Lech-Lecha

Two Lessons from Avraham on Dealing with People

1. How do you become popular without selling out? How do you appeal to the masses without diluting your message? We learn a powerful lesson in reaching out to others while remaining authentic to ourselves from the transformation of Avram the genius into Avraham the man of the people. (Based on Likkutei Sichos Vol. 25, p. 68.)

2. How do we deal with those people with whom we vehemently disagree? Avraham tells Lot, "Please part from me; if [you go] left, I will go right, and if [you go] right, I will go left." This sounds like a separation, yet Rashi says it means, "Wherever you dwell, I will not distance myself from you, and I will stand by you as a protector and a helper." How are we to understand this? And what lesson does it teach us about finding common ground? (Based on Sefer HaSichos 5750, pp. 96-109.)

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