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Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Vayera
Hashem says He will destroy Sodom, & Avraham pleads for Sodom to be spared; but, after intense negotiations with G-d, not even 10 righteous people can be found there. Lot, his wife & 2 daughters are rescued just before Sodom burns. Lot's wife looks back & turns into a pillar of salt. Lot's daughters fear the world is ending. They get their father drunk & through them, Moav & Ammon are born.
Avimelech abducts Sara. G-d appears to Avimelech in a dream & he releases Sara. As promised, a son Yitzchak is born to Sara & Avraham; his brit is on the 8th day. Sara tells Avraham to banish Hagar & Yishmael. Avraham is upset but Hashem tells him to listen to whatever Sara tells him. After nearly dying in the desert, Yishmael is rescued by an angel & G-d promises he'll be the progenitor of a mighty nation.
In a 10th & final test, G-d tells Avraham to take Yitzchak as an offering. Avraham does, but at the last moment, Hashem sends an angel to stop Avraham from killing Yitzchak.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
