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5760
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This week let us try to understand the 'Akaida (tying up) of Yitzchak', which could possibly be the most important, and yet the strangest single occurrence in the entire Torah. |
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5761
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This week’s Torah section has three examples of Avraham’s devotion to the commandment of having guests "Hachnasat Orchim".
The section opens with Avraham, (after sitting for hours in the sun looking for guests, despite the pain of his recent circumcision) hosting three angels in the form of men. |
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5762
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This week's torah portion tells the strange and sordid story of Lot and his two daughters, how they escaped their wicked hometown Sodom and finally begot two illegitimate sons; Amon and Moav.
The Torah is not a history book. The word Torah means "teaching", and every word and idea has a purpose. What then, is the purpose of this story? What is it coming to tell us? And what connection does it have to this week's section? |
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5763
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This week we read of how Abraham, the father of Judaism, argued with G-d in a futile attempt to save the evil Sodom and Amora from heavenly retribution.
Does this make sense?
G-d had a good reason for destroying these cities; they were full of sadistic criminals. Why did Abraham want otherwise? |
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5764
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This week's section begins with G-d appearing (YaYera) to Abraham after he had circumcised himself.
When the fifth Rebbe of Lubavitch, Rabbi Shalom Dov-Ber (Nicknamed the Rebbe 'ReShaB') was some four years he old came home crying and asked his grandfather (who was the Lubavitch Rebbe at that time). "Why did G-d appear to Abraham and He doesn't appear to me?" |
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5765
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This week we read about 'The Akaida'; literally 'the Binding' (Abraham bound his son Isaac in order to sacrifice him).
Most of us know this story, but we probably didn't pay much attention to Abraham's donkey. |
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5766
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This week we continue to live with Abraham, the father of Judaism. in an action-packed portion.
One of the most bizarre episodes here is how G-d annihilates an evil cluster of cities called "Sadom and Amora" through an Angel. But equally as strange; before sending the Angel He says to Himself.... |
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5767
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This week's Torah portion opens as G-d appears to comfort Patriarch Abraham just three days after he circumcised himself at the age of 99.
But strangely, instead of being incapacitated by pain and discomfort as would be befitting a 99 year old freshly circumcised man, when he saw three guests approaching his tent Abraham actually 'left G-d' and ran to meet them!! |
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5768
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This week's portion begins with three angels coming to visit Abraham as he is recovering from his painful circumcision at the age of ninety nine (!).
The reason there were three is that one came to heal him and to save his nephew Lot from Sodom, the second came to inform his wife Sarah that she would give birth to a son (Yitzchak) and the third came to destroy Sodom and the evil cities surrounding it. |
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5769
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This week we read the long and rather complicated episode of Abraham bargaining and trying to convince G-d not to eradicate the inhabitants of an evil five city complex called Sodom and Amora. |
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5770
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This week's Torah portion ends with the story of the Akaida ('tying up') of Yitzchak by his father Avraham. Surprisingly this weird story of attempted murder instigated by 'a heavenly voice' is the basis of Judaism! |
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