Parashat Ha Shavua Commentaries

Rather than speak directly about this week's parashah, I'd like to tell you something about each of my last two Shabbatot: Read more...

"Isaac favored Esau because he had a taste for game, but Rebekah favored Jacob." (Genesis 25:28)  Read more...

"And Sarah's life was a hundred and twenty and seven years; the years of Sarah's life" (Genesis 23:1) Read more...

So how did Abraham become Abraham? How did Sarah become Sarah? We know that both Abraham and Sarah were "human, all too human." Their faults are on prominent display in this week's Torah portion. Abraham hides behind Sarah when they go down to Gerar, in order to save himself. Sarah demands that Hagar, the maidservant, mother of Abraham's first child (at Sarah's behest), be banished-and Abraham acquiesces to Sarah's demand. As a result of the expulsion Hagar and Ishmael almost die. Finally, Abraham almost slays Isaac on the altar. Read more...

Like so many others this week, I was riveted to the television, watching the unfolding drama as thirty-three Chilean miners were freed after being trapped almost one half mile underground for sixty-nine days. The moment the first miner, Florencio Avalos, emerged from the rescue capsule amid tears and hugs from family members and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera, I joined them in tears. For more than 20 hours afterwards, I watched as much as I could and read accounts as the others were freed, my eyes filling with tears with each one. Read more...