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We will try to chart a course between the extreme positions above. We have explained that the patriarchs were not just heads of a family but were "political" heads of a large constituency of many thousands. Avraham’s followers converted to belief in monotheism. He negotiated and interacted on high levels with local kings and superpowers and led his followers to victory in battle over major armies.
Throughout Tanach, the following assumption appears in the background of stories. Marriage between monarchal families was used to forge ties between kingdoms. The more powerful side often took the daughter of the weaker king. This is behind Shlomo’s marrying of Paroh’s daughter and the midrash that Avraham’s servant/concubine, Hagar, was Paroh’s daughter. (See also Daniel 11:6.)
Avraham referred to Sarah as achoti, which usually means a biological sister. However, we find that an achot can refer to a more intimate male-female relationship (see Shir Hashirim 4:10). Some scholars have claimed that Sarah’s transition from Avraham’s wife to his achot indicates a divorce of sorts. (The Mishneh Halachot (VI, 263) independently cites from the Gaon of Ostravska that Avraham had indeed formally divorced Sarah so as not to cause her and Paroh to violate adultery.)
Avraham was forced by famine to bring his group to Egypt and to capitulate to Paroh regarding the terms of their stay. Paroh demanded to be able to take one of the women in his entourage as a wife, and as Avraham feared that he might take Sarah, he formally divorced her and made her an achot. That is why the difficult midrash (Tanchuma, Bechukotai 3) said that she was elevated in status when she was taken by Paroh to be a wife. At the end, miracles forced Paroh to admit that Avraham was the more prominent leader, as the teacher of monotheism, and gave over his daughter to be a servant in his household (Bereishit Rabba 45).
Let us pray that the world will understand that the real dominion is Hashem’s and all will want to attach themselves to His Kingdom.
Rabbis in Midrash
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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.
