Real hospitality
“And (Lot) said: Behold now, my lords, turn aside, please, into your servant’s house…” (Genesis 19:2) Abraham’s nephew Lot requested his visitors to enter “your servant’s house”. Abraham, however, said to his guests, “if I find favor in your eyes, please don’t just pass by your servant” (Genesis 18:3). He made no mention of his […]
The price of admission
Abraham responded and said: Behold, now, I wanted to speak to my Lord, although I am but “afar va’efer” – dust and ashes. (Genesis 18:27) The gemmatria (numerical value) of the Hebrew letters ‘afar va’efer’ (631) is the same as the value of the word KA’TORAH (as the Torah). The Torah only becomes accessible to […]
Torah adds up!
“For I have known him so that he may command his children and his household after him that they keep the way of Hashem to do righteousness and justice…” (Genesis 18:19) In the phrase here “אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְצַוֶּ֜ה אֶת־בָּנָ֤יו” (that he may command his children”) – the last letter of each word forms the word TORAH […]
Hacking the Haftorah: NOACH
In this video, we explore the connections between the Torah portion of Noach (Noah) and its Haftorah reading from the book of Isaiah chapter 54 and chapter 55 verses 1-5.
Abraham’s concern
There is a puzzling sequence of verses in this week’s Torah portion: In Genesis 15:5, the Almighty promises a very old and barren Abraham that he will have a huge progeny – as many as the countless stars in the heavens. Abraham fully trusts in this promise and God accounted this faith as righteousness (15:6). […]
What is the source of faith?
“And he trusted in Hashem, and he counted it to Him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) Usually, this verse is understand as “He” counted to “him” for righteousness. God regarded Abraham’s faith as virtuous. But the Hebrew can go either way. So let’s see how the Sefer Avodas Yisrael spins this: Abraham trusted in Hashem, and […]
Spreading the light
“He took him outside and said: Look toward the heavens and count the stars…And He said to him – so will your descendants be.” (Genesis 15:5) Abraham’s descendants are compared to the stars of the heavens whose light is able to bring illumination to the darkness of night. God appointed Israel to be a light […]
A difficult test to pass
“Hashem said to Abram, ‘Go for yourself from your land’…” (Genesis 12:1) R’ Shlomo Yitzchaki (Rashi) comments on the phrase GO FOR YOURSELF: For your benefit and for your good. The question has been asked: If his departure from his birthplace was for his benefit, why is it counted among the ten tests with which […]
Transforming negativity
“I will bless those who bless you, and those who curse you I will curse… (Genesis 12:3). The Hebrew terms here break symmetry in an interesting way. The root for ‘bless’ (BRCH) is used twice in the verse. But there are two different Hebrew roots for cursing (KLL and ARR). God says: Those who curse […]
All you need is love
“When a person in in special need of God’s love, God sends them an opportunity to show love and give to another.” (Rebbe Nachman of Breslov) Our days are filled with countless opportunities to give to others. We only need to open our eyes to appreciate how many ways we can exhibit generosity with people […]