ב"ה
Vayeira 5769 - November 14, 2008
Living
How to Be a Father
It’s the first dialogue there is between a father and his son in the Torah. It starts like this:
Isaac to Abraham: “My father?”
Abraham to Isaac: “Here I am, my son.”
It’s the first dialogue there is between a father and his son in the Torah. It starts like this:
Isaac to Abraham: “My father?”
Abraham to Isaac: “Here I am, my son.”
Presidential Coattails
By the millions, Obama motivated us to register to vote. Excited by the prospect of change that Obama is promising, many of the new voters, and many of the veterans too, voted straight Democratic...
By the millions, Obama motivated us to register to vote. Excited by the prospect of change that Obama is promising, many of the new voters, and many of the veterans too, voted straight Democratic...
Doesn’t Everyone Deserve the Chance to Have a Child?
"We were dealt a blow today," my wife said softly. "But I don't want to be angry at G‑d. As we enter the next chapter of our lives and we will not let bitterness or melancholy darken it."
"We were dealt a blow today," my wife said softly. "But I don't want to be angry at G‑d. As we enter the next chapter of our lives and we will not let bitterness or melancholy darken it."
It's Not About the Money—Really!
We can debate all day who the best second baseman is; what is objectively verifiable is who the highest paid player is. The math is very simple: I make more than you, hence I am more valuable than you!
We can debate all day who the best second baseman is; what is objectively verifiable is who the highest paid player is. The math is very simple: I make more than you, hence I am more valuable than you!
The Jewish Woman
The African Violet
After school, I would journey alone from a world defined by the future to a world that had no future. What would I say to Grandma? How could I tell her that I was making plans for later, for what I would be doing once she was no longer here?
After school, I would journey alone from a world defined by the future to a world that had no future. What would I say to Grandma? How could I tell her that I was making plans for later, for what I would be doing once she was no longer here?
Woman as Conqueror?
Fat and pregnant with maybe fifteen smaller versions of herself. It crosses my mind that these matriyoshki are a visual model for a secret of the universe...
Fat and pregnant with maybe fifteen smaller versions of herself. It crosses my mind that these matriyoshki are a visual model for a secret of the universe...
Parshah
The Parshah in a Nutshell
Abraham is visited by three angels and is promised a son. The city of Sodom is destroyed, and Lot’s wife turns into a pillar of salt. Sarah gives birth to Isaac at the age of 90, Hagar and Ishmael are banished, and G‑d orders Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Abraham is visited by three angels and is promised a son. The city of Sodom is destroyed, and Lot’s wife turns into a pillar of salt. Sarah gives birth to Isaac at the age of 90, Hagar and Ishmael are banished, and G‑d orders Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.
What Kind of G‑d Would Ask You to Sacrifice Your Son?
Skeptic: Now if that's not the epitome of everything wrong with religion... Believer: Aren't you leaving out a very important part of the story?
Skeptic: Now if that's not the epitome of everything wrong with religion... Believer: Aren't you leaving out a very important part of the story?
Sometimes the Greatest Gift is One You Don't Give
Receiving often has strings attached. Often, recompense in terms of gratitude and a feeling of indebtedness are expected. So is it wise to be on the receiving end?
Receiving often has strings attached. Often, recompense in terms of gratitude and a feeling of indebtedness are expected. So is it wise to be on the receiving end?
Humility is Teachability
Why did Abraham bother to coerce stubborn guests into reciting a prayer? What was the value of forcing his guests to pay lip service to a belief in G‑d; it was, after all, insincere?
Why did Abraham bother to coerce stubborn guests into reciting a prayer? What was the value of forcing his guests to pay lip service to a belief in G‑d; it was, after all, insincere?
And Abraham approached G‑d and said: “. . . It behooves You not to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked . . . Shall the Judge of all the earth not act justly?”
— Genesis 18:25
Print Magazine
There is only one thing that can put you further ahead than success, and that is surviving failure.
When you are successful, you are whole and complete. That is wonderful, but you cannot break out beyond your own universe.
When you fail, you are broken. You look at the pieces of yourself lying on the ground and say,...
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