MAMDANI TO RAIN TO LECH-L'CHA

For someone who grew up in NYC with some 30 years of obviously Jewish mayors like Abe Beame, Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg, the possibility of a proudly Islamic & anti-Israel Mamdani (who vows to arrest Israel's Prime Minister if he steps into NY), filling their shoes is a nightmarish reality. This is directly connected with last week's parshat Noach, this week's Lech L'cha, and the beginning of asking for rain in Eretz Yisrael.

How Can a Philosopher Become a Kabbalist?

Parashat Hashavua: The Journey … from Charan to Mt. Moriah and Beyond

What Motivated Avraham's Kindness?

Parashat Hashavua: The Challenge of Moving

A Famine in the Land – What’s the Point?

Lech Lecha

On Being a Jewish Parent

Patriarch on the Move

The Nature of the Land of Israel

"The Sfat Emet (the saintly Gerrer Rebbe) explains that G-d did not immediately reveal to Avraham the location of Eretz Yisrael because 'that itself is an aspect of Eretz Yisrael.' That is, in order to reach the Land in which we can "see G-d's face" (see Ex. 34,23) and cleave to Him – one has to walk, one has to go. One must 'go out of himself,' out of his earthiness; he must leave his father's home and all of his material possessions, and nullify himself totally before G-d. The idea is to leave oneself, lekh lekha, and instead, 'go to the land that I will show you.' We are always in search of some kind of permanence in this world – but the truth is that we are temporary..."

How to Find Eretz Yisrael?

The Torah does not tell us how Avraham (then, Avram) knew where to go: north, south, east, or west?

The Aliya Test

Looking at a Rashi commentary on this week's Torah reading Lekh Lekha to reveal greater truth behind every single Aliyah story.

A Conversation with Hasham

We recognize that in many ways our father Abraham is an innovator. we find that our father Abraham is also the first human being recorded as having a normal conversation with his Creator.

How perfect were the matriarchs and patriarchs?

In an extraordinary series of observations on this week’s parsha, Ramban delivers harsh criticisms of Abraham and Sarah. What is deeply interesting about Ramban’s approach is his willingness to point out flaws in their behaviour.

The Chosen

Why God will never abandon the Jewish People.

Lech Lecha

Pay Now - or Pay Later

Changing a Name

The Seudah of a Bris

Who Were the Tower Builders? – part II