Yitzchak
Toldos – Spiritual Power
Why does the Torah preface the story of Yakov (Jacob) and Esav with the statement that Abraham birthed Isaac? What is the significance of the fact that Isaac was forty years old when he got married? What is the spiritual power of the circumcision of Ishmael at age thirteen? What is the spiritual power of…
Read MoreVayetzei – Synthesis of Opposites
What is the significance of the contrast between Rebecca coming to Israel to marry Isaac, as opposed to Jacob going to Charan to marry Rachel and Leah? Why is it as ‘hard’ for Hashem to create matches between men and women as it is for Him to split the sea? Why did Jacob remove the…
Read MoreToldos – Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov
How do we see a reference to all three patriarchs in the first verse of the parsha? What does the midrash mean when it says that Avraham was saved from the fire in the merit of his grandson Jacob? What does the midrash mean when it says that all of the patriarchs were referred to…
Read MoreChayei Sarah – Developing Willingness
How does Eliezer, the servant of Avraham, overcome his internal struggle – the desire for his daughter to marry Yitzchak? How does he give himself completely to the task of finding a different girl for him? How does one overcome one’s natural desires, and find the willingness to align himself with a Higher Will? Find…
Read MoreToldos – Space for defiance
What is the connection between Isaac’s passivity in the face of the king of Gerar, and Yaakov’s running away from Esav after stealing the blessings? What is the concept of the ‘time of defiance?’ When is one to be passive in the face of judgments? What is the concept of ‘giving space for defiance?’ Find…
Read MoreVayera – Revealing God's plan
Why does Avraham’s meeting with the angels occur in conjunction with Pesach? Why does the destruction of Sodom occur concurrently? Why is Yitzchak born on Pesach? Why does the binding of Isaac occur on Pesach? Why does Lot’s conception with his daughters occur then, as well? Find out in this week’s Parsha Podcast. Running time:…
Read MoreChayei Sarah – passing the mantle
What is the connection between the death of Sarah and the marriage of Yitzchak and Rivka? What is the progression from the akeidah to the purchase of land in Chevron to their marriage? Why do our chazal seem to paint a picture of Rivka taking the place of Sarah? What is the deeper meaning of…
Read MoreFall of Yishmael
At the end of this week’s parsha, the Torah goes through the lineage of Yishmael, and ends off (in perek כה passuk יח) by saying “על פני כל אחיו נפל” – which literally translates as ‘He fell on the face of all of his brothers.’ The Ba’al Haturim points out the significance of the fact…
Read MoreVayera – Binding of Yitzchak
How is Avraham able to accept the challenge of sacrificing Yitzchak with such equanimity? Why does he challenge Hashem in regards to Sodom, but not in regards to the sacrifice of Yitzchak? What is the significance of the ram whose horns were caught in the thicket? Why was there now a blessing for the children…
Read MoreLech Lecha – Divine humor
Why is Yitzchak’s birth surrounded by so much laughter? Why is the letter ‘hei’ added to both Avraham and Sarah’s names before the conception of Yitzchak? Why is the circumcision a prerequisite for this supernatural birth? Why is it so important that the Jewish people begin in this supernatural and unusual way? Find out in…
Read More