At seventy-five we find Avraham Avinu was offered a fresh start. He is commanded to embark on a journey, both physical and spiritual. The journey would become the most important journey in the history of our people. Every step of this journey was recorded and would be studied for eternity.
Why now?
The Rambam, Maimonides, wrote a book of Jewish Law. He wrote other books of philosophy and many letters which addressed the soaring needs of his time. But, Mishneh Torah is a Book of Law. He begins the section on the laws of ‘Idolatry’ or Avodas Kochavim, with a brief...
Abraham in his life time endured ten great challenges. He withstood them all. (Pirkei Avos 5) Abraham was not the first human being to be tested by G-d. Adam and Eve were also tested; but they were not able to stand up to God’s test. The generations following Adam...
So much happened in the life of Abraham that is not recorded in the Torah. The Midrashim are full of information about Avraham Avinu’s life. When the Torah begins to tell us about Abraham he is already at the advanced age of seventy five. Abraham already lived a full...
Were you ever called upon to walk into the unknown; to step into the wilderness for something you believe in? Were you ever asked to take a risk in order to benefit a much higher cause? Were you ever asked to resist the culture of the crowd when your heart tells you...
Abraham did not travel alone. Apart from his many followers, he had three companions: Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. When God commanded Abram (henceforth Abraham) to circumcise himself and his male household, he asked advice from these three friends in turn, as to whether he...
“Abraham was one, yet he inherited the land...” (Yechezkel 33; 24) ??? ??? ????? Abraham was alone, he was lonely, he was only one. He was alone in his fight against paganism; he was alone on his march of monotheism; and he was alone in his profound understanding of...
We know about giving up some of our personal comfort to help someone else. We know about giving up some of our spirituality to save a life or to help another human being live healthier. We even know about giving up personal comfort to help someone spiritually. But how...
The following drasha was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Lech Lecha 5747 (1986), and transcribed from memory by Jeffery Zucker. In this week's parsha we read that Abraham (or Abram), notwithstanding all his spiritual and material progress, was...
The following drasha was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Lech Lecha by Rabbi Yaacov Haber, and transcribed from memory by David Sher. This weeks Torah portion describes how Abraham performed the Mitzvah of Bris Milah on himself. Our sages list...
I'm going to give you Eretz Yisroel; it will be yours and your children’s. This is what G-d said to Abraham. G-d said this to Abraham in person; Abraham didn’t have to rely on Mesorah, transmission or old texts. Hashem said it to him and Abraham heard it. Abraham’s...
The following drasha was given at the Saranac Synagogue in Buffalo on Shabbat Lech Lecha 5749 (1988), and transcribed from memory by Jeffery Zucker. in today's parsha we read about Abram's travels. He did not travel alone. Apart from his many followers, he had three...
Noach spent 120 years building an ark, deliberately stretching it out so that people would ask questions, hear about the oncoming world crisis and repent. For one hundred and twenty years Noach prophesied the end of the world --yet not even one single Baal Teshuvah....
Today we review the story of Abraham, the founding father of Judaism. From what we know about Avrohom Avinu we can be very proud of our roots. Avrohom was a great philosopher. Avrohom was a great teacher. Avrohom was a man of unyielding principals - ready to give up...
When you journey inward you begin with the outside and you work your way in. Abraham was told to go on a journey to the unknown - "to the Land which I will show you." "Lech Lecho! - Go out from your country, from your birth place and from your father's house." The...
For one hundred and twenty years Noach prophesied the end of the world - yet not even one single Baal Teshuvah! Noach spent 120 years building an ark, deliberately stretching it out so that people would ask questions, hear about the oncoming world crisis and repent....