Weekly Torah Portion Summary

WEEKLY PARASHA

Parasha Lech Lecha Genesis Chapters 12:1-17:27 In this parasha, God commands Abram (at age 75) to"Go forth from your land, your birthplace, your father's house, to the land that I will show you.  I will make you a great nation.." (12:1-2) Abram, Sarai and Abram's nephew, Lot, begin their journey to Canaan. Abram and Sarai are childless and Sarai offers her Egyptian slave, Hagar, to Abram.  Hagar conceives, but Sarai is unkind to her.  An angel appears to Hagar and tells her that she will give birth to a son, Ishmael, who will someday become the father of a great nation.  God promises Abram and Sarai that they, too, will have a son - even in their old age. Their names are changed to Abraham and Sarah.  The ritual of circumcision is commanded in this parasha.