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In one verse, this week’s Torah portion reminds us of the great significance the Jewish tradition places on names: “And you shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham for I make you the father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:5) Read more...

Do we have to cross-over to inherit "Heaven" or "Hell"? Is it possible to experience either of them while still in one's lifetime? How did Moshe navigate his continuous movement between the realms of reality between which he continuously vacillated? How can you be a leader of people when you are also defined as "Ish Elokim" – a man of God, a spouse to God? Read more...

Genesis 17 9) God said further to Abraham, "As for you, you and your offspring to come throughout the ages shall keep my covenant. 10) Such shall be the covenant between Me and you and your offspring to follow which you shall keep: every male among you shall be circumcised. 11) You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be the sign of the Covenant between Me and you. 12) And throughout the generations, every male among you shall be circumcised at the age of eight days… Read more...

But Abram said, "O Lord God, what can You give me, seeing that I shall die childless... Since You have granted me no offspring, my steward will be my heir." (Genesis 15:2-3)   Read more...

I love Jewish books. I attribute this to my fourth grade Hebrew School teacher who regularly banished me to the synagogue library. I wasn't a bad kid. But after a full day of "regular school," Hebrew School provided the ideal environment to meet and mix. So after being scolded three times: "Sheket, Yitzchak, Sheket!" I would find myself in the synagogue library...where I learned to love Jewish books. Once, the teacher caught me on the way out the door. "Yitzhak, go to the Library!" she shouted, "But I want you to do something there...write a book report." Read more...