Parsha

Eliezer’s prominence in this week’s parsha reminds us of a lesson too often forgotten, too many times ending up embarrassing the cause of Torah and service of Gd: our associates shape us, turn us into the people we become.

Avraham had to prove that he wouldn’t regret his achievement at Har HaMoriah.

While visiting Avraham, Hashem saw that he was unhappy without guests, so He sent three angels disguised as desert nomads to provide Avraham with the opportunity to do hachnasas orchim.

The Gur Aryeh, Devarim 22:9, holds that when a mitzvah is done, the mitzvah that follows is similar to the original mitzvah.

The single good character trait is our continued attempt at self-improvement, the attempt to elevate morality over nature.

Despite the investigator’s sophisticated pressure, Kagan almost never specified family names and addresses demanded of him, and those whose names he did give, apparently could no longer be found.

The Medrash Rabbah that says that Avraham Avinu asked Hashem to swear to him that He wouldn’t test him or his son, Yitzchak, any further.

For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice -- no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service. -John Burroughs

In fact – at its core – there is no better argument than Avraham’s. For his petition is asking for nothing else than what is good for God. For when God executes strict justice, He often “sacrifices” His own reputation for the sake of the truth.

After months of running away from the world, he could breathe a sigh of relief, of satisfaction and even joy.

In order to be successful in outreach, one must first accommodate the person’s physical needs.

The investigation has established that you took part in a religious ritual – circumcision. Do you confirm?

Of neighborhoods, benevolence is the most beautiful. How can the man be considered wise who when he had the choice does not settle in benevolence. -Confucius

Lot was never going to be Avraham’s heir, but a better choice would have spared him removal from the household,

"Even when flood waters are raging all around us and everything looks bleak, there is a Noah's ark that can save us. When a person feels low and downcast, the best advice is: 'Make yourself into an ark' (Genesis 6:14).

No matter the trials or tribulations we experience, we must not sink into depression.

‘Arouse the holiness of religion in the hearts of the young generation. Give the youth the idea not to forget religion, and that the persecution of religion is a temporary phenomenon, as is its [Soviet] persecutor, which is only temporary.’

If so, why was Noah commanded not to murder (and, likely, other old commandments) as well? Apparently, there was something not yet completely intuitive, and that was the sanctity of life.  

There are many stories about his devotion to his students, his deep concern for everyone, his endless good deeds, and his fascinating educational approach.

The healthy, the strong individual, is the one who asks for help when he needs it. Whether he has an abscess on his knee or in his soul. -Rona Barrett

Kayin, a prophet, sank to the lowest level and committed murder.

Even those never arrested lived lives of constant fear and privation, deprived of basic necessities, often losing close relatives to arrest, exile, and summary execution.

Color your own Parsha comic.

The etrog and its "smell of the perfection of obedience to Gd’s command it symbolizes"

The most important time of life is the present moment since the past is gone and, as for the future -- who knows what it will bring?

What’s the point of asking his children to stay just one more day after which they will leave anyway?

Although every set of three leaves on a hadas usually grows from one base, R’ Acha opted for a less beautiful hadas in deference to his teacher.

 

Yet in spite of Moshe’s best intentions, it is obvious that his blessings – as we have portrayed them – had little effect on the Jews once they reached the Land of Israel.

This is the time for one-to-one relationships. Life is no longer a matter of quantity, but of quality.