Yaacov (Jacob,) our forefather, was the prototype for our people’s voyage. He too had great moments and yet was beset with equally difficult moments in his personal walk into destiny. Yaacov was fleeing from his home. He was escaping from a brother who was set to kill him. He was running from a father who [...] Read more »
The Shorashim Torah Study and Overview Guide. Parshat Vayeitzei (Genesis 28:10–32:3) – Jacob escapes from his home knowing that Esav wants to kill him and not knowing where his future lies. In the midst of this place of uncertainty he arrives at a ” place.” The word place in Hebrew means Makom which is also [...] Read more »
After twenty years of childlessness, Rivka ( Rebecca)and Yitzchak ( Isaac)are blessed with twin boys. Yet even this much awaited pregnancy is difficult:“ And the children struggled within her, and she said, “If [it be] so, why am I [like] this?” And she went to inquire of HaShem.”( Genesis 25:22) The Yalkut Shimoni explains that [...] Read more »
The Shorashim Torah Study and Overview Guide. Parshat Toldot (Genesis 25:19–28:9) — After the meeting and marriage we read of twenty painful and hurting years wherein Isaac and Rebbecca wait for a child., And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebbecca the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Padan Aram, the sister of [...] Read more »
Sarah dies at the age of 127 and Avraham approaches the “sons of Heth” to purchase the Machpelah Cave in Hebron. The Torah spends what seems to be an inordinate amount of text to describe the negotiations, the agreement and the amount of money necessary for this purchase. The Midrash Rabba gives an explanation for [...] Read more »
The Shorashim Torah Study and Overview Guide. Chayei Sarah (Genesis 23:1–25:18) – Sarah dies at age 127. The text describes the age that she dies in an unusual way: ” And the life of Sarah was one hundred years and twenty years and seven years; [these were] the years of the life of Sarah….”. why?( [...] Read more »
Rabbi Chanan Morisson A Paradoxical Blessing After Abraham passed the test of the Akeidah, the Binding of Isaac, an angel called out to him: “God states: I have sworn by My Essence, since you performed this act and did not withhold your only son, I will bless you greatly and increase your descendants like the [...] Read more »
Miracles come into being in pre-existing vessels. The Torah portion of Vayera (Genesis 18:1–22:24) and the Haftorah (2 Kings 4:1-37) connected to it, teach much on the relationship between hessed, deeds of loving-kindness, and miracles. In this Torah portion Abraham and Sarah are told that they would miraculously have a son. They are told about [...] Read more »
by Rabbi Chanan Morrison. When Abraham was 99 years old, God appeared to him, announcing the mitzvah of brit milah (circumcision). “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be complete. I will make a covenant (brit) between Me and you.” (Gen. 17:1-2) What was Abraham’s immediate reaction? He literally fell on his face. The [...] Read more »
The Haftorah that is read from the book of Prophets, after the reading of the Torah portion, is intrinsically linked to that same Torah portion. Throughout our history, the ruling authorities which held sway over the conquered Jewish people, saw the reading of the weekly Torah portion as a spiritual threat. The Jews will endeavor [...] Read more »
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