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ב"ה

Vayeira 5764 - November 14, 2003

Reflections

When the water lies still and the sunlight rests upon it, a single globe will reflect from the water. But when the wind stirs the water into waves, it will form a thousand reflections
Parshah
Vayera in a Nutshell
Abraham is visited by three angels and is promised a son. The city of Sodom is destroyed, and Lot’s wife turns into a pillar of salt. Sarah gives birth to Isaac at the age of 90, Hagar and Ishmael are banished, and G‑d orders Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.
My Daughter's Ten Bicycles

Physicists are looking for ten dimensions. The Kabbalists speak of ten spheres of reality. And yesterday I bought my 10-year-old daughter ten bicycles
The Ultimate Test of Abraham

Why does an all-knowing G-d need to test anybody? Shouldn't He know what is in our hearts? And why is Abraham's test of faith "the entire glory of Israel and their merit before their Father in Heaven"?
Story
Facedown

A long caravan snaked along the dusty road, with the carriage of the Hornisteipler Rebbe leading the way. As soon as they arrived in the village, the rebbe asked for directions to the residence of the estate manager.
Just as it is incumbent upon every Jewish man to put on tefilin every day, so is there an unequivocal duty which rests upon every individual, from the greatest scholar to the most simple of folk, to set aside a half-hour each day in which to think about the education of his children.
— Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch (1860-1920)