Venue: OU-JLIC at Queens College OU-JLIC at Queens College

Machshava:

Avraham,  Kabbalah,  Middot 

Parsha:

Vayeira 

Description

After Hashem promises Avraham that he will give brith to the Jewish people, we would expect Yitzchak to be born immediately. Instead, Yishmael is born in Lech Lecha, only to be exiled when Yitzhak is later born in Vayeira. In what way is Yishmael a prerequisite for Avraham to give birth to Yitzchak? To meaningfully understand the answer to this question, we give a basic introduction to the seven Middot or Sefirot, carefully define what they are and how we relate to them, and come to a much deeper understand of what the word "chessed" means. This gives us the backdrop to understand Avraham, Yishmael, Hagar, and Yitzchak, and the complex relationships between them, in a whole new way.