There are few feelings that leave us more challenged, hurt and insecure than the feeling we get from being ignored. Part of this may stem from our need to feel we have what to contribute. One … more

Avraham’s relationship with Hashem was unique among the avot. He was the only one whom the Almighty called both avdi (my servant) (Bereishit 26:24), and ohavi (my beloved friend) (Yeshayahu … more

Leaders lead. That does not mean they don’t follow, but what they follow is different from what most people follow. They don’t conform for the sake of conforming; they don’t do … more

Having a hero is part of natural human development. In childhood, these heroes are often movie stars and athletes. Many of us find our heroes among the people with whom we have daily contact, … more

When we examine the first verse of our parasha, “Va’yomer Hashem el Avram (And Hashem said to Avram), ‘Lech lecha (Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your … more

The King of Egypt discovers that the woman he brought into his chambers is married to Avraham. “What have you done to me?” he demands of Avraham. “Why didn’t you tell … more

The praise accorded to Noah is unparalleled in Tanach. He was, says the Torah, “a righteous man, perfect in his generations; Noah walked with G-d.” No such praise is given to Abraham … more

There are many words in the English language that originally had great power but were watered down over the years to the point of meaninglessness. One such word is “survivor.” Another … more

The penultimate verses of Parashat Bereishit present us with dire foreboding: And the L-rd saw that the evil of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of his heart was only evil all … more

Reading the story of the dispersion at the beginning of chapter 11, it is hard to see where the people went wrong. In the words of Targum Yonatan, they … more