Thursday, November 2, 2023

Fwd: The Jewish Role


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Rabbi Yosef B. Friedman <rabbifriedman@kehot.com>
Date: Thu, Nov 2, 2023, 8:20 AM
Subject: The Jewish Role
To: <agentemes4@gmail.com>


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I S S U E 793

Parshat Vayeira \ November 2, 2023 \ 18 Mar-Cheshvan, 5784

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Dear Friend,


An insight by the Rebbe on parshat Vayeira, which speaks to today's headlines, selected from our Daily Wisdom by Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky.


The Jewish Role


As Ishmael grew up, Sarah observed how he began to taunt Isaac

and engage in other unsavory forms of behavior. She therefore

insisted that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away.


Sarah said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman

and her son, for the son of this bondwoman will not

inherit together with my son Isaac!" (Gen. 21:10)


We are told that Ishmael, although still quite a young man, had

started to fall into idol worship, illicit relations, and even murder!

Yet, the main reason Sarah gave for demanding that Abraham

banish him was because Ishmael failed to acknowledge that Isaac

was Abraham's rightful heir, claiming that as the firstborn, he would

inherit a double portion. This false sense of entitlement stemming

from his haughty attitude led to his other forms of degenerate

behavior, and Sarah recognized this as the root of his corruption.


Similarly, we see that so much of the moral degeneration

that exists in the world is the result of a failure to acknowledge

the unique role of the Jewish people in G-d's plan for humanity.

The awareness that there is a G-d, that He has a plan for creation,

and that it is the task of the Jewish people to educate the rest

of humanity regarding how to fulfill that plan, is the foundation

of all morality.

----Daily Wisdom3


May G-d grant a swift, miraculous and complete victory over our enemies,

Gut Shabbos,

Rabbi Yosef B. Friedman

Kehot Publication Society


Inspiring insights on the Torah Portion from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.


Translated and adapted by Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky, and produced by Chabad House Publications of California, Daily Wisdom summarizes each daily Torah reading and presents an original insight based on the Rebbe's teachings.

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