Articles with the tag: vayeira

Best of Times

The Bible makes a big deal of Abraham’s willingness to leave his home and his birthplace to an unknown destination. The fact that his nephew Lot accompanied his uncle and similarly undertook the rigors of this spiritual odyssey (Genesis 12:4) should also be a testament to Lot’s sterling character. Yet this same Lot who demonstrated such righteousness by following his uncle to an unknown destination now throws his lot in with the most decadent society in the world! What happened in between? Lot prospered. He made it big. Money can do strange things to people. The great Lot who left everything to follow Abraham, now abandons Abraham to follow the money trail Wealth is one of the great tests of…

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The Wait Is Worth It (22:12)

Engraved into the very first personal request of the first Jew to G-d, lies the mystery of Jewish existence. They are uttered as a question, actually as a plea, or perhaps they are a response to G-d’s first words, “Go out from your land… And I will make you a great nation.”
This promise from G-d is followed by another, “I will make your children like the dust of the earth…so shall your offspring be counted.” Two chapters later a similar pledge reads, “Count the stars, if indeed you can count the….So shall your children be.” And finally, the assurance, “I have made you a father of many nations.” Four escalating promises! The reality however was that while Abraham was,...

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For Your Child to Believe (22:6)

Abraham may have merited the title, Father of the Jewish people, but even then he certainly did not relinquish his role as father of his son Isaac. How were Abraham and Sarah able to accomplish the monumental task of guaranteeing the next generation of Jews? We must remember that they were among the greatest teachers to have ever lived as their success so clearly indicates.  Their household, comprised “the souls that they had influenced in Charan,” were so inspired by the teachings and the faith of the first Jewish couple, that thousands uprooted themselves and followed Abraham and Sarah wherever they traveled. It goes without saying that the love and concern that these amazing educators had for their students was…

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E.s.p. (22:4)

Did you know that Abraham had E.S.P.? Unfortunately, his concubine Hagar did not. Generations later, Moses would posses this gift in abundant measure, while his nemesis, the evil sorcerer Bilaam, with all his talents, was sorely lacking in this department. The E.S.P. I refer to is the Extra Spiritual Perception which gave Abraham and Moishe the ability to see and hear things to which their generations were blind and deaf.
The contrast between the first Patriarch and his second wife is easily demonstrated. Abraham had already bound his beloved Yitzchak to the altar. Even the angels above could not bear to see the sacrificial scene and were shedding tears, but “Abraham raised his eyes and saw a ram caught in…

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Two Lech L’chas (22:2)

Abraham’s life is marked by two monumental journeys. The first of these begins with G-d’s directive of Lech L’cha, “Go from your land, your relatives and your father’s home.”  The second of these expeditions leads not to the Promised Land but to a mountaintop where all promises are about to die under the outstretched arm of the first Patriarch. This journey, like the first, starts with the heavenly command of Lech L’cha, “Go to the land of Moriah and bring (Isaac) there as an offering.”
Abraham spiritually progresses from one Lech L’cha to the next and the path that joins the two is Emunah - Faith. This thread of belief that binds the two events is recorded in both places….

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No Laughing Matter (21:6)

Take the time to read this week’s Biblical portion. Therein you will find pearls of wisdom concerning child rearing techniques. Among them is the issue of, ‘Having fun.’ Clearly, there is a great to-do in the narrative about laughter. G-d Himself comes along and names the child born to Abraham and Sarah as “laughter,” Yitzchok in Hebrew. But can “laughter” be the child who inherits the Patriarch’s position?
Ishmael, the other child of Abraham through his wife Hagar, is also seen as a “metzachek - one who laughs.” Yet it is precisely this “laughter,” as we are told, that disqualifies Ishmael from passing on the tradition. One wonders of course, why the laughter of one is deemed praiseworthy, while the…

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Down to Earth (21:10)

While Adam and Eve may be the first husband and wife, Abraham and Sarah are the first father and mother. Does the Torah characterize their two perspectives of dealing with children as different?  Judge for yourself!
Abraham, from his lofty, detached viewpoint prays that Ishmael, his oldest son will follow G-d’s path.  Sarah however realizes how much harm Ishmael’s devastating influence will have on the spiritual harmony of the home and in particular over her own son Isaac.  She therefore demands that Abraham send Ishmael away.  Abraham cannot find peace with the idea and only after G-d Himself declares to the first Patriarch, “In all that Sarah says to you, listen to her voice, for in Isaac shall your descendants…

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Stuck Under a Shalsheles (19:16)

Since Torah scrolls contain no vowels or musical notes, Torah ‘readers’ first review using printed texts with Teamim (graphic signs representing musical notes). Besides providing the melody, the Teamim often reveal hidden meanings. Indeed, biblical commentator Abraham Ibn Ezra (1093-1167) writes that Biblical interpretations should always correlate with the Teamim.
Though the original chant dates from Sinai, the signs were fixed much later by Aaron ben Asher (900-960 in Tiberias). The 28 Teamim are divided into two main categories: Mechabrim-conjunctives and Mafsikim-pausals. Among the latter is the rare note, shalsheles, which appears only four times in the entire Torah. It looks like a streak of lightning, ‘zigzagging’ back and forth, as if unable to move to the next note. Rabbi…

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The Case for Divine Justice (18:23)

It happens every day. It begins with someone feeling unwell, a heartbreaking diagnosis, a debilitating illness and finally death. Yesterday this sickening cycle of devastation struck our community. A parent of one of our students at the Chabad Hebrew Academy succumbed to cancer. Why did it happen? Where is justice? These questions, like sickness itself, have forever plagued mankind.
Among the well-known sayings of the first Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, is that one should live with the times. Of course, the Rebbe was not advocating a lifestyle as fickle as the ever-changing fads of California or the fashions of Paris. Rather, his intent was that one should find direction and guidance from the weekly Biblical portion. In…

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A Mitzvah Opportunity (18:5)

The surgery had not yet completely healed. Still, that did not deter the venerable Abraham from sitting at the entrance of his tent in the hope that he might invite a hungry traveler. Suddenly, the landscape was filled with an aura of holiness. The Almighty Himself had come to visit the sick patriarch who was still recovering from his recent circumcision. Abraham surely felt honored.
The day was a hot one. It didn’t seem likely that anyone would be on the road. Imagine Abraham’s surprise to see not one, but three strangers. The man who was to father the Jewish nation excused himself. Leaving the presence of G-d, Abraham ran to catch the wandering trio.
Ponder this scenario for a…

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The G-dliness in Man (18:3)

“G-d appeared to Abraham…as he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day.” So begins this week’s Biblical reading.  The composition of this specific chapter, (the 18th in Genesis, consisting of 33 verses) is structurally difficult to understand. At first glance, the reader is tempted to divide it into three distinct parts:
1: G-d appears to Abraham as he is sitting at the entrance to his tent (verse 1). 2: Abraham sees three travelers and invites them for a meal. During the course of their visit, they tell Abraham that within a year a child will be born. Sarah laughs, but G-d confirms the message (verses 2-15). 3: The men depart to Sodom, and…

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Prayer: a Divine Dialogue (18:2)

Some people can sit in the synagogue, wrapped in their Tallis, swaying in rhythm, their lips moving as they recite the correct prayers, while their thoughts are on their business affairs.
With the Patriarch Abraham, it was just the reverse. While sitting at the door of his tent; gazing at the scenery; recovering from a painful surgery; if his thoughts had been diverted by any of these distractions, it would have been understandable. Instead, Abraham sat there waiting for a guest because his thoughts were only on serving G-d.
Prayer is one of the most difficult of Jewish rituals to master. I don’t mean the technical details of when to stand, when to bow, what blessings are said or omitted…

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Five Lessons & Revelations From the Burning Bush

First G-dly vision of Moses at SNEH (Burning Bush). SNEH is mentioned 5 times.
Parallels 5 times OHR (light) is mentioned on the first day of Genesis.
G-dly revelation is compared to light (enlightenment).
Especially, as G-d hid the light for the tzaddikim in every generation.

5 primary emotions: Chessed, Gevurah, Tiferes, Netzach, Hod.

Midrash: Every tree/plant has a juncture with leaves coming from it. (Hadas/myrtle- 3 leaves)
Thornbush (sneh) has 5 leaves.
Lesson: In order for you to be the redeemer, you need the 5 qualities/merits of 5 tzaddikim:
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron.
They correspond to the 5 emotions.

Physical example: 5 fingers coming from one hand.
Reference: The Hand of G-d that would take out the Jews…

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G-dplay Ain't No Game

One can read the Biblical portions at the beginning of the Book of Exodus from several perspectives. The most obvious angle is to look at the entire story through the eyes of the beleaguered Hebrew slaves.  For a more personal point of view, one can opt to put themselves in the shoes (or is it the sandals?) of Moses,  the fearless leader. Of course, one can always be radical and wish to play devil’s advocate, and try to imagine the entire experience from an Egyptian point of view.

Here’s a question to ponder. Which one these three is likely to feel the most anguish? Is it the oppressed slaves who stood by helplessly while their children were being thrown into…

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Seperation of Church and State

A burning bush, a mission accepted and soon Moses and Aaron found themselves demanding of Pharoah freedom for all Jews.  The Torah relates the Egyptian monarch’s exact reply, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, hinder the people from their work?  Go about your own business.”

Our Sages explain that the brothers Moses and Aaron, being members of the tribe of Levi, were not required to work like the rest of the Jewish people and were exempt from the bitter decree of slavery.  Pharoah therefore asked them, “Why do you two involve yourselves in affairs that do not concern you?  Let the other Jews continue their task and you do yours.” 

Why did the Egyptians permit an entire tribe to be…

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The Meteorology of the Soul

The Nile turns into blood. Is that normal or miraculous? How about swarms of frogs? Natural or something out of The Twilight Zone? Obviously all of the plagues that beset the Egyptians were supernatural. How else could Moses prove that it was G-d Himself who was orchestrating the strategy against Pharaoh?
And yet the final affliction in this week’s Biblical reading is Plague #7….Hail. Why you ask is hail, which seems pretty tame in comparison, listed among all of the other paranormal torments that make up the Ten Plagues? Actually, this specific hail was kind of amazing. Within the external shield of snow and ice there was , “fire amid the hail.” As Rashi explains, “In order to serve G-d,...

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Seeing Is Believing

When the Torah names a place, it not only describes a geographic location, but also a state of mind as well as a spiritual set of circumstances. In this context, Mitzrayim, the Hebrew name for Egypt, serves as a paradigm, revealing the true challenge of living in exile.

Mitzrayim is derived from the Hebrew word Meitzarim meaning boundaries or limitations. Exile is a dimension which limits the revelation of G-dliness in the world and confines the expression of our personal G-dly spark. In such a setting, individuals become absorbed in their daily routine and spiritual values are concealed. Moreover, exile perpetuates itself. It resists change, creates inertia and doesn’t even allow us the ability to imagine a better lifestyle.

And…

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No Time!

Dickens said it best. We live in “the best of times and the worst of times.” Our generation boasts of more time-saving devices than we can handle. We have more leisure time than ever, we receive and send our messages across the globe in microseconds and the One Minute Manager remains a financial best seller. Conversely, families have no time for each other, we’re forever late to meetings and even political debate is dominated by sound-bytes.

Why are we so busy? I have a theory based on spiritual cycles. Try this on for size. Whenever Redemption is imminent the Yetzer Horah, that’s the evil inclination, burdens us with a staggering workload.

This brilliant theory, if it suits you,  is not…

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Pharaoh the Slave

One thing makes G-d laugh, humans playing G-d. A marvelous example is the Tower of Babel. King Nimrod decided to build a ‘skyscraper’ that would literally “reach heaven.” From His vantage point however, their attempt was so pathetic and their tower so miniscule that G-d had to figuratively “come down” to see it.
Divine humor is sometimes more than just satirical. Hashem’s laugh may tickle His funny bone, but for the Egyptians it was hardly amusing. Egypt’s magicians strutted about, imagining they controlled nature. The ten plagues which underscored their impotence, was Hashem’s snicker. Already by the third plague of lice, the necromancers gave up all pretense and admitted their helplessness. Thus the cultic priests who initially behaved as if…

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Hamotzi: All the Time

This week’s Biblical narrative opens at the low point of Moses’ mission. The messenger of G-d had requested that the Hebrew slaves be freed. Pharaoh’s response was to add oppressive measures. Soon enough, the Jews were complaining. Some were even wishing that Moses had never arrived.  Even Moses himself had his doubts.

A strong comeback was needed. No more Mr. Nice Guy. This time around, G-d sent Moses equipped with more than pleas, arming him with the heavy artillery of ten plagues. But those tidings were directed to the Pharaoh. For the disillusioned slaves, Hashem had Moses relay another message, one brimming with promise. “You will know that I am G-d your L-rd, the One who brings you out (hamotzi)...

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A Punishing Education

At first it seemed to be a confrontation between right and. might, with Moses representing the former and Pharaoh the latter. When the tyrant not only refused to liberate the Jews but responded by making it worse, it seemed that might would triumph. It was at that point, bondage’s blackest hour, that G-d turned the tables and displayed a little Divine might of His own. 

The commentaries point out that during the first five plagues, Egypt’s ruler was given the chance to willfully listen to G-d and release the Jews from slavery. However, starting with the sixth plague, G-d, in some measure, removed Pharaoh’s free will, as the verse succinctly states,  “G-d hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” Ostensibly, the reason for G-d’s…

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