Torah Commentary

Torah Commentary

Why Abraham?

In this week's Torah portion, Parashat Lech L'cha, we begin to read the stories of our patriarchs and matriarchs.

Vision From the Starting Line

All of us recognize that a universal vision is integral to Judaism. But from where did it come? Was it in the time of the ancient prophets, like Amos, Jeremiah, and Isaiah, that Judaism first developed a moral commitment to a just world, to become "a light unto the nations"?

Abraham, the Rabbis, and Us

Why was Abram told to leave his home and family and go out into the wilderness? (Genesis 12:1) The Midrash, the vast collection of rabbinic reflections on the Torah, offers a number of answers.