The story of the Akeda, The Binding of Yitzchak (Breisheet 22:1) begins with the following words: After these events, God tested Avraham... Rashbam, in a very long commentary, explains how the story of the Akeida came as a result of the peace treaty that Avraham...
In Parshat Vayera (Breisheet 18:1) we see that Avraham was living in Elonei Mamre (the Oaks of Mamre):God appeared to him in Elonei Mamre and he was sitting at the door of the tent in the heat of the day.Where is Elonei Mamre?We have already encountered Elonei...
At the beginning of Parsha Vayera, Avraham and Sara (who are 99 and 89 years old) make an effort to make their guests (who they don’t even know) feel welcome. Rav David Stav points out that unfortunately, many Israelis are focused on their own families and...
In Parshat Lech Lecha, when Lot’s shepherds began to argue with Avraham’s shepherds, Avraham said to Lot (Breisheet 13:9): “Is not all the land before you? Please separate from me, if you go to the left, I will go to the right, and if you go to...
In Parshat Vayera, Avraham performs many acts of chesed, loving kindness. As soon as he sees three strangers (who are really angels) passing by, he rushes to greet them, feed them and make them feel comfortable. One act of chesed that we may overlook is that...
God delayed the destruction of Sdom until Avraham had an opportunity to intercede on behalf of the city. God’s reason for involving Avraham is outlined in Parhsat Vayera, Breisheet 18:17-18:And God said, “Shall I conceal from Avraham that thing which I...
When the cities of Sdom and Amora were about to be destroyed, Lot and his family were commanded (Breisheet 19:17) "Escape for your life; Do not look behind you and do not stay on the plain, run for the mountains lest you be consumed." Rashbam brings three reasons...
Dedicated by Stan and Marc Futterman on the first yahrzeit of Stephanie FuttermanIn Parshat Lech Lecha, God changed Avram’s name to Avraham, promised him and his descendents the Land of Israel and commanded him to perform the mitzvah of Brit Milah (the...
At the end of Parshat Vayera we read the story of Akedat Yitzchak. God commands Avraham (Breisheet 22:2) “Please take your son, your only one, who you love-Yitzchak- and go to the land of Moriah; bring him up there as an offering upon one of the mountains...
In memory of our friend and neighbor Mr. Richard Lakin who was murdered while riding the 78 bus in JerusalemIn Breisheet 18:18-19 we read: “Avraham is indeed to become a great and mighty nation and through him shall be blessed all of the nations of the world....
In Parshat Vayera we read about God’s destruction of the city of Sdom. What was so terrible about Sdom that it had to be utterly destroyed and still remains a wasteland today? According to the prophet Yechezkel (Yechezkel 16:49): “Behold...
Today is the last day to vote for the Dead Sea to be considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Is the Dead Sea as we know it today really in its ideal state? When Lot first went to live in the area where the Dead Sea is located today,...
Sponsored in Honor of Dov Ber’s Bar Mitzvah by Sharona, Josh, Moshe and Yehuda Halickman In Parshat Vayera, Avraham, who is recovering from a Brit Milah (circumcision at the age of 99) is happy to welcome three unexpected guests to entertain. When...
Sponsored by Midreshet Devora www.midreshetdevora.org a post high school midrasha for students who want to live, learn and feel the love of the Land of Israel. Applications are now being accepted for the 2011-2012 Academic year! The Differences between the...
In Parshat Vayera we read about God’s destruction of the cities of Sdom and Amora and how God saved Lot (Avraham’s nephew) and his family. How did Lot end up in Sdom in the first place? In last week’s Parsha, Lech Lecha, Lot’s...
In Breisheet 18:5-8, Avraham saw three people heading in the direction of his tent and he ran to welcome them into his home (even though he wasn’t well after undergoing a brit milah at age 99). Avraham then told them that he would bring them a morsel of...
In Breisheet 20:1 we read: "Avraham journeyed toward the Negev and dwelt (vayeshev) between Kadesh and Shur and he sojourned (vayagar) in Grar."Grar was the land of the Plishtim (Philistines), in the vicinity of where the Gaza strip is today.Why did Avraham travel...
Sarah miraculously gave birth to Yitzchak when she was ninety years old as God had previously promised Avraham. Yitzchak was the first baby to enter the covenant of the Jewish people when he had his Brit Milah at eight days old. When Yitzchak was weaned at...
At the end of Parshat Lech-Lecha, Avraham had a brit milah (was circumcised) at age 99. In the beginning of Parshat Vayera, Avraham was still recovering. Parshat Vayera begins with the words (Breisheet 18:1) “God appeared to him in Elonei Mamrei”. Rashi...