In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Sarah dies, and Abraham purchases the cave of Machpelah, where he buries her. Abraham sends Eliezer, his servant, to find a wife for Isaac in the city of Nahor. Eliezer goes there with Abraham’s camels and bounty. He finds Rebekah, the daughter of Abraham’s nephew. He offers her gifts from Abraham, including a nose ring. Eliezer is hosted by Lavan, Rebekah’s father, and he tells them of his story and the story of Abraham. Rebekah agreed to go back to Abraham with Eliezer. She meets Isaac, and they fall in love.
After having a few more kids, Abraham dies, and is buried alongside Sarah in the cave of Machpelah by Isaac and Ishmael. Other biblical figures are eventually buried there as well.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Friday, November 15, 2019
D'var for Vayera
In this week’s parsha, Three strangers arrive at Abraham and Sarah’s tent, and Abraham welcomes them, provides food for them, and washes their feet. When one of the strangers tells Abraham that they will return in a year, and when they do so, Sarah will have a son. Upon hearing this, Sarah laughs, with both her and Abraham being as old as they are. God asks Abraham why she laughed, as there is nothing that God can’t do.
The next famous story in this Parsha is the story of Sodom and Gamorah, two very sinful cities that God intended to destroy. When God told Abraham what God was about to do, Abraham argued with God, asking if God would destroy the cities if there were innocent people there. God said that God would not destroy the cities if there were 50 good people living there. Abraham continues asking until the number decreased to ten good people, and God still backs off.
Abraham’s nephew Lot seemed to be the only good person in Sodom, so God sent angels to tell him and his family to leave, as God was about to destroy the city. They are told not to look back, but Lot’s wife does, and she turns into a pillar of salt.
Sarah gives birth to a son when Abraham is 100 years old. The son’s name is Isaac, which means “will laugh.” Sarah wanted Abraham’s line to continue through Isaac and not Ishmael. So, she told Abraham that she wanted to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham had to oblige, and sent Hagar and Ishmael out to die in the desert. An angel opened Hagar’s eyes to a well of water, and God helped her and Ishmael live on, and become a great nation of their own.
The next famous story in this parsha is that of the Akayda, the sacrificing of Isaac. God tells Abraham to go to Mount Moriah, where he will sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham goes with Isaac and two servants. Abraham tells the servants that he and Isaac will go up the mountain to pray, and will return. Isaac asks Abraham where the sheep is for the sacrifice that they will make. Abraham says that God will provide the sheep. He lays Isaac on the altar, and is about to kill him when God sends an angel to stop him, and a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place.
There is no question that the sacrifice of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom and Gamora are instances of God testing Abraham, however they seem to contradict each other. The story of Sodom and Gamora shows Abraham arguing with God, while the story of the Akayda shows Abraham blindly obeying God. We can actually learn two very important lessons from these stories about the role of Judaism. From the story of the Akaydah, despite how horrible it sounds, we can learn to trust that eventually, everything will be alright. After all, Abraham knew that God wouldn’t really want him to kill his only son through whom a people as numerous as the stars in the sky would begin. From the story of Sodom and Gamorah we can learn to notice injustice in the world and try our hardest to do something about it.
The next famous story in this Parsha is the story of Sodom and Gamorah, two very sinful cities that God intended to destroy. When God told Abraham what God was about to do, Abraham argued with God, asking if God would destroy the cities if there were innocent people there. God said that God would not destroy the cities if there were 50 good people living there. Abraham continues asking until the number decreased to ten good people, and God still backs off.
Abraham’s nephew Lot seemed to be the only good person in Sodom, so God sent angels to tell him and his family to leave, as God was about to destroy the city. They are told not to look back, but Lot’s wife does, and she turns into a pillar of salt.
Sarah gives birth to a son when Abraham is 100 years old. The son’s name is Isaac, which means “will laugh.” Sarah wanted Abraham’s line to continue through Isaac and not Ishmael. So, she told Abraham that she wanted to send Hagar and Ishmael away. Abraham had to oblige, and sent Hagar and Ishmael out to die in the desert. An angel opened Hagar’s eyes to a well of water, and God helped her and Ishmael live on, and become a great nation of their own.
The next famous story in this parsha is that of the Akayda, the sacrificing of Isaac. God tells Abraham to go to Mount Moriah, where he will sacrifice his son, Isaac. Abraham goes with Isaac and two servants. Abraham tells the servants that he and Isaac will go up the mountain to pray, and will return. Isaac asks Abraham where the sheep is for the sacrifice that they will make. Abraham says that God will provide the sheep. He lays Isaac on the altar, and is about to kill him when God sends an angel to stop him, and a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place.
There is no question that the sacrifice of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom and Gamora are instances of God testing Abraham, however they seem to contradict each other. The story of Sodom and Gamora shows Abraham arguing with God, while the story of the Akayda shows Abraham blindly obeying God. We can actually learn two very important lessons from these stories about the role of Judaism. From the story of the Akaydah, despite how horrible it sounds, we can learn to trust that eventually, everything will be alright. After all, Abraham knew that God wouldn’t really want him to kill his only son through whom a people as numerous as the stars in the sky would begin. From the story of Sodom and Gamorah we can learn to notice injustice in the world and try our hardest to do something about it.
Friday, November 8, 2019
D'var for Lech Lecha
In this week’s parsha, Judaism is born. God tells Avram and Sarai, “Lech Lecha,” or “go forth” from the land that they have known all of their lives, to a land that God will show them. If they do so, God will make them into a great nation as numerous as the stars in the sky. They arrive in Canaan, but almost immediately a famine arises, and they go to Egypt for food, and Abrah has to convince the Pharaoh that Sarai is his sister in to save his own life, as the Pharaoh is so entranced by Sarai’s beauty that he wants to marry her. Eventually, the Pharaoh finds out and sends them off with many gifts. A few other wacky adventures occur, and Avram and Sarai end up back in Canaan.
Seemingly in contrast to what God is telling them about the nation that their descendants will become, Avram and Sarai are old, and despite their best attempts, childless. Sarai tells Avram to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar. He does, but Sarai soon becomes jealous, and treats Hagar harshly, so Hagar runs away. When it seems that Hagar is likely to die in the wilderness, God sends an angel to instruct her to return to Avram and Sarai so that her child, who will be named Ishamel, will be born. Hagar does so. The sudden uprooting of the protagonists at the beginning of this parsha is accompanied by a change in their names as well, Avram to Abraham (father of multitudes), and Sarai to Sarah (princess).
Seemingly in contrast to what God is telling them about the nation that their descendants will become, Avram and Sarai are old, and despite their best attempts, childless. Sarai tells Avram to have a child with her maidservant, Hagar. He does, but Sarai soon becomes jealous, and treats Hagar harshly, so Hagar runs away. When it seems that Hagar is likely to die in the wilderness, God sends an angel to instruct her to return to Avram and Sarai so that her child, who will be named Ishamel, will be born. Hagar does so. The sudden uprooting of the protagonists at the beginning of this parsha is accompanied by a change in their names as well, Avram to Abraham (father of multitudes), and Sarai to Sarah (princess).
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