Chayei Sarah 5770 “Let it be that the maiden to whom I shall say, ‘Please tip over your jug so I may drink,’ and who replies, ‘Drink, and I will even water your camels,’ her will You have designated for Your servant Yitzchak” (Bereishis 24:14). Although it is clear that Rivka’s actions were to be… Continue reading Even for your Camels…
The Servant, the Man, and the Angel
In the story of Eliezer’s Journey to Aram Naharaim to search for a bride for Yitzchak, his master Avraham’s son, there is an interesting feature in the narrative. In the first part of the story, Eliezer is consistently referred to by the narrative voice as הָעֶבֶד – the servant, right up to the point where he runs to speak with Rivka at the well ” וַיָּרָץ הָעֶבֶד לִקְרָאתָהּ” (Ber. 34:17). However, from that point onwards, he is referred to by the narrative voice as הָאִישׁ – the man (Ber. 24:21, 24:26, 24:29, 24:32), through most of the encounter with Rivka and her family.
Anger Management
This week’s parsha has the interesting story of Avraham sending his servant Eliezer to find a wife for Yitzchak. At the beginning of the story, Avraham makes Eliezer swear that he will not take a wife for Yitzchak from the Canaanim, but rather that he will go find Yitzchak a wife from Avraham’s birth place… Continue reading Anger Management
Effective Prayer
One theme that seems to crop up in basically every area of this week’s parsha is the importance of prayer. I would like to analyze each of these different instances of prayer to see what we can learn from them about our own prayers. Prayer For The Sick Parshat Vaeira starts with HaShem visiting Avraham… Continue reading Effective Prayer
Chesed and the Akeidah
וַיְהִי, אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, וְהָ’ נִסָּה אֶת-אַבְרָהָם; וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו, אַבְרָהָם וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּנִי. And it came to pass after these things, that God tested Abraham, and He said to him, “Abraham,” and he said, “Here I am.” (Ber. 22:1) There is a well-known Ramban on this pasuk: that Hashem tests people in order to bring their… Continue reading Chesed and the Akeidah
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
Planning Ahead
The Trip Down to Egypt This week’s parsha tells the story of our first forefather, Avraham. Among many other stories, we learn how Hashem commanded him to leave his home, travel to Israel and how a famine forces Avraham and Sarah to leave Israel for Egypt. A quick summary of the trip to Egypt is… Continue reading Planning Ahead
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