Jewish tradition places great significance on names. With the addition of just one letter, at the age of 99, Abram becomes Abraham and his transformation to the father of many nations is confirmed. At ...

The Torah presents Abraham not as a spiritual giant chosen by default but as Everyman. He is not depicted as a polished hero with prior accomplishments but as an ordinary person. In this week’s Torah ...

Trying to explain away creation without fully comprehending the purpose of creation is a lesson in futility which ultimately ends in idolatry. Man, from the earliest generations to our present day has ...

This week’s Torah portion is Lech-Lecha: Genesis 12:1 – 17:27 Lech-Lecha, the divine command to Abraham in Genesis 12:1, is often translated as “Go forth.” But the Hebrew is richer and much more ...

One of the most important concepts in Genesis is the idea of brit (covenant). Covenant is a contract between God and people – in the portion of Lech Lecha, between God and the founders of the Jewish ...

From Yemenite Jews in Operation Magic Carpet to Soviet refuseniks, Ethiopian families, and Bnei Menashe from India, Isaiah’s vision has been realized in our own time. When God first spoke to Abraham, ...

Our guest this week is Rabbanit Alissa Thomas-Newborn of the B’nai David-Judea community in L.A. Rabbanit Thomas-Newborn is a graduate of Yeshivat Maharat and of Brandeis University. Rabbanit Alissa ...

While there is unanimity among Jewish religious thinkers that the primary covenant, Brit Sinai, took place at Sinai, there is disagreement about its precursor. In his Kol Dodi Dofek, Rabbi Yosef Dov ...

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In this week’s Torah portion, “Lech Lecha,” we learn about Abraham – arguably one of the most remarkable figures to ever walk this Earth. Living in an ancient, savage world of idol worship, he was the ...