Parsha Vayera
Last week our Parsha ended with Avram becoming Avraham and having along with Yishmael a Bris Milah. Avraham is promised that at this time next year he will return and will have a son Yitzchak. Like the Gan Eden Story and others, the general case is mentioned and then the detailed case follows. Now we get the full story of the short introduction last week. We are given details why the name Yitzchak. Avraham rejoiced but Sarah laughed.
I don’t like repeating myself and try to bring down new angles every year on how to view the Parsha but certain things like the 51 years of Zoar vs. the 52 years of Sodom are what makes the difference between destruction and saved by the merit of Avraham-Lot.
So how do I come up with new interpretations? Rabbi Y. Frand Shlita @ Torah.org copywrite writes: Things Do Not Occur at Random
Parshas Vayera contains the Pasuk, “I will fetch a morsel of bread that you may sustain yourselves, then go on, inasmuch as you have passed your servant’s way. They said, ‘Do so, just as you have said.'” [Beresheis 18:5] One of the amazing things about Chumash is that you can learn the Parshas Ha Shavua for sixty, seventy, or eighty years, or you can read the same Pasuk over and over again hundreds of times, and then you read it once more and you say to yourself: “I never thought of this question!” Chumash study is as deep as the ocean.
In this Pasuk Avraham tells the Angels, “Okay, eat something, for that is why you have passed your servant’s way.” Rashi comments: “I make this request of you after you have passed my way.” It seems like Avraham is saying, “Since you came, I am asking you to do this” (eat something). What does this mean? Why not just offer them food? And what do the Malachim say? “Do as you have said.” – You know what? – Give us food!
Have you ever invited someone for Shabbos lunch—or any meal for that matter—and received such a reaction? You tell them – “Why don’t you stop by my house and have a meal?” And they respond, “You are right. I should have a meal by you!” That is in effect what the Angels are saying here. What is this dialog all about?
18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him by the terebinths of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day; 2 and he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth,
The Midrash states that Avraham was talking to the Shechina and breaks off to make a Kiddush HASHEM. The reason was that the day was so hot in that HASHEM did not want to bother Avraham with guests during his recovery but it seems that Avraham was more bothered by not being able to make non-believers bless G-D.
3 and said: 'My lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant. 4 Let now a little water be fetched, and wash your feet, and recline yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and stay ye your heart; after that ye shall pass on; forasmuch as ye are come to your servant.' And they said: 'So do, as thou hast said.'
He promised little and delivered a lot. He said a morsel of bread. Bread usually meant course whole wheat bread. However, he gives farina quality fine grained bread that is more cake like in nature aka a Challah or Cake q uality.
6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said: 'Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.'
Cakes with the finest flour is not bread. Promises made more than promises kept.
7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto the servant; and he hastened to dress it.
The Midrash says actually three calves for their tongues. Each Angel got over 1kg of tongue to eat.
8 And he took curd, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
First the three ‘men’ were given butter with their cakes and milk while the tongue cooked.
9 And they said unto him: 'Where is Sarah thy wife?' And he said: 'Behold, in the tent.' 10 And He said: 'I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.' And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him.-- 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, and well stricken in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.—
This is incredulous that a woman already 89 with menopause would suddenly be able to give birth.
12 And Sarah laughed within herself, saying: 'After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'
I am old and Avraham has gotten to the age where for most men even Viagra does not help.
13 And the LORD said unto Abraham: 'Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying: Shall I of a surety bear a child, who am old?
For Shalom Beis, they hid from Avraham the fact that she said my man is old.
14 Is anything too hard for the LORD. At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.'
Do you see the sundial marking? At this time next year, Sarah will have a son!
15 Then Sarah denied, saying: 'I laughed not'; for she was afraid. And He said: 'Nay; but thou didst laugh.'
Sarah became afraid as she realized that the ‘men’ could read her thoughts from a distance and had special powers and it scared her.
16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked out toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.
Avraham, the warrior who had defeated kings, wanted to make sure their journey was a safe one.
17 And the LORD said: 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing; 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.' 20 And the LORD said: 'Verily, the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and, verily, their sin is exceeding grievous. 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto Me; and if not, I will know.' 22 And the men turned from thence, and went toward Sodom; but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 23 And Abraham drew near, and said: 'Wilt Thou indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Avraham believe that G-D not only had justice but also mercy.
24 Peradventure there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep away and not forgive the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from Thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked, that so the righteous should be as the wicked; that be far from Thee; shall not the Judge of all the earth do justly?' 26 And the LORD said: 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will forgive all the place for their sake.'
Unlike Adam, Methushalah and Noach, Avraham is advanced enough to plead even for the wicked city of Sodom.
27 And Abraham answered and said: 'Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD, who am but dust and ashes. 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous; wilt Thou destroy all the city for lack of five?' …32 And he said: 'Oh, let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak yet but this once. Peradventure ten shall be found there.' And He said: 'I will not destroy it for the ten's sake.' 33 And the LORD went His way, as soon as He had left off speaking to Abraham; and Abraham returned unto his place.
Avraham released that if there wasn’t a Minyan of G-D fearing men, the city was not worth saving. [It should be noted in the Torah that a city is defined as having 10 people who are doing nothing but learning Torah. Thus Chashmonayim, Kiriat Sefer are large cities and Singapore, Jakarta, Rawalpindi, Jedi, etc. are not even for consideration to be called a city.]
19:1 And the two angels came to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom; and Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them; and he fell down on his face to the earth;
After they revealed themselves to Avraham as Angels; they no longer were disguised as idol worshippers. So he immediately recognized them for what they were and feared the wicked of Sodom.
2 and he said: 'Behold now, my lords, turn aside, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your way.' And they said: 'Nay; but we will abide in the broad place all night.'
They wanted to witness the people themselves.
3 And he urged them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
Why Matzos? Yitzchak was to be born on Pesach and for seven nights via prophecy Avram later Avraham and family observed unleavened bread.
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both young and old, all the people from every quarter. 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him: 'Where are the men that came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.' 6 And Lot went out unto them to the door, and shut the door after him. 7 And he said: 'I pray you, my brethren, do not so wickedly. 8 Behold now, I have two daughters that have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes; only unto these men do nothing; forasmuch as they are come under the shadow of my roof.'
It is a custom of the Arabs to defend the guests in their homes unto this day. But why his virgin daughters? For it seems that the place had made him lose some of his moral deaccession.
9 And they said: 'Stand back.' And they said: 'This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs play the judge; now will we deal worse with thee, than with them.' And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and drew near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and the door they shut. 11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great; so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
The Angels were capable of protecting themselves by blinding their pursuers and they protected hapless but good hearted Lot.
12 And the men said unto Lot: 'Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whomsoever thou hast in the city; bring them out of the place; 13 for we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.' 14 And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said: 'Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy the city.' But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that jested.
They thought that he was out of his mind.
15 And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying: 'Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters that are here; lest thou be swept away in the iniquity of the city.' 16 But he lingered; and the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him. And they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
He hesitated to leave the place but they physically had to push him as they had no permission to carry the destruction until Lot was safe and sound.
17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said: 'Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be swept away.' 18 And Lot said unto them: 'Oh, not so, my lord;
The Hebrew Na is used. The Tower of Bavel was when Avraham was 48
or in 1996. It was now just before or the beginning of 2048 when Yitzchak was
born. Sodom was 52 years old and more sins. Zoar was per the Gematria of Nun
Aleph of Na or 51. Having one less year of sins and the request of Lot, saved
the small town.
19 behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shown unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest the evil overtake me, and I die.
Both his logic and faith were off. If the Angels came to save him and then destroy the city, they would take care of his safety. The truth is that the steep Aliyah to Arad from Zoar is a strenuous journey even by car it takes up to 15 minutes unless the road is empty. By donkey until one is behind rocks or a mountain blocking would take some time. Essentially, the Angels had that time to save him but his request, he succeeded in saving Zoar that consisted of not many houses and caves.
20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one; oh, let me escape thither--is it not a little one?--and my soul shall live.' 21 And he said unto him: 'See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow the city of which thou hast spoken. 22 Hasten thou, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou come thither.'--Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
The destroying Angel probably Gavriel admits that he cannot do anything until Lot is secured.
23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot came unto Zoar.
The sun began rising over the Jordanian Mountains as Lot fled. This is assuming that what is called Zoar on the Israeli side of the Dead Sea is what was then. Chances are that both Sodom, Amorah and Zoar were on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. Although there are ruins between Ein Gedi and the hotels that could be what is left of Sodom.
24 Then the LORD caused to rain upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Lot and his daughters took shelter in a house or cave while the destruction was going on and his wife went outside and from the destruction and the winds of salt that blew at high speeds, she was turned into a pillar of salt.
Question: Why was Lot’s wife turned to salt (Genesis 19:26), of all things?
Answer: According to the Midrash (Beresheis Rabbah on that verse), as soon as the 3 (I hope this is a typo as the Medrash states that one healed Avraham = Rafael and 2 continued to Sodom) Angels entered Lot’s house, his wife left the house and went around to all the neighbors asking if she could borrow salt for her guests who had just arrived – her intention was to alert the people of Sodom as to the presence of these new ‘intruders’ – this then led to the gang of people attacking Lot’s house in an attempt to abduct the 3 (2) travelers (it was against the laws of Sodom to invite travelers into one’s home). Thus, states the Midrash, Lot’s wife was turned into salt because she sinned by asking for salt – all punishments, according the Torah, are measure for measure – absolutely appropriate.
Yours sincerely,
Rabbi Ari Lobel - copywrite @
Torah.org
25 and He overthrow those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. 26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Something like the people who used to watch Saddam’s rockets as they were north of us until one hit an Arab area close by us and then even these people ran to the shelter. In her case she did not get to the shelter in time and if the explosion was atomic in nature it happened at tremendous speed.
27 And Abraham got up early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the LORD. 28 And he looked out toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the Plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace.
He might have seen from the Chevron area a bright mushroom cloud of smoke rising.
29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the Plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot dwelt.
As much as Lot was a monotheist and his father, Haran, died on a Kiddush HASHEM, it was only because of the merit of Avraham that he was saved. For G-D did not want to bring such sorrow upon Avraham.
30 And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar; and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 And the first-born said unto the younger: 'Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth.
OK Lot is not a youngster and your father. Why not great uncle Avraham or cousin Yishmael? It seems that the education of Sodom had its effect upon them.
32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.' 33 And they made their father drink wine that night. And the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
He had to have been completely drunk that he was almost unconscious and must have dreamed of his wife.
34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger: 'Behold, I lay yesternight with my father. Let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.' 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose, and lay with him; and he knew not when she lay down, nor when she arose.
This is a problem when somebody loses his business, wife and perhaps animals.
36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father. 37 And the first-born bore a son, and called his name Moab--the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.
She was brazen and called him Moav or from father.
38 And the younger, she also bore a son, and called his name Ben-ammi--the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
She was more modest and called him “son of my nation”.
20:1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the land of the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur; and he sojourned in Gerar. 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife: 'She is my sister.' And Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream of the night, and said to him: 'Behold, thou shalt die, because of the woman whom thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.'
It was like a general seeing Saddam Hussein eying his wife, he would say to Saddam you see this wife. I am divorcing her today. So he lived.
4 Now Abimelech had not come near her; and he said: 'LORD, wilt Thou slay even a righteous nation? 5 Said he not himself unto me: She is my sister? and she, even she herself said: He is my brother. In the simplicity of my heart and the innocence of my hands have I done this.' 6 And God said unto him in the dream: 'Yea, I know that in the simplicity of thy heart thou hast done this, and I also withheld thee from sinning against Me. Therefore, suffered I thee not to touch her.
Avimelech did not take her by courtship but by power, but here he feigns that he was acting properly within his laws as she was considered a sister and not a wife.
7 Now therefore restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.' 8 And Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears; and the men were sore afraid. 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him: 'What hast thou done unto us? and wherein have I sinned against thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.' 10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham: 'What did you see, that thou hast done this thing?'
Why did you say such a thing that she is your sister so we would not think her has your wife? For she was a first cousin.
11 And Abraham said: 'Because I thought: Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
I saw that there was absolutely no fear of G-D in this place.
12 And moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and so she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her: This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me: He is my brother.'
Although she is his sister, he probably did not have first-cousin in his vernacular.
14 And Abimelech took sheep and oxen, and men-servants and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said: 'Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleases thee.'
He was sore afraid of the prophet Avraham for his ALL MIGHTY G-D.
16 And unto Sarah he said: 'Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver; behold, it is for thee a covering of the eyes to all that are with thee; and before all men thou art righted.' 17 And Abraham prayed unto God; and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-servants; and they bore children. 18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
Avraham prayed for the Plishtim Women that they shall give birth and by praying for others, he helped Sarah with his prayer.
21:1 And the LORD remembered Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as He had spoken. 2 And Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac.
A number of reasons for the name Yitzchak. It was foretold at the end of Lech Lecha and the beginning of this Parsha. Mainly the name was because of the laughter of Sarah when the Angels foretold of the conception and birth.
4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5 And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 6 And Sarah said: 'God hath made laughter for me; every one that hears will laugh on account of me.'
She changed around the original story and make it into a Simcha Story for the name.
7 And she said: 'Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should give children suck? for I have borne him a son in his old age.'
This was prophecy for the day of weaning.
8 And the child grew, and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.
She gave suck to other infants on the day Yitzchak was weaned. This proved that she was the mother and not via a surrogate.
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne unto Abraham, making sport.
Sarah noticed Yishmael making fun of and playing a fool of Yitzchak who was 14 years his junior. This wild ass of a man was playing around with his innocence. The same could be say for the wicked Esav. However, Esav did show respect for his father but pretended to be a Talmud Chacham when he really was a Rasha (wicked).
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham: 'Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.'
Just as Rivka requested that Yacov use cunningness to fight Esav regarding the Bracha so too Sarah saw the behavior as a problem both as a bad educational influence and a horrible example of a brother getting away with things.
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight on account of his son.
Avraham loved Yishmael and Yitzchak loved Esav and both were torn between the bad character son and the good spiritual inheriting son.
12 And God said unto Abraham: 'Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah says unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall seed be called to thee.
Your inheritor for the spiritual leader of the generation will be Yitzchak and unto him, I will give the land I promised you.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.'
I will make Yishmael a nation for your sake.
14 And Abraham arose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away; and she departed, and strayed in the wilderness of Beersheva.
I believe that he gave her enough supplies to go with Yishmael back to the place of her birth in Mitzrayim. However, she did love Avraham and therefore hung around Beersheva as her supplies dwindled and she did nothing to replenish them.
15 And the water in the bottle was spent, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow-shot; for she said: 'Let me not look upon the death of the child.' And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept.
Did she pray? Did she say, “G-D of my husband, Avraham, you promised to make my son a nation for his sake and now he is dying of thrust please save him.”?
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her: 'What ails thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
She needed an Angelic intervention.
18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him fast by thy hand; for I will make him a great nation.' 19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
There is a story that I heard from somebody at Bar Ilan University 49 years ago. There was a fellow who got lost in the desert below Beer Sheva and ran out of water (or a group or a couple) he/they prayed and they found a well and drank. According to the path and the search party that found them, there was no well there. Did they happen upon the well of Hagar’s prayer that saved Yishmael?
20 And God was with the lad, and he grew; and he dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. 21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran; and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
She took a wife for him from her people as Avraham and Sarah took a wife for Yitzchak from Haran.
22 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol the captain of his host spoke unto Abraham, saying: 'God is with thee in all that thou do.
…27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and they two made a covenant. 28 And Abraham set seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham: 'What mean these seven ewe-lambs which thou hast set by themselves?'
The town of Beer Sheva is named as such because of this well of the swearing or well of the oath. But the pronunciation of the word for swearing or oath is similar to the number seven when somebody does not emphasize the word for swearing. Here we have 7 lambs so I find that interesting.
30 And he said: 'Verily, these seven ewe-lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that it may be a witness unto me, that I have dug this well.' 31 Wherefore that place was called Beersheba; because there they swore both of them.
…34 And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines many days.
22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did prove Abraham, and said unto him: 'Abraham'; and he said: 'Here am I.'
This is the 10th and final test of Avraham.
2 And He said: 'Take now thy son,
Which son Avraham thinks has he has two.
thine only son,
Yishmael is the only son of Hagar. Yitzchak is the only son of Sarah.
whom thou love,
Avraham thinks: I love them both!
even Isaac,
Now it is clear that from HASHEM’s stand point that Yitzchak is the only son.
and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.'
Moriah consists of seven hills around the city of Yerushalayim but the one chosen is not the tallest but Har HaBeis.
3 And Abraham rose early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he cleaved the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men: 'Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship, and come back to you.'
He asked them what they saw. They said a mountain. He and Yitzchak saw the Shechina and clouds of honor and glory of HASHEM. So he said to his wild ass son, Yishmael. Stay here with the donkey which is your kind and the same for his slave-servant Eliezer although some commentaries say it was the Satan instead of Eliezer.
…10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said: 'Abraham, Abraham.' And he said: 'Here am I.'
There is even a commentary that says he did slay Yitzchak. The Pshat says that Yitzchak was saved in the last split second.
12 And he said: 'Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for now I know that thou art a God-fearing man, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from Me.' 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Adonai-Yireh; (G-D fearing) as it is said to this day: 'In the mount where the LORD is seen.' 15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: 'By Myself have I sworn, says the LORD, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, 17 that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast hearkened to My voice.' 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheva.
The above section was for the blessing of Yitzchak and Avraham passing the tenth test. Below, all the names below are only important in announcing the birth of Rivka. We do come across one of the names in the book of Iyob but otherwise they are of little importance to us as a people.
20 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying: 'Behold, Milcah, she also hath borne children unto thy brother Nahor: 21 Uz his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram; 22 and Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.' 23 And Bethuel begot Rebekah; these eight did Milcah bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she also bore Tebah, and Gaham, and Tahash, and Maacah.
Laser Vision from Jem via Rabbi Tilles
http://ascentofsafed.com/Stories/Stories/5781/pdf/s1193RebbeLasers_JEM.pdf
After the Six Day War, in 1967, my wife and I decided to move from the United States to Israel with our young family. Before the move, I went over on a pilot trip and was granted a job interview at the Israeli Ministry of Defense. After they conducted a lengthy investigation I was hired, to my great joy. I went to work for the Ministry of Defense using my skills as a Harvard-educated lawyer to negotiate contracts for the purchase of defense equipment including submarines.
After three years of doing this, I got a better offer; I went to my boss, the general counsel of the Ministry of Defense, Joseph Ciechanover, and told him about my plan. His response to me was, “Did you ask the Rebbe about this?”
I almost fell off my chair. Here was a man who was not religious, sitting in front of me without a yarmulke, and he was telling me to ask the Lubavitcher Rebbe! He went on to explain, “There are a number of us who have worked for the Ministry of the Defense for a long time and we also want to leave, but the Rebbe won’t let us.”
I didn’t know what to make of his statement at first, and only later did I figure it out. This was in April of 1973, six months before the devastating Yom Kippur War. The Rebbe obviously anticipated that something ominous was on the horizon. A departure of key personnel in the Ministry of Defense at such a time would have been disastrous. They consulted the Rebbe – as apparently was the practice of certain Israeli government officials – and they followed his advice. As for myself, since I was not yet a chasid, I didn’t ask the Rebbe; I simply left and took the better paying job, as general counsel at Etz Lavud, a big Israeli company then selling mostly wood and plywood.
While at Etz Lavud, I came across a difficult personal issue, involving Yosef Kremerman. He was the company’s CEO as well as one of the principal shareholders, and my boss. Being a former member of the Irgun (the forerunner of the Israel Defense Forces), he had signed guarantees for monies paid out to the widows of Irgun fighters, and that put a tremendous amount of financial pressure on him. I saw that this situation was affecting the company, and I was actually considering leaving. I really didn’t know what to do, so I consulted my uncle, Rabbi Leibel Kramer, who said, “This kind of question you ask the Rebbe.”
He asked on my behalf and quickly came back with an unbelievable response. The Rebbe had said, “Since this is something which is dependent on the situation in Israel – when you will need to make this decision, you should consult with a friend who understands the matter. I will pray for you at the resting place of my father-in-law, the Previous Rebbe.”
The Rebbe’s response influenced me to stay. I understood him to be telling me that quitting was something far in the future and that when I must eventually leave, it should be done with the advice of a friend.
As it turned out, a year or so later, in 1977, Menachem Begin became prime minister and took over the obligation of supporting the widows of Irgun fighters; this relieved Kremerman of his financial burden and the pressure on the company.
Then there came a time, some years later, when I had to decide if I should stay at Etz Lavud or join Laser Industries, a start-up subsidiary working on developing a medical laser. And that is when I remembered the Rebbe’s advice and consulted “a friend who understands the matter.” The advice I got was that the future was with Laser Industries, and I followed this advice, which proved to be completely correct. The company became highly successful. It is now known as Lumenis Ltd. and is a recognized leader in the hi-tech medical field. From the stock options, I was able to marry off most of my children.
After seven years, I changed jobs again. This was in 1987, when I met Professor Herman Branover, the scientist and famed refusnik, who told me that the Rebbe was predicting a huge influx of Russian immigrants into Israel. At the time, Russian Jews were virtual prisoners of the Soviet Union and nobody could imagine such a thing. But Professor Branover believed the Rebbe, who knew better.
The Rebbe also apparently knew that when the exodus of Russian Jews would begin, there would be many highly-educated, scientifically-oriented immigrants who would need a place to incubate their ideas, inventions, and innovations. And so, on the Rebbe’s advice, Professor Branover set up SATEC (Shamir Advanced Technology Engineering Company), one of the first science-based incubator companies in Israel, for Russian Jewish scientists who would soon be coming out.
People still don’t realize how much new technology in Israel and worldwide is the result of the Russian aliyah. But in my opinion, the Rebbe understood that it would happen before it happened.
SATEC, which I assisted Professor Branover in founding, was developing products such as heating elements and power meters. I went to see the Rebbe while he was giving out dollars for charity to ask him for a blessing for SATEC to succeed. He responded, “Minoga Hatzlachah! – Great Success!” using the Russian word for “great” and the Hebrew word for “success.” And, indeed, SATEC has become a success.
In 1978, my wife and I were fortunate to have a personal audience with the Rebbe, which I remember vividly. The audience lasted five minutes but it was life-changing. I recall that his office was a simple, small room, but at the time it seemed to me enormous, and I was keenly aware of the Rebbe’s dominating presence.
During that audience, the Rebbe said to me, “You are a lawyer and lawyers are used to making compromises. But you should always show the world that Torah is truth and that Torah is life.” He used the words Torat emmet and Torat chaim.
This was a message that I have carried with me ever since. It was clear to me that the Rebbe did his best to infuse people like me who were involved in hi-tech industries with the desire to bring Torah into their workplaces because he understood that hi-tech would be the future of Israel. The country wouldn’t be exporting oranges as much as start-ups. And we have all seen that. Israel is the leading hi-tech innovator in the world (except for the United States). There’s no other country that does anything like it with a population of only 8.5 million people. So it’s obvious to me that Israel has been especially blessed in this regard, and I do believe that the Rebbe has had a hand in that blessing.
Israel has no significant natural resources – except for gas, but that is in a relatively early stage of development – and so all it has besides agriculture is Jewish brains. What do Jewish brains do best in the modern world? Hi-tech. There is no question in my mind that the Rebbe anticipated that.
While the Rebbe did not live in Israel physically, he lived in Israel spiritually. And he understood everything that was going on and what was best for the country.
These are the reasons why I became a chasid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. And I consider myself such to this day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from a mailing of "JEM - Here's My Story” (JEmedia.org), as part of their extraordinary “My Encounter with the Rebbe” project, documenting the life of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson of righteous memory, in one of the 1000+ videotaped interviews conducted to date. [Mr. Shimshon Halpern is a Harvard-educated attorney who presently resides in Karnei Shomron, Israel, where he was interviewed in March, 2010.]
Connection: Weekly Reading of Noach (building the 'Tower of Bavel', the world's first skyscraper, was a significant techical-logistical achievement) Biographical note: Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe ד''נ] :11 Nissan 5662 - 3 Tammuz 5754 (April 1902 – June 1994 C.E.)], became the seventh Rebbe of the Chabad dynasty after his father-in-law’s passing on 10 Shvat 5710 (1950 C.E.). He is widely acknowledged as the greatest Jewish leader of the second half of the 20th century. Although a dominant scholar in both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah and fluent in many languages and scientific subjects, the Rebbe is best known for his extraordinary love and concern for every Jew on the planet. His emissaries around the globe dedicated to strengthening Judaism number in the thousands. Hundreds of volumes of his teachings have been printed, as well as dozens of English renditions.
5714 - 1953, the Rebbe paid a visit to the Satmar Rebbe to comfort him on the loss of his daughter. For an hour and fifteen minutes they discussed various Jewish customs, including those related to mourning and saying Kaddish, as well as concepts of Kabbalah. Before the Rebbe left, many of the people who were present came over to meet him. 18 Cheshvan
5720 - 1959, the Rebbe wrote a letter to someone who had moved to Israel, and at the same time, began to suffer from health and family difficulties. He explained that whenever someone immigrates to a new country, they must acclimate to the new way of life. Thus, after moving to the Holy Land, one must increase their observance of Torah and mitzvot. 18 Cheshvan
The Rebbe on US Elections. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8x8nTUrDUU&feature=youtu.be#utm_source=domain&utm_medium=domain&utm_campaign=c1email.org
I always thought we had a good marriage but these days we are constantly getting on each other’s nerves. https://www.aish.com/ci/de/Covid-19-Is-Wreaking-Havoc-on-My-Marriage.html?s=shl
Dear Emuna
I’m surprised you haven’t received more letters from desperate COVID shut-ins – not just the elderly but parents of small children and married couples whose relationships are at risk. I fall into the last category. I always thought we had a good marriage but these days we are constantly getting on each other’s nerves. Almost everything he says and does irritates me and when he suggests we go out together to get a break from the claustrophobia of our living situation, I feel like running the other way! I don’t want to go with him; I want to go out without him!
This certainly isn’t the relationship I wish to have. How can we make our way back to the good old days?
Healthy but still a COVID Victim.
Dear Victim,
In this case, you are only a victim if you allow yourself to be one. You get to choose who you want to be in your relationship and how you wish to respond to the current challenges.
You express a desire to make your way back to the good old days. I don’t think that’s a realistic goal. In life, we never want to go backwards, we always want to go forwards. You can’t erase the past 8 months (much as many of us would like to try) – it’s with us to stay – the good, the bad and the ugly. And hopefully the growth as well.
These are definitely difficult times but you and your husband have allowed the times to control you and it sounds like you have fallen into some bad habits. It’s time to take back the reins and work on new and better behavior patterns. You won’t go back to what was but hopefully you will go forward to something better.
Begin with prayer: tell the Almighty that you want your marriage to improve and ask Him to give you the strength, the wisdom, the insight and the patience required to accomplish that.
After laying that foundation, it’s appropriate to implement some practical tools. Every time you are tempted to criticize your spouse, find something positive to say instead. Depending on how often you are tempted to criticize, this could be a serious challenge! But the results will be amazing. You will totally change the tenor of your conversations and your husband will go from feeling diminished and belittled to feeling loved, praised and appreciated.
If you only do this, the change will be dramatic. Every time he does something annoying, think of one of his positive qualities. Remind yourself why you married him.
These are basic strategies for success in marriage at any time. But we aren’t living in “any time”. We are living in a world with unique, new challenges and it’s up to us to rise to the occasion.
While I certainly know of many people who have been brought low by the challenges inherent in this pandemic, I also know of many others who have risen to the occasion, who have used the opportunity to deepen their relationships and to better develop their spiritual lives. Even in the face of the coronavirus, there are opportunities for growth and for pleasure in the company of others particularly our spouses.
Some couples have found this enforced time together to be something wonderful they never anticipated. I think if you sincerely adhere to the suggestions above, you may go from being one of the most negatively impacted couples to most of COVID’s true success stories.
My two cents. Both the lady and her husband are in a situation like a married retired couple. Each need their space. Where is Rabbi Pauli most of the day? Rabbi Pauli is busy writing his Blogspot, managing learning that consists of the Daf Yomi on tape and Shulchan Aruch (Hilchos Shabbos and Yeah Deah with Rabbi Mimran), a slight role in educating Menashe depending on if he is in the Yeshiva or not and making a small breakfast or super after warming up a dinner kit. Some shopping and when the gym is open spots. Rebbitzen Pauli does not have many minutes free. She takes care of her elderly mother, quite ill brother, Menashe, the wash, 93% or more of the cleaning and some shopping that the Rabbi misses out on.
Also the both of us try to take a walk together if my legs are in shape for it. Each walk is about a half an hour sometimes daily and consists of a heart to heart talk. That is perhaps the most important thing. Also helpful is a word on a phone call just like the song, “I just called to say I love you.” Sometimes like in or around the Beis Medrash I will not be romantic but will say, “Don’t forget the most important thing [I love you]!”
Milestone: Sean Connery, 90, first James Bond. https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/sean-connery-james-bond-dead-90-report
Inyanay Diyoma
Seal time 6 rescues hostage in Nigeria. https://www.foxnews.com/world/american-hostage-rescued-west-africa-seal-team-6-daring-raid
New woman in Kim’s life? https://www.foxnews.com/world/kim-jong-uns-mystery-woman-sparks-debate-as-sister-wife-remain-missing
Dead people registered by fraudster in Broward. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/florida-dead-voters-2020-election
Georgia Democrat slams Biden. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-black-vote-democrat-vernon-jones-agenda-election-biden-obama
Fishman Gaza Power Plan. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rJtDYbvOw
Lockdowns forcing Charedi boys out on the streets. https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/SJOPjI4uP
Iran upgrades facilities. https://www.debka.com/satellite-photos-show-new-construction-at-iranian-nuclear-site/
Powerful 7.0 quake hits Turkey/Greece. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290199
Magen David offers quake help. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290200
Dr. Mordechai Kedar if Biden wins: https://www.makorrishon.co.il/opinion/276883/
Finally, serious Corona cases drop below 400. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rk2R4CjdD
Iran/Hezballah want 2nd front in the Golan. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1CPFl1OD
Dominican Republic may move Embassy. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290202
Off script Trump jokes about Laura Ingram wearing a PC mask. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290211
Biden crosses the red line w/Hitler Ad. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290212
The unintended consequences of Netanyahu Indictment only 22% of Israelis believe that judges don’t take bribes. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290212
UK new Covid Lockdown. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290233
Clinical trials start on Israeli vaccine. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290249
Leo Durocher once said to Bobby Thompson “It ain’t over until it is over!” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290254
Schools reopen in Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290246
Priest attacked in Lyon, France. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290238
Prayer in Chevron for Trump Success. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290260
France slams Turkish Imperialism. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290262
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Engine and Pilot error causes COS plane to make emergency landing. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290276
Corona Cases Drop to less than 10,000 active cases. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1nv7O3uv
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Police beat and taser man for mask. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/B1sK2Qndw
National Guard deployed in Phila. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290291
Rabbis appeal to Pres. To pardon Jewish Comedian who had evidence withheld and was pruderies against him. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290280
2 more arrested in Nice Attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290317
Fake News again about Trump. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290311
IDF demolishes house of terrorist. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290309
Prince William had Covid. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290315
Toronto antisemitic establishment. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290316
Terrorist: Trump is good for Jews & Arabs. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290292
Bus company fined for nixing short shorts. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290287
Anonymous source of NYT revealed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290287
60% chance of riots in USA. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290365
Yigal Amir requests to go to son’s Bar Mitzvah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290358
Vienna Terror attack gunmen still at large. https://www.debka.com/three-killed-in-vienna-terror-attack-by-isis-followers/
Yigal Amir request denied. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290379
Europe new lockdowns. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290385
Netanyahu cannot appoint judges. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Byly00ApOP
Ethiopian Jews demand answers. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SkNfawnuD
Record number of voters predicted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290423
Beware of ransom attack. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290421
Tucker’s documents were found but don’t dismiss. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290421
Mark Levin the Media ignores Biden’s senility. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290425
UFC fighter will not be intimidated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290420
WATCH WHERE THE FAR LEFT IS TAKING YOU! Oregon to vote on decriminalizing hard drugs. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290353
China building a wall to prevent escaping refugees. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290377
MI Jewish Cemetery vandalized. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290409
Charedi Community is a punching bag. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290375
FL Holocaust denier fired a second time. https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/11/02/florida-principal-in-holocaust-denial-scandal-fired-again-by-school-board-following-protests/
France bans Turkish neo-fascist group. https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/11/02/french-jews-praise-interior-ministers-ban-on-violent-turkish-neo-fascist-group/
Gaza drone found in field. https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/11/02/suspected-gaza-drone-found-in-southern-israel-field/
Charedi threat over Corona fine. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SyCOQMyYP
ME waits for outcome of US Elections. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkqTicAuw
ISIS attacked Vienna. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290468
Headstones smashed in Moldova and Hungary. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290463
AOC and the Squad reelected FL Republican Flips. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gop-flips-florida-congressional-seat-speaks-to-dem-struggles-in-southern-tip-of-state
Ed-Op Bederman USA sins of the fathers. https://dianebederman.com/restitution-reparations-and-sins-of-the-fathers/
Laurie Loomer loses in heavily Democratic Area. It would be like me running against Debbie Wasserman Schultz. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290496
Ganz furious wants polygraph test. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290445
Isolated American Jews. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290441
PLO Captain opens fire on IDF=Shachid. https://www.timesofisrael.com/pa-security-officer-opens-fire-on-idf-troops-is-shot-dead-army-says/
First real rains bring flooding. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/BkZdPketv#autoplay
Ed-Op Yemeni No matter who wins, America has lost! https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Skvu2HpdP
Democrats fail to take the Senate and lose some ground in the House. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/S1WlRkgKD
Malawi to open Yerushalayim Embassy. https://www.timesofisrael.com/malawi-vows-to-open-embassy-in-jerusalem-by-next-summer/
Weak enforcement against Arabs. https://www.timesofisrael.com/over-12000-pack-onto-temple-mount-for-friday-prayers-with-little-enforcement/
Eliyahu raised one dead man, Elisha two and the Democrats raised many as a man dead since 1984 voted in MI. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290595
Stealing votes in Phoenix. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HkY00q11bYv
NYT blames the terror victim. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290572
Woman spits in police face. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290594
Jew murdered in LA heist. https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/featured/1916507/breaking-los-angeles-jewish-man-murdered-in-jewelry-robbery-gone-bad.html
Was the election stolen? I do not know but it was prone to fraud. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YkB3Q4Ah-I
If Biden wins, declare sovereignty. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290605
2/3rds of the US voters country in wrong dir. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290553
There are places where 4in of rain fell. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HkB9LmZKv#autoplay
Ed-Op Ben Yishai: Trumpism is here to stay. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/HkUsCglFD
Armenian Official likens Israel to Nazis and vows vengeance. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkfuijWKw
Sewage pollutes the Tel Aviv Beach. https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/rye800cWFD
Politician with a big mouth sparks an investigation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290624
Third wave of Covid might be in store if we open too fast. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290628
USPS worker given orders in MI to retro date ballots. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290617
Use Security Cameras to see if people put on masks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290613
Defense Sec. may offer letter of resignation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290650
8 detained after Vienna has records. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290657
If Biden wins, for at least two years he cannot institute his tax plan so I did not dump my stocks. https://www.ynetnews.com/article/H1NbmuxtD
Trump gained 30.5% of total Jewish Vote but 43% in FL thanks to the Israelis campaigning for him. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290575
Arabs destroy sheep enclosures in Shomron. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/290629
Wishing everybody a peaceful Shabbos Rest and good health,
Rachamim Pauli
