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We all know the story of Abraham and the binding of Isaac – the Akeidah, as it's known in Hebrew. But what about Isaac? Was he just a passive participant in this earth-shattering m...
It might sound surprising, but the ancient Rabbis certainly thought so! The Midrash, specifically Bereshit Rabbah 59, delves into a fascinating interpretation of Psalm 45:3, "You a...
The story of Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, gives us a powerful glimpse. In Genesis 24:12, we find Eliezer on a crucial mission: to find a wife for Isaac. He prays, "Lord, God of my m...
We pick up with Rebecca, about to leave her family to marry Isaac. Genesis 24:59 tells us, “They sent Rebecca their sister, and her nursemaid, and Abraham’s servant, and his men.” ...
The Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is so concise, that every word, every phrase, even a name, can hold layers of meaning. Take Ketura, for example. Who was she, r...
This story, found in Bereshit Rabbah 61, takes us right into the middle of just such a scene. The verse that sparks this whole episode is from Genesis 25:6: "But to the sons of the...
The Torah, and later rabbinic texts, offer some fascinating, and comforting, glimpses. Let’s start with Abraham. Genesis 25:7 tells us, "These are the days of the years of Abraham’...
We begin with a simple verse from Genesis 25:19: "This is the legacy of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot Isaac." Seemingly straightforward. But the Rabbis of the Midrash, those ...
It’s a beautiful, cyclical relationship, one that Jewish tradition explores in fascinating ways. Bereshit Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Book of Ge...
