Abraham
Abraham Accords Signals the Reconciliation Between Isaac and Ishmael
The Torah says that Ishmael was a wild child, whose bad behavior caused him to be kicked out of the household of Abraham. Sarah sees Ishmael’s evil practices and banishes him and his mother Hagar out of their home. Ishmael goes on to...
Did Abraham Overpay for the Cave of Machpela?
My grandfather, Rabbi David Stavsky always loved sharing his insights into the weekly Torah portion. Every year, when we would read about the burial of Sarah in Hebron, my grandfather would ask, how did Abraham and Ephron settle on the...
Do Jews Believe in the Afterlife?
After 175 years, Abraham passes away and the Torah uses a very specific formula to describe what happens to him: he was gathered to his kin. Isaac (Genesis 35:29) and Jacob (Genesis 49:33) are similarly described, as are Moses...
Was Isaac Resurrected from the Dead?
Do you believe in the Resurrection of the Dead? Judaism does! Some even believe that Isaac was the first to be resurrected after Abraham killed him on Mount Moriah. The final test that Abraham must endure is the most challenging and...
Abraham’s Lesson: Life is a Test
Rabbi Pinchas Winston discusses the Torah portion of Vayeira in his video series "Salvation through Genesis." Abraham welcomes a number of desert wanderers who turn out to be angels of God. Rabbi Winston points out that life is a test,...
The Spiritual Connection Between Abraham and Trees
In this video class, "Spiritual Growth Through Genesis: Portion of Vayeira" Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman explains the connection between Abraham our forefather, and trees. Did you know that according to Jewish mysticism, Abraham and Sarah...
How do we really know where Mount Moriah is located?
The famous story of the Binding of Isaac begins with God telling Abraham to take his beloved son Isaac “to the land of Moriah” however, nowhere else in Genesis is Moriah mentioned. So where is the land of Moriah? We do have some clues in...
Three Things You Must Know About Genesis 12:3
This week’s Torah portion known as Lech Lecha contains Genesis 12:3, the foundational Scripture for Christian Zionism. So many non-Jews read this wonderful verse and conclude that it’s time to start caring more for Israel. This verse is...
Is Ishmael the Father of the Arabs?
After Abraham banishes Hagar, God reassures the Patriarch. As the firstborn son of Abraham, God blesses Ishmael to be a “great nation.” While it is widely assumed that the present-day conflict in the Middle East between Jews and Muslims...
Haftarah: Last One to Leave Turn Out the Lights
It is hard to imagine the fear and panic during the “Hamtana” waiting period in the weeks leading up to the Six Day War. Israel’s five larger and better armed neighbors were all threatening to push the Jews into the sea and wipe Israel...