Famine

This week’s portion brings us to the life of Avram. Avram obeys G-d’s command to leave his place of dwelling, and eventually arrives at Canaan. After Canaan, we are told that Avram pitches his tent with Beth El on the west and the Ai on the east. And then Avram goes down to Egypt. ויסע אברם הלוך… Continue reading Famine

Tower and Technology

The episode of the tower of Babel is a curious one.  It’s one of the 4 major stories preceding Abraham, together with Adam and Chava’s sin, Kayin’s murder of Hevel and the Flood.  Nevertheless, the entire story is very short – only 9 pasukim recount the entire sequence of events from beginning to end –… Continue reading Tower and Technology

Who are the people in your neighborhood?

This week’s parsha starts with the famous description of Noah (Bereishit 6:9): אֵלֶּה, תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ–נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה, בְּדֹרֹתָיו: אֶת-הָאֱלֹהִים, הִתְהַלֶּךְ-נֹחַ These are the generations of Noah. Noah was in his generations a man righteous and whole-hearted; Noah walked with God. Rashi notes that the word בְּדֹרֹתָיו (“in his generation”) at the end of… Continue reading Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Truth or Peace? – Bereishit

In this week’s parasha, G-d creates the world ex nihilo. After six days of creating the earth, the sky, animals and vegetation, G-d creates man. But G-d does something strange- He employs the use of the “royal we” before creating man: ויאמר אלקים נעשה אדם (בראשית א, כו) And G-d said: Let us make man.… Continue reading Truth or Peace? – Bereishit

Man vs. Animal

In its opening chapter, the Torah discusses the creation of the heavens, earth, animals, Man and finally Shabbat. In Chapter 2, the Torah takes a step back to describe the creation of man in more detail. In Bereishit 2:7 it says: וַיִּיצֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים אֶת-הָאָדָם, עָפָר מִן-הָאֲדָמָה, וַיִּפַּח בְּאַפָּיו, נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים; וַיְהִי הָאָדָם, לְנֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה… Continue reading Man vs. Animal