LECH LECHA THE INVISIBLE STARS

The scene is familiar. Avram is invited to count the stars, and it is announced to him that his offspring will be like the stars. It is generally understood that the analogy is about their great number:

"And he brought him out and said, 'Contemplate the heavens and count the stars if you can count them'; and he said to him, 'Thus shall your descendants be' [...] And the sun declined, and a stupor fell upon Avram" [Gen. 15:5-12].

But there is a peculiarity. At the end of the episode the sun sets, so the scene takes place during the day. Avram is then invited to count stars that are still invisible. That is why the text says "if you can count them." Because counting stars in daylight is not an easy thing to do.

Perhaps this is also why Avram is the first biblical character to be called "Ivri," Hebrew. "Ivri" means the one who passes and goes beyond, who sees further than others.

If Avram succeeds, perhaps his descendants will also be able to see beyond, to contemplate what is hidden from others, to glimpse even the stars that are still waiting to shine.

To this we are called.