The troubling question that has persisted throughout the ages of biblical commentary on this week’s parsha is: What is Yitzchak thinking in regard to giving the blessings and heritage of Avraham to Eisav? Basically the comments and explanations fall into two categories. One of them is that Yitzchak is fooled by Eisav and is really unaware of his true nature and wanton behavior. Rashi,... READ MORE →
היחס לעשיו השאלה המטרידה שמלווה את הפירוש לתורה לפרשת השבוע בכל הדורות היא כזאת: איזו חשיבה עומדת מאחורי ההחלטה של יצחק לתת לבנו עשיו את הברכות ואת המורשת של אברהם? התשובות ופירושים לשאלה זו מתחלקים לשני סוגים. לפי... READ MORE →
האמת היא ששרה אמנו, כרוב האמהות בעבר ובהווה בחיים היהודיים, לא קיבלה את המגיע לה. רש"י, שמצטט את המדרש בבואו לתאר את חייה של שרה אמנו, אומר שכל שנות חייה היו "לטובה". הוא ודאי מתכוון "לטובה" במובן הרוחני והקדוש, מפני שבחייה... READ MORE →
In truth, our mother Sarah, like many other mothers past and present in Jewish life, has not quite received her due. Rashi, quoting Midrash in describing Sarah’s life, states that all the years of Sarah’s life were “for good.” He must mean “for good” in a spiritual and holy sense, for in her physical worldly life there was little good that she experienced. Wandering over the Middle... READ MORE →
The story of the miraculous birth of Yitzchak to his ninety-year-old mother Sarah is not only one of the highlights of the parsha but it is one of the foundation narratives of all of Jewish history. Without Yitzchak there simply isn’t a Jewish people. The birth of Yitzchak is one of the triumphal moments of Jewish life, a reflection of God’s mercy and guidance in creating His special... READ MORE →
בפרשת השבוע התורה עוזבת את הסיפור הכללי של האנושות ומתחילה להתמקד בסיפור הפרטי של הקמת האומה היהודית. סיפורם של אברהם ושרה על כל הקשיים, האתגרים, הבדידות והחיפוש הרוחני הוא לבה של פרשת לך לך וגם של הפרשה הבאה. סיפור... READ MORE →
The Torah now proceeds from the general and universal story of humankind to concentrate on the particular and individual story of the founding of the Jewish people. The story of Avraham and Sarah, their difficulties and challenges, their loneliness and spiritual quest, form the essence of this parsha and the next one as well. In this life story they create the prototype for all later Jewish and... READ MORE →
I am not usually given to interpreting prophecy or dealing with messianic and/or apocalyptic visions. However, I have recently been reviewing the book of the prophet Yechezkel and could not help but think that many of the prophecies recorded in the middle section of the book are eerily similar to events that are occurring in our present day Middle Eastern part of the world. The prophet... READ MORE →
After the destruction of civilization in the great flood a new generation arose and searched for a way to immortalize itself – so that their existence would withstand any new natural disasters. They gathered in the Tigris-Euphrates valley and there built the great city that would be called Nineveh. And to guarantee that their achievements would be forever remembered, they embarked on building... READ MORE →
Because of the intricacies of the Jewish calendar, the end of the Torah – Zot Habracha – and the beginning of the Torah – Bereshith – follow each other in rapid succession this week. This is a timely reminder to us of the seamlessness of Torah – an understanding that will help us appreciate all of the Torah portions that we will hear and study in this new and blessed year. The... READ MORE →
