Our Gemara on Amud Beis describes a rabbi’s quest for the correct halakha as “Nafak, Dak, Ve-ashkach - He went out, examined it, and discovered.”How does one “go out” and discover a thought? Is this not something that should be discovered by an inward journey? 

Tosafos Yom Tov (2:9) says it refers to an intellectual journey. Midrash Shmuel (ibid) suggests it is a going out, because it is a letting go of any physical associations and biases, such as desires or materialism that either distort judgment or interfere with spiritual inspiration.

This relates to what we discussed in yesterday’s daf: To really learn something new we must let go. For any idea or thought to have serious consideration, we must, even if momentarily, imagine a different reality. This requires emotional security, self-confidence and healthy psychological differentiation between self and others. When a person feels grounded, he or she can take emotional risks to consider other ideas and viewpoints. The insecure person is terrified to even think of a new idea that may challenge current beliefs that provide at least an illusion of correctness and/or moral rectitude. 

Hashem tells Avrohom to “Go out from you Mazal”, as your fate is not to have children but God can change it. (See Rashi Bereishis 15:5) It is notable that God doesn’t TAKE Avrohom out but tells Avrohom to GO OUT. Perhaps for God’s blessing to flow, Avrohom also needed to willfully let go and change his preconceived notions of what is possible and what can be achieved.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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