Joshua!

The physical sign of the covenant between G-d and Abraham is the covenant of circumcision. The emphasis on the performance of circumcision on the eighth day is asserted. Abraham is told that he will indeed bear a son at the age of one hundred! His response is laughter so the child will be named "Yitzhak", from the root "to laugh". G-d informs Abraham that the lineage of the Hebrews will continue through this second child, Isaac, rather than through Ishmael. Abraham is circumcised when he is ninety years old; Ishmael is circumcised at thirteen.