Parashat Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27)

By Rabbi Laura Geller
Published on November 1, 2011

Last week’s Torah portion ends with a genealogy, a long list of names of who begot whom and how long they lived. It is one of many genealogies in the Torah. It used to be that when I encountered those lists, I tuned out; I found them boring. But then I read a book by Thomas Cahill called “The Gifts of the Jews” (Anchor, 1999).

Singer Debbie Friedman hospitalized

Published on January 6, 2011

Songwriter Debbie Friedman has been hospitalized in Orange County, Calif. Friedman is reportedly sedated and on a respirator, according to an email sent Wednesday from the West Coast office of the Union for Reform Judaism. The email asked that prayers be said on Friedman's behalf, as well as for her mother, sister and aunt. A spokesperson for the URJ told JTA the union has received no further updates on Friedman's condition.

To let go and to pray

By Rabbi Daniel Greyber
Published on November 7, 2008

Parshat Lech Lecha (Genesis 12:1-17:27) Lech Lecha begins with God telling Abraham, "Go forth from your land, from your birthplace, from the house of your father to the land that I will show you."

Setting out to look within

By Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater
Published on October 18, 2007

We have the chance, each and every week, to take the journey of Abraham, listen for the call of God and then find ways to answer that call.

Yeladim

By Abby Gilad
Published on October 21, 2004

n this week's portion, Lech Lecha, we learn about a fight between the shepherds of Abraham and his nephew, Lot. There was plenty of space for everyone, but they weren't getting along so it seemed too crowded. Our rabbis teach us that when two people get along, they can be happy together sharing even the smallest of spaces, but when they don't, the whole world can seem too small.