Avraham – Road to Zion

Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s Life) B’resheet/Genesis 23:1-25:18

Hayei Sarah(Sarah’s Life) B’resheet/Genesis 23:1-25:18

Haftorah Reading: I Kings 1:1-31

Tonight we read of two important events in this Torah portion. The first one deals with the purchase by Avraham, of a field and cave to bury his wife Sarah. The second subject deals with a mission to find a wife for his son Isaac. What is important here, and in other places in Torah, is the extent scripture goes to to give us the details of these two events. Usually when this happens scripture is alerting us to the fact that these events have something important to tell us. Remember the very word Torah speaks of teaching. These two occurrences here are in such detail to teach us an important lesson.

Vayera (He Appeared) B’resheet/Genesis18:1-22:24

Torah Portion: Vayera(He Appeared) B’resheet/Genesis18:1-22:24

Haftorah Reading: II Kings 4:1-37

This week we read a very challenging portion, In my question for the week I used the word challenge to frame the meeting between G-d and Avraham. My purpose was to get us all to consider those times when we have an encounter with the Father concerning some issue we may be facing. I got some good responses to my question and appreciate them very much.

Lekh L’Kha (Go to Yourself) B’resheet/Genesis12:1-17:27

Haftorah Reading: Isaiah 40:27-41:16

This week we read a portion that should speak to each of us in our spiritual walk. This portion starts in Genesis 12:1 with the word of G-d coming to Abraham telling him to, “Go to yourself.” Oddly, Avraham had already left his home of origin when his father Terah took his family, including Avraham, Sarah and Lot, from Ur of the Chaldeans and traveled to Haran. It is interesting that scripture points out that Terah was headed for Canaan but stopped in Haran and stayed there until his death. (Genesis 11:31-32) There is no mention of Terah hearing from G-d or that being a factor in his decision to leave Ur.

Hayai Sarah (Sarah’s life) B’resheet Gen 23-25

Torah Portion: Hayei Sarah (Sarah’s Life) B’resheet Genesis 23-25

HafTorah: I Kings 1:1-31

Tonight our Torah section covers the death of both Sarah and of Avraham. In it we will see the biblical description of how they both lived and died. I want us to look for clues about how they dealt with life and for clues that gives us an idea of what G-d requires of each of us in this world. Life is more than surviving it is how we enter each day and how we live those days. In our world, in fact also in the world of Avraham and Sarah, it is easier to just go along. It is easier to not make waves and lose ourselves in work or thinking only of our own lives.