This summer I went with my family to Boston, MA. We took the ferry from Orient Point to New London and then went up to a few days away from this computer. I had reserved a place on the boat, the hotel for that night and even tickets for the museum.
We had a delightful day. We went to sleep in the hotel and continued the next day in Brookline, MA a nice suburb right outside the city.
Now, that afternoon I notified my wife that we did not have a hotel room for that evening. My wife blamed it on my lack of organizational skills and I explained that I wasn't sure which part of town we were going to be at, and who even knew if the kids would last that long.
So we ran to a Kinkos and went to Priceline.com to find a nice hotel - which we did.
But for those that were never on Priceline.com, let me explain to you the idea:
You type in where you want to go and what days and how much you want to spend and they give you a place to stay or the flight that matches that criteria.
You might end up with a connection through Texas or North Carolina. Or sleep in a hotel that is you never dreamed that you can afford. But it is all part of the experience.
In this weeks Torah portion G-d takes it a step further; He doesn't even say where the destination will be.
Lech Lecha...Go for Yourself is how this weeks portion opens up with the instruction to Avraham Avinu - Abraham, that he was to depart the land of his home, his family and birthplace to "the land which I will show you."
Today we all know the rest of the story, Abraham's trip to Israel, his departure from there to Egypt etc. etc
But why didn't G-d tell him in the beginning exactly where "the land which I will show you" is?
Rashi comments that the mystery of the destination was in fact a gift to Abraham as it allowed him to savor the experience his relationship with G-d even if the "final goal" of that mission wasn't clear.
G-d was letting him see that "Success is not a destination, it's a journey."
When telling him to leave G-d says "Lech Lecha" - "Go for yourself." This seemingly tedious journey was in fact a chance for Abraham to show his true colors even when in a strange environment.
We too can make this journey in our own lives as we endeavor to "be ourselves" even when the environment around us is different to what we would prefer.
And the results can be astounding. Since that day 3,718 years ago when Abraham staked claim in Israel , leaving his comfort zone to find a divinely inspired one, we have forged a connection to the Holy Land.
It is ours and will be so forever and we have one man to thank for (through listening to G-d and thereby) making it all happen.
Israel, the Land & Spirit was pioneered by one man who cared to leave his "home space" and make it happen.
Now it's our turn.