Hi,

Hope you’re having a great day!

As we saw yesterday, Abraham was given a promise.

He’ll become a great nation that will change the world.

G-d even promises the Land of Israel to Abraham’s children.

Sounds like a great plan!

There’s only one problem.

Abraham and Sarah are old.

And how many children do they have?

None!

It’s not looking very good!

In desperation, Sarah comes up with a plan that Abraham marry her servant, Hagar.

Maybe Abraham would have a child with Hagar.

Abraham and Hagar have a child named Ishmael.

(More about Ishmael later).

… G-d tells Abraham that he and Sarah will have a child.

What is Abraham’s reaction?

He laughs!

“A hundred year old man?  And a ninety year old woman?” (Genesis, 17:17)

And when Sarah hears the news?

She laughs too!

It seemed like a joke.

… Finally the big day comes.

Sarah has a son!

And the baby is called Isaac.  In Hebrew, Yitzchak.

… It seems like such a strange story.

Why couldn’t Isaac be a typical baby?

Let Abraham and Sarah get married.

And a year or two later, “Mazal tov!  It’s a boy!”

Why wait until they’re too old to have a child?

… The first Jewish child was not typical. 

His birth defied the laws of nature.

Because that’s the story of the Jewish People!

Its whole history doesn’t really make sense.  There’s no explanation for it.

… Picture the Romans destroying Jerusalem in the year 70.

And you go over to a Roman soldier and tell him something.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back.

And the Romans will be in the museum!”

What would the Roman soldier do?

He wouldn’t bother doing anything to you.  He’d think you’re crazy.

And he would get a very good laugh!

… Isaac in Hebrew is Yitzchak.

And what does Yitzchak mean?

To laugh!

The first Jewish child reminds the Jewish People to never give up hope!

All the best,