Weekly Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 4

November 4, 2023; 20 Cheshvan, 5784

“And Hashem appeared to him (Avrohom) in the plains of Mamre.” (Bereishis 18:1)

Rashi mentions that the reason why Hashem revealed Himself to Avrohom in the plains of Mamre was because it was Mamre who gave Avrohom advice regarding Hashem’s commandment to circumcise himself and the members of his household. The Daas Z’kainim MiBaalei HaTosfos, addresses the question as to what advice Avrohom was seeking – Hashem commanded him to circumcise himself and his household. Would Avrohom be asking advice on whether he should comply with Hashem’s commandment? He answers that of course Avrohom would readily comply with Hashem’s commandment. The advice that he was seeking was how to convince his household to comply....

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 3

October 28, 2023; 13 Cheshvan, 5784

The Midrash in this week’s Parsha (Bereishis Rabbah 38:11) tells us of the confrontation between Avrohom Avinu and Nimrod, and Avrohom’s remarkable Mesiras Nefesh (self-sacrifice) as a young child.

“Nimrod said to him, ‘Let us worship fire!’ Avrohom responded to him, ‘Should we not then worship water, which extinguishes fire!’ Nimrod said, ‘Then let us worship water!’ Avrohom responded, ‘Should we not then worship clouds, which carry the water?’ Nimrod said, ‘Then let us worship clouds!’ Avrohom responded, ‘If so, should we not then worship wind, which scatters the clouds?’ Nimrod said, ‘Then, let us worship wind!’ Avrohom responded, ‘Should we not then worship human beings, who withstand the wind?’....

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Weekly Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 2

October 21, 2023; 6 Cheshvan, 5784

Parsha In this week’s Parsha, we find the Pasuk (11:1) introducing the incident of the Migdal Bavel (Tower of Babel) saying, “Now the entire earth was of [spoke] one language and [spoke] Devarim Achadim.” The simple translation of Dvarim Achadim is “uniform words.” However, the Midrash (Beraishis 38:3) translates it to mean that the people of the generation spoke against a “lone voice.”

Who was this loan voice that they spoke against? The Midrash states that it was Avrohom Avinu and his virtuous messages that they spoke against. They did this by making fun of Avrohom...

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