In order to understand our own life’s journey and story, we sometimes have to look back at our origins. This week’s Parsha tells the story of the first Jew. The story of Avraham who trailblazed the path for all future Jewish people. Avraham had some experiences that we all come across during our lifetime as his followers and descendants.

G-d tells the first Jew in his first command to him written in the Torah: “Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.”

G-d told Avraham to wander, to allow others to benefit from his knowledge. Had Avraham stayed in one place, only his immediate circle of people would have benefited from the great expanse of his knowledge. Traveling allowed him to affect the lives of many people who would not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet up with him. 

The commentaries bring a parable to understand this point:
A bottle of perfume stood sealed and wrapped up in the far corner of the shelf. No one would ever enjoy its fragrant contents while it remained bottled up. Only if someone would come, open it, and shake it around, would its scent spread around.  So too Avraham needed to travel around to allow others to benefit from his wisdom and moral clarity.

I always wondered why the Sages chose this parable. There are many different beautiful items one is able to share with others. What is the significance of the perfume?

Perhaps there is a lesson here of how we are meant to share our message with others.

When we do impart lessons and messages to others, it should be a pleasant and an enjoyable experience to the listener.

 This was the intention of the Sages when they chose the parable of fragrances. Because it expresses how the recipient would smell and enjoy the wonderful scent and fragrance. Let’s make sure our message to our children and acquaintances is shared out of love and concern for the other, because then the recipient will enjoy the experience and ask for more.

Shabbat Shalom!