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

Machshava:

Avraham,  Israel 

Parsha:

Lech Lecha,  Vayeira 

Collections: R' Charnoff Bereishit 2017

Description

Immediately after Hashem promises Avraham that he will have a child who will continue to build towards the Jewish people...Yishmael is born. Why not go directly to Yitzchak? What is Yishmael's role in the story and life of Avraham? Utilizing striking pesukim, Gemarot, and Midrashim, we delve deeply into the identity of Yishmael, the way he expresses the negative elements of chessed, and how he is a necessary prerequisite for the emergence of Yitzchak. We then examine how this sets the stage for our confrontation with Benei Yishmael throughout history until the End of Days. (Part of HaMidrasha at QC, OU-JLIC's Torah learning program for women at Queens College.)