אַבְרָם
Avram
Abram, later Avraham
לֶךְ־לְךָ
Torah Portion 3 of 12 · Bereshit (Genesis) 12:1–17:27
Parashat Lech Lecha: the story, then the game.
Two words start the journey: go forth. Avram leaves Haran for a land he hasn't seen, passes through famine and Egypt, parts from Lot and enters the covenant. You can play it in Gan Eden today.
Lech Lecha: "Go forth"
The Story of Parashat Lech Lecha
Go forth
Avram hears two words, lech lecha, and is told to leave his land, his birthplace and his father's house for a land he'll be shown. He is promised a great name and a blessing for all the families of the earth. He takes Sarai, his nephew Lot and all they have, and sets out.
Famine, Mitzrayim and the land
He builds altars at Shechem and near Beit-El, then famine drives him down to Mitzrayim, where Sarai is taken to Par'oh's house and the household is struck until she's returned. Back in the land, Avram's herders and Lot's quarrel, so the two part ways: Lot chooses the plain toward Sdom, and Avram settles by the oaks of Mamre.
The covenant
Avram rescues Lot from a war of kings and is blessed by Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem. He is told to count the stars, and he believes. In the covenant between the parts, a smoking furnace and a flaming torch pass through the night. Hagar flees and returns, and Yishmael is born. At the end, Avram becomes Avraham and Sarai becomes Sarah.
Read in synagogues on Shabbat, October 24, 2026.
What You Play
The part of the story we focus on.
This is where the game's daily life really opens up. You walk the land on foot, sow wheat, get to the tent before dark, and build each altar from stones you gather.
לֶךְ לְךָ
Lech Lecha
Walk south-west to Shechem, gather five stones and build an altar.
Bereshit (Genesis) 12
בֵּית אֵל
Beit-El
Build a second altar, sow wheat and sleep at the tent.
Bereshit (Genesis) 12
מִצְרַיִם
Famine and Mitzrayim
Travel down to Mitzrayim, choose what Avram tells Par'oh, and stand before him.
Bereshit (Genesis) 12
וַיִּפָּרְדוּ
Lot Parts; Walk the Land
Part from Lot, walk to the land's four ends and settle at Mamre.
Bereshit (Genesis) 13
מִלְחֶמֶת הַמְּלָכִים
The War of the Kings
Arm up, free Lot from a night raid and meet Malki-Tzedek at Shalem.
Bereshit (Genesis) 14
בְּרִית בֵּין הַבְּתָרִים
The Covenant Between the Parts
Bring wood for an offering, drive off the vultures and count the stars.
Bereshit (Genesis) 15
הָגָר וְיִשְׁמָעֵאל
Hagar and Yishmael
Follow Hagar's flight into the wilderness and her return.
Bereshit (Genesis) 16
בְּרִית
The Covenant: Avraham
Hear the covenant as Avram and Sarai take their new names.
Bereshit (Genesis) 17
This portion at a glance
- Avram leaves Haran for Canaan12:1–9
- Famine, and the road down to Egypt12:10–20
- Avram and Lot part ways13:1–18
- The war of the kings, and Malki-Tzedek14:1–24
- The covenant, and a new name: Avraham15:1–17:27
Hebrew from Parashat Lech Lecha
חָרָן
Haran
Where the journey starts
כְּנַעַן
Canaan
The land he's sent to
מִצְרַיִם
Mitzrayim
Egypt
Talk about it
- What's the hardest thing about leaving without knowing where you're going?
- Why do you think Avram lets Lot choose first?
- What does a new name change?
About Parashat Lech Lecha
What is Parashat Lech Lecha about?
Avram leaves Haran for Canaan, goes down to Egypt and receives the covenant. The name, לֶךְ־לְךָ, means "Go forth."
Where is Parashat Lech Lecha in the Bible?
It runs from Bereshit 12:1 to Bereshit 17:27, which is Genesis 12:1–17:27 in an English Bible. It's portion 3 of the 12 in the book.
Can I play Parashat Lech Lecha in Gan Eden?
Playable now in Gan Eden, free in your browser.
גַּן עֵדֶן
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