Parshat Lech Lecha 

According to the Midrash, Avraham, in his search for who was running the universe, asked the following question: “Who is the Master of this capital [the universe]?” God then revealed Himself to Avraham and said “I am the Master of the capital.” The Ishbitzer Rebbe points out that in the words of the Midrash, God revealed Himself “on him” (alav) and not “to him” (elav). This, he said, means that God was telling him that it was “on him” to reveal to the world that there was One God and that this God was the Master of the Universe.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach revealed further that this teaching applies to every Jew in every generation, for it is the Jewish people who are God’s constant messengers and emissaries to the world; it is our people’s essential mission to reveal God’s Oneness and rulership. From the time of Avraham until now it is therefore “on us” to reveal the underlying unity that exists between the Creator and all creation (Even Shlomo; Rabbi Shlomo Carelbach; p. 173; edited by Rabbi Shlomo Katz).