Love and Marriage

Falling in love with someone is a bad reason to get married, but upon what should a marriage be based? The story of Isaac and Rebekah holds the secret.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Chayei Sarah (חיי שרה | Sarah's life)

Torah: Genesis 23:1-25:18

Haftarah: 1 Kings 1:1-31

Gospel: John 4:3-14

Blessed is HaShem, G-d of my master, Avraham

(Genesis 24:27)

Marcheshvan 24, 5779/November 2, 2018

Chayei Sara, (The Life of Sara), this week's Torah reading, opens and closes with two of the most seminal and formative life events, not only for Avraham, Sara and Yitzchak, but for the entire nation of Israel, throughout all the generations. These are the death of Sara and her burial in the cave of Machpelah, purchased by Avraham from Ephron the Hittite, and, at parasha'send, the marriage of Yitzchak to Rivkah. These two events are unrivaled in their significance for the children of Avraham and Sara. They define who we are to this very day. Yet by far, the vast majority of the verses which make up Chayei Sara are dedicated to a man whose name is not mentioned once in the parasha; a man who is not a son of Avraham and who does not share in the inheritance of Avraham.

Abraham's Great Test

Life is full of tests, but tests are easier to pass when you already know the answers. Abraham knew the answers before he took the test.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Vayera (וירא | He appeared)

Torah: Genesis 18:1-22:24

Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37

Gospel: Luke 17:28-37

The Place

(Genesis 22:4)

Marcheshvan 17, 5779/October 26, 2018

This week's Torah reading, Vayera, comes to a close with the final and most dramatic of Avraham's ten trials, the binding of Yitzchak, known in Hebrew as the akeidah. When G-d commanded Avraham, "Take your son, your only one, whom you love, yea, Yitzchak, and go away to the land of Moriah and bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you,"(Genesis 22:2) didn't G-d know that he was asking the impossible of Avraham? The very son that G-d promised Avraham, repeatedly telling Avraham to be patient, for Sara would indeed give birth to a son, G-d is now asking Avrahamto make an offering of? The very son who G-d promised Avraham would be the beginning of a great nation which would span the generations to the end of time, G-d is now telling Avraham to slaughter as an offering leaving not a single descendent to carry on the line? What was G-d thinking?

Abraham's Great Reward

Life will place us in situations where we stand to make a profit by sacrificing our principles. The person who refuses to compromise his values may lose out financially, but his ultimate reward is God Himself.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Lech Lecha (לך לך | Go forth)

Torah: Genesis 12:1-17:27

Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

Gospel: John 8:51-58

Go forth!

(Genesis 12:1)

Marcheshvan 10, 5779/October 19, 2018

"Lech lecha - Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) These are the very first words that G-d says to Avraham (still known as Avram). Lech lecha - go forth, but also, literally, go for yourself, go to yourself, pursue your true self, or as Shakespeare worded it, "To thine own self be true."

Left Behind

Afraid of being "left behind" when the rapture comes? Study the story of Noah and find out why you might prefer to be left behind after all.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

Noach (נח | Noah)

Torah: Genesis 6:9-11:32

Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5

Gospel: Luke 17:20-27

And G-d remembered Noach

(Genesis 8:1)

Marcheshvan 3, 5779/October 12, 2018

The Torah reading of Noach opens as a long dark cloud descends upon all of creation. Gravely disappointed by the downward moral turn that man has taken, G-d has declared of the sons and daughters of the crown of His creation, that "I regret that I made them," (Genesis 6:7) and has set out to destroy all living things, save for Noach and his family, and the animals that Noach is instructed to lead onto the Ark that G-d has commanded him to make. Noach follows G-d's instructions precisely and soon finds himself, his wife and sons, and their wives, and the animals that he brought aboard, adrift upon an angry sea in a ceaselessly raging rainstorm. G-d's oral communication with Noach ended the day that the rains began, and for one hundred and fifty days Noach has heard nothing but the pounding rain upon the deck of the ark, the roar of the waves which rock the ark, and, of course, the ceaseless sounds of the animals on board. But not a word from G-d. The waters rose to fifteen cubits above the earth and the sun was hidden behind thick rain clouds. Din and darkness defined G-d's world.

The Day that is Entirely Sabbath

The weekly Sabbath celebrates the coming of the Messiah. The Sabbath offers a weekly foretaste of the era of peace and rest when Messiah will rule the earth.

THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:

B'reisheet (בראשית | In the beginning)

Torah: Genesis 1:1-6:8

Haftarah: Isaiah 42:5-43:10

Gospel: John 1:1-17

In the beginning

(Genesis 1:1)

Tishrei 26, 5779/October 5, 2018

"In the beginning... " A lot of things happened in six days. Between "chaos and void" to "be fruitful and multiply," an entire world came into being.

"In the beginning," or to be more true to the exact Hebrew grammar employed, "In the beginning of... " In the beginning of what, we are not told.

Did Eve Come from Adam’s “Rib”?

By Dr. Nicholas J. Schaser, Professor of Hebrew Bible

Most English translations of Genesis 2:21-22 read, “The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up flesh in its place. And the rib that the Lord God took from the man he built into a woman.”