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 […]