Self-Discovery  

The first words of this week's parsha are puzzling. When God instructs Avram to go to Israel, He commands, "lech lecha." The second word seems extraneous. In modern Hebrew we would simply say lech -- "go." What does the phrase lech lecha mean? Ramban explains that this is just part of normal Biblical Hebrew and there is no significance to the double wording. Rashi explains that lech lecha means "go for yourself." In other words, "Go to Israel. It will be good for you." The Malbim interprets our pasuk differently: lech lecha means "go to yourself." In other words, "Leave your surroundings and go to a new place so that you will discover who you really are, what your essence is." Life in high school is essentially about the process of self discovery. What do I love learning about? Who am I and who do I want to be? How am I similar to my parents and how will I be different? High school is an opportunity to be like the Malbim's Avram - to "go and become yourself." Our students are involved in so many different learning experiences and activities as we guide them on the process of self-discovery. Please enjoy this edition of Highlites and get a sense of the path that our students traverse as they become themselves.