This week's portion tells the story of Abraham's journey to the Land of Israel -- the starting point of the Jewish relationship with the Holy Land. This year, the reading coincides with a war to defend that land.
I'm sure that theme will be addressed in many synagogue sermons. I'd like to focus on another aspect, though: the fact that Abraham's father, Tahor, was actually told to go to Israel, before he was.
So why does Abraham get the credit? And why would he have to leave his father's house if his father was already moving in the right direction?
The answer is that Abraham added the spiritual element of the journey. Tahor brought his son and his family to the edge, the boundary, of what Israel was meant to be. But Abraham had to take that extra leap, and add a belief in the One true God to the equation.
Today's episode is devoted to the second anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks. It was produced before the announcement of a ceasefire deal, yet remains current & relevant.
Please listen, and #bringthemhome.
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This week's portion is a beautiful poem, containing the Covenant between God and the people of Israel. But given the breaking news that Hamas may actually have agreed to release all of the Israeli hostages, I will devote my remarks to that.
One hopes it is true; if so, it makes this week's additional reading, from II Samuel 22, even more relevant: David's song of praise to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of his enemies.
"18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support."
So much to focus on this week -- and much breaking news. A peace deal in the Middle East, perhaps? Eric Adams dropping out of the mayor's race? And a looming shutdown as Democrats push their demands beyond absurdity.
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