Ufaratzta!

In the biblical story of Jacob’s Ladder in Parshat Vayeitze, G-d tells Jacob, “Ufaratzta!” and that verse is usually translated as “You will spread forth, to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.” It was a bold reassurance to Jacob, who was fleeing his brother’s wrath and alone on his journey – that he would have family, he would be successful, and his descendants would grow and flourish.

But the word Ufaratzta means much more than spreading out. The same Hebrew root word is used again when Judah’s twins are born. Peretz was named for his bursting forth, pushing his way out of the womb. Ufaratzta means breaking out, busting forth, disregarding obstacles and barriers, overcoming limitations.

Chabad adopted this as a slogan, and as a melody and a charge. In the early years when the Rebbe urged his Chassidim to move out to far-flung distant communities, to serve as Shluchim in cities and towns large and small, the motto was Ufaratzta. It was emblazoned on Mitzvah tanks, it was sung at the Rebbe’s Hakafot on Simchat Torah. I think there even was a magazine with that name for a time.

The word means not merely to spread out, but to break forth, to overcome challenges, to dare to be different, to make an impact. Forge ahead, let nothing stop you or hold you back! Ufaratzta is a charge, a mission, a life-undertaking.

Today, people take Chabad everywhere for granted. It’s almost normal for there to be Chabad in Alaska or Beijing, or in nearly every state of the Union. But this was a breakthrough, this was a daring and visionary accomplishment, it was Ufartzta-driven. Maybe this is why you don’t hear this slogan as much in Chabad as it resounded back in the days when I was a kid in Chabad. But whether you hear it or not, Ufaratzta is certainly beating strong beneath the surface, animating all the Chabad does.