Introduction to Torah Study I. Life is for pleasure Tell your class: “It is a principle of Jewish understanding that G-d created us because He wanted to give us pleasure. Illustration: When you have children you’ll see, or if you already have children you know that all
Read more →This week’s parsha begins with G-d appearing to Avraham on the 3rd day after his circumcision. Read Genesis (Breishis) Ch. 18:1-16. Why was Avraham sitting at the entrance of his tent in “the heat of the day”, three days after he had been circumcised?See source 1 (Rashi’s
Read more →Breishit 18 The Destruction of Sodom : Kindness and Anti-Kindness (Ch 19) Ask: What was the sin of Sodom that was so bad that they deserved to be destroyed? After reading the story of Sodom’s destruction, people will generally answer that their sin was sexual perversion. The word
Read more →Abraham prays for Sodom Questions G-d says: (18:17) “Can I cover this up from Abraham?” Why tell Abraham about the destruction? Abraham argues with G-d about the destruction. Firstly, how can you argue with G-d who is all knowing and completely just?Secondly, why argue for Sodom? It
Read more →Breishit 15 Avraham and Circumcision: Why the Jews Part 2 Ask: Did you have your son circumcised? (or, when you do have children, do you plan to have your son circumcised?) Most people will answer yes. Ask: Why? (Very few people will have a worked out answer) There are some very
Read more →After Avraham and his entourage returned from their ordeal in Egypt, a dispute developed between Avraham’s sheperds and those of his nephew, Lot. Chazal tell us that Lot’s shepherds were allowing their flocks to graze on other people’s lands whilst Avraham’s shepherds would rebuke them for their
Read more →“There was a famine in the land, and Abram descended to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land.[2]” The Parsha begins with Hashem instructing Avraham Avinu to uproot his whole life, leave his nation, society, and family, and go on a journey to
Read more →Avraham has gone through a difficult experience in Egypt. When he leaves Egypt, though, he has become a wealthy man, and G-d’s first promise to him is fulfilled. Now he has to deal with another problem-his nephew Lot. 1-When Avraham returns to Canaan, he goes back to
Read more →Based on Rav Noah Weinberg This week’s Torah portion focuses on Abraham, our forefather. Jewish tradition says that Abraham was the epitome of greatness, and from him we learn vital lessons to help us as we guide our own lives. Let us examine why. “G-d said to
Read more →The Parsha starts out, G-d says to Avram you should go from your land, and from your birth place and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. Then is goes on to promise Avram great things…Who is he? What did he do?
Read more →Topics covered in this class: The influence of society Greatness is measured in consistency. Trusting G-d. You never lose, never. The root of Anti-Semitism. The higher motivation. The influence of society. The classical question: In the first verse, the Torah describes where Avram must leave from with
Read more →In this week’s Torah portion we are not only introduced to the first Jew, Avraham, but to a much lesser-known fellow, his nephew, Lot. He is a bit player, but an important one nevertheless. He accompanies Avraham to Israel when he is told to leave his land,
Read more →“And Hashem said to Avraham, go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you, And I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be
Read more →Author: Rabbi Raphael Shore Discussion Question: Is an 17 year old German in 1942 morally responsible for choosing to become a member of the Hitler Youth? Introduction to Who Abraham Was Give them an introduction to what they are about to read, including the following elements: Abraham
Read more →12:2 There’s a difficulty in Rashi’s explanation that travel on the road causes one to lose his fame and renown. In what way would Avraham, who said Anochi Afar Vi’Afer, be concerned about this? The other explanation that Rashi brings that Hashem was promising to make him a great nation takes care of this problem. Hashem was promising Avraham that
Read more →Author: Rabbi Boruch Leff (Based on the teachings of Rav Yaakov Weinberg zt’l) What’s the Big Nisayon? Rav Yaakov Weinberg zt”l pointed out that we see that the “nisayon” (challenge) of “Lech Lecha Me’artzecha” is so powerful it produces the first 3 aspects in the Shmoneh Esrai-the
Read more →Intro: In the physical world that G-d created, children acquire their parents’ genetic material. Looks, age, longevity and other factors are programmed into us as a mixture of our parents. Our spiritual makeup is also affected by our parents and ancestors. We inherit spiritual potential from our ancestors
Read more →