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ETZ HAIM
INTERNATIONAL
EUROPEAN RABBINICAL ACADEMY
עץ חיים בית המדרש לרבנים באירופה
LECH LECHA - THE INVISIBLE STARS
by Rabbi Haim F. Cipriani
The scene is well known. Avram is invited to count the stars and is told that his descendants will be like them. This analogy is generally understood to refer to their great number:
"He took him outside and said, 'Look toward the heavens and count the stars, if you are able to count them.' And He said to him, 'So shall your offspring be' […] And as the sun was setting, a deep sleep fell upon Avram." [Gen. 15:5-12]
But there is something peculiar here. At the end of the episode, the sun is setting—meaning that the scene takes place during the day.
Avram is thus asked to count stars that are still invisible. This is why the text says, "if you are able to count them." Because counting stars in broad daylight is no easy task.
Perhaps this is also why Avram is the first biblical figure to be called Ivri, Hebrew. Ivri means "one who crosses over," one who goes beyond, who sees further than others.
If Avram succeeds, then perhaps his descendants too will be able to see beyond, to perceive what remains hidden to others, to discern even the stars that have yet to shine.
This is our calling.