God's promises to Avraham

Found 12 Search results

  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. Super-blessed

    Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz

  3. Avraham - The Man of Spirituality and Worldliness

    Rabbi Aharon Lichtenstein

  4. Like Stars or Like Dust - Blessing or Warning?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  5. Those Who Curse Avraham

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  6. The Forefathers and the Akeida: Visions of the Future

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  7. Midrashic Canaan and Avraham's Response

    Rabbi David Silverberg

  8. Lekh Lekha: Sequencing Avraham's Prophecies

    Rabbi David Silverberg

    תאריך פרסום: 2006 | | 35 minutes

    In the Covenant Between the Parts, God tells Avraham that his descendants will be oppressed and enslaved in a foreign land for 400 years. In Shemot, however, the Torah relates that Bnei Yisrael were in Egypt for 430 years! How can we account for this discrepancy? Rashi and other commentators offer explanations, and also provide different readings of the sequencing of Avraham's journeys and prophecies.

  9. 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. 

  10. The Phantom Servant

    Rabbi Yoseif Bloch

  11. 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? 

  12. 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.