Avraham - The Promised Land

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  1. The Covenant Between the Parts

    Rabbi Zeev Weitman

    What does Avraham mean when he asks "By what shall I know that I shall inherit it?" What is the significance of the actions of the covenant between the Parts? Is the enslavement in Egypt a divine decree, or a foretelling of the future to Avraham? And why do his descendants have to wait so long to inherit the land?

  2. From Lekh Lekha Me-artzekcha to Lekh Lekha El Ha-makom- A Dynasty Born of Faith

    Rabbi Reuven Taragin

    By closely examining Avraham's life story from Lekh Lekha until the Akeida we can notice that while Avraham's first tests challenged him to part with the past or present in light of his future; his last test forced him to part with that future as well. His willingness to complete the task proved him to be one singularly focused on the service of God and the glorification of His name.

  3. Ramban's Criticism of Avraham: Did Avraham Sin in Descending to Egypt?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  4. Why is Avraham Commanded to Continue What he had Started?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  5. Ramban vs. Ralbag: Escaping the Famine - Sin or Responsibility?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  6. Something from Nothing: Who is Avraham?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  7. Lekh Lekha - Go Forth and Make Changes

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  8. Go For You - For Your Benefit and Goodness

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  9. Avraham Standing Alone

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  10. Avraham's Mission

    Rabbi Shalom Berger

    We find a "correction" in Vayera of several problematic episodes in Lekh Lekha.

    The "atonement" is the acceptance that it is God who is in charge, and that it is God's promises and covenants that are eternal and are to be relied upon. God's promise of a permanent relationship with Avraham's descendants in the land that He promised can only be realized when Avraham (and his descendants) recognize their responsibility and obligation to His covenants.

    The blessings of the nations are dependent on Avraham and his descendants taking their rightful place in the world. Avraham must recognize his place and the place of his family in the land, and he must teach them of the covenants - the personal and national britot with God - through which God can keep His promises to Avraham's descendants; thus, he will offer blessings to all of the nations of the world.

  11. Lekh Lekha: Promptness vs. Pragmatism

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  12. Midrashic Canaan and Avraham's Response

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  13. Parshat HaShavua Vayera: Promises of Descendants and of Land

    Rabbi Dr. Avraham Walfish | 35 minutes

    In this shiur, we examine the structural parallels within Parashat Vayera and also in comparison to Lekh Lekha and Hayyei Sara (the parshiyyot juxtaposed  before and after ours). We discuss the interplay of various ideas and themes that come up, especially through the lens of God's promises of land and offspring to Avraham. 

  14. Ramban on Lekh Lekha: Fathers and Children - Maaseh Avot Siman LaBanim

    Rabbi Ezra Bick | 32 minutes

    In this week's shiur, we introduce and explore Ramban's interpretation of Chazal's comment that everything that happened in the stories of the Avot (forefathers), serve as a "siman" for the sons. What does "siman" mean? Ramban views this statement as saying that the actions of the forefathers affect future generations in a metaphysical way, such that future generations play out some aspect of the forefathers' actions and journeys, for better or for worse. But what about the Torah's concept that the "sins of the fathers shall not be visited on the sons"? Is there a real difference between punishments and "consequences"? 

  15. Ramban on Chayyei Sara: The Burial of Sarah in Eretz Yisrael - the Location of the Cave of Makhpela

    Rabbi Ezra Bick | 35 minutes

    In the story of Avraham buying the burial plot for Sarah in Hebron, why does one of the verses state that Hebron is located in the Land of Canaan?

    Ramban notes that some view this detail as emphasizing that the forefathers were buried in Eretz Yisrael - a place ofgreater kedusha than outside Israel. In Ramban's opinion, though, the Torah is not contrasting Canaan to "Chutz La'Aretz" (outside of the Land of Israel), but rather highlighting that Avraham was buying a plot in Canaan as opposed to the Land of Pelishtim. Avraham chooses a place that is in the hills -  the heartland of the future Land of Israel.

     

  16. Avraham's Purchase of the Cave of Makhpela: No Cutting Corners

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  17. Ramban on Vayeshev - "And Yaakov Settled as a Stranger"

    Rabbi Ezra Bick |

    This shiur focuses on Ramban’s comments on the first pasuk in the parasha. Though Esav settled in his inheritance, Yaakov lived as a stranger in the land, like his forefathers.  Avraham’s phrase is “Ger toshav” – foreign resident. Why does the text say this? What does it mean to be a “ger” in the land? And why is it important that this is so for Avraham and Yaakov?

  18. Morality, Justice and our Rights to the Land of Israel: Abraham

    Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper | Hour and 6 minutes

    Parashat Lekh Lekha seems to begin a series of stories that appear random in terms of their sequence and content. We find, however, that there is structure and purpose to these stories. What is Avraham's mission, and how do these stories cohere into a greater narrative that reflect Avraham's aspirations, missions, setbacks, success and enduring messages? How do the setbacks, too, impart messages about morality and the Land of Israel that continue to play out throughout the generations? 

  19. Avraham's Aliya, Our Aliya, and the Chagim

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 18 minutes

    We see from last week’s parsha that Avraham has picked up and headed for Canaan, even before receiving a commandment from God.

    This parasha is full of messages about belief, trust in God, and Aliyah -  in the midst of Avraham's immigration which is full of question marks.

    There is a commandment but also a pull toward Eretz Yisrael. For Avraham and for contemporary olim (immigrants), there is no initial promise that everything is going to work out - we have to wait for the next part of the parasha where God will give us the promise. The idea of hope during a time of many unknowns also relates to Rosh Hodesh, a time of optimism and looking forward to the middle of the month when the moon is in full view, and when many of our festivals are celebrated, symbolizing God's manifestation to Israel after periods of seeming obscurity - periods to cultivate optimism.

     

  20. Eretz Yisrael in Tanakh and Jewish Thought

    Rabbi Chaim Navon

    Does the Tanakh portray the Land of Israel as a homeland, or as a place of exile? What type of qualities are unique and special about the Land? Are the geographical and natural features a source of abundant blessing or of vulnerability and dependence upon God? What is meant by the various biblical descriptions of the Land as the place of the Divine Presence?  We examine the role of the Land of Israel throughout Tanakh, and explore perspectives of  midrashim and Jewish philosophers and scholars. Some of the responses may be surprising.

  21. Survival and Fulfilment: Thoughts on Yom HaAtzma'ut

    Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein

    Avraham's aliya began in the same way as did Herzl's Zionist movement.  His starting point is not the attraction and the vision of the land of Israel, but rather escape from Ur-Kasdim.  But while Avraham is in Haran, he is commanded "to do what he had intended to do, to go to the land of Canaan."

    The command of "Lekh Lekha" turns the framework of fate into a framework of destiny; it turns the place that was meant to serve as a place of refuge into God's inheritance.

    Yom HaAtzma’ut restores for us with full force and depth the consciousness that here, in God's inheritance, we can fulfill visions, but also exist; we can realize dreams but also live.

     

    Adapted by Yair Yaniv  and translated by David Strauss

  22. Parshat Lech-Lecha Part 1: Go Forth!

    Rabbi Alex Israel | 30 minutes

    Perek 12 begins the Avraham narratives with God’s commandment to relocate to Canaan, and continues with Avraham and Sara’s journey to Egypt. We learn of God’s promise to Avraham of land and offspring, and notice that this promise becomes compromised repeatedly throughout the narratives. 

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

  23. Ki Tavo: How to Take Your Place in Jewish History - Part 2

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    In this video, Rabbi Fohrman suggests that the pauses in the farmer’s speech are ways for him to show that he understands his place in the larger framework of Jewish history, and the promise that began back with our forefathers and came to fruition with him.

     

     
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  24. Lech Lecha: Covenant With God

    Rabbi David Fohrman |

    In this week's parsha, God and Abraham make a hugely important covenant, where God promises Abraham children and land, leading to the start of the Jewish nation. In this video, Rabbi Fohrman helps us understand what can we learn from a fascinating literary chiasm in the text surrounding this covenant.

     

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