Becoming desensitized
“And they (the two Hittite women that Esav married) were a source of bitterness to Isaac and to Rebecca.” (Genesis 26:35) The Midrash notes that the source of aggravation was because these women were idol worshipers. The Midrash also picks up on an interesting detail in the verse. It doesn’t say they were a source […]
A test of character
“Let it be that the girl…will say: Drink, and I will also water your camels, will be the one who You have determined for your servant Isaac…” (Genesis 24:14). Abraham’s home was built on kindness and caring for others, so his servant sought this quality when seeking to find a wife for Abraham’s son Isaac. […]
The silent scream
“God heard the voice of the lad…” (Genesis 21:17). After Sarah complained about Yishmael harassing their son Isaac, Abraham reluctantly sent Yishmael and his mother Hagar away. Lost in the desert and with their water used up, Hagar cast her son under one of the bushes and wept in a loud voice as she waited […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
CHANGE MAKERS
“…Noach was a righteous man, flawless in his generation, and Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). With these credentials, why wasn’t Noach tapped to be the progenitor of God’s chosen nation? The Alshich notes that Noach walked with God, but wasn’t so connected to the rest of humanity. If we compare him to Abraham, we […]
Noah Illuminated
“Make a tzohar for the ark…” (Genesis 6:16). Rashi* cites two views regarding what the tzohar was. One understanding is that it was a window that functioned as a skylight for the ark. The other view is that it was a luminous stone. Previously, Rashi presented two views of what was meant by the qualifier […]