Hope you had a great holiday. …Sarah. Abraham’s wife. The first matriarch of the Jewish People. She passes away in the city of Hebron. (Genesis, 23) … Sometimes we say about someone, “They will live on…” And special people are remembered for generations. But then there’s someone like Sarah. Who achieves what very few others […]

Hi, Hope you’re having a great day. Are you ready for a shocker? Here it goes. The “Ten Commandments” is not a Jewish idea! Are you still there? I’m referring to the name. In Hebrew it’s called Aseret Hadibrot.  The Ten Utterances. It’s the commandments, out of hundreds, that we heard straight from G-d. The […]

Here’s one last thought about the Akeida. A small detail that can be overlooked. Abraham passed this most difficult test. In Jewish tradition it’s the ultimate spiritual act. Showing that he follows G-d no matter what. And he’s told “… Now I know that you are a G-d fearing man. Since you have done this thing, […]

Thank G-d!  The Akeida has a happy ending! You may remember it from Hebrew School. Or maybe you couldn’t wait and you finished the story! At the last minute G-d tells Abraham to stop. (Genesis 22, 10-13) “You passed the test.  Now I know that you fear G-d! And that’s all I ever wanted.” … […]

Hi, … It’s one of the most famous stories in the Torah. And one of the most difficult. The Akeida.  The “Binding of Isaac”. We could spend weeks on it.  Full time.  Not just a minute a day! But here are some thoughts. G-d commands Abraham to bring his son Isaac as an offering. G-d […]

Hi, We’re about to start one of the most fundamental and challenging stories in the Torah. Abraham is tested.  Challenged. The story of the Akedah.  The “Binding of Isaac”. (Genesis, 22) Abraham is told to bring his son Isaac as an offering to G-d. Before we get to the story, a few words about challenges […]

Hi, Mazal Tov! It’s a boy! Isaac is born to Abraham and Sarah. (Genesis, 21:1) Isaac represents the Jewish future. … Earlier, Abraham had married Sarah’s servant Hagar. And they had a son, Ishmael. But G-d had told Abraham that Sarah will have a child. And that the Jewish People will come from Isaac. … […]

Hi, Here’s a follow up to yesterday’s Torah Minute. And it takes place in Vienna in 1927. Sigmund Freud writes the following. “Civilization has little to fear from educated people… In them replacement of religious motives for civilized behavior, by other, secular motives, would proceed unobtrusively.” Not quiet what the Rabbi said in Berlin! Picture […]

Hi, Here’s a fascinating story that took place in Berlin. It was before anyone could dream of what would happen in Germany. One of the greatest Torah scholars of Eastern Europe was visiting Berlin. And was invited to speak at a yeshiva. The Rabbi spoke to the rabbinical students in Berlin about today’s story. … […]

Hi, Sorry about the suspense! What’s the end of the Lot and Sodom story? We left off with Lot’s home being surrounded by the “people of Sodom.” … Then G-d intervenes. The people are struck with a form of blindness.  And they leave. (Genesis, 19:11-16) … It turns out, that these guests were really angels, […]