Three dynasties emerged from Abraham and are listed at the end of our parasha. Before Isaac’s birth he fathered Ishmael and after Sarah’s passing he fathered more children with Keturah, thus one dynasty emerged before Isaac and one after him. Sefat Emet compares these additional dynasties to the holiness that envelopes the Sabbath. Friday afternoon

Upon giving birth at an advanced age, Sarah remarks: “Laughter has God made me, Whoever hears will laugh at me.” Rashi explains that not only were people laughing at Sarah but they were also laughing with Sarah: for many prayers were answered on that day and there was great rejoicing in the world. Why only

Four times, in our parasha, God promises Abraham the land of Canaan: “To your seed I will give this land.” (Bereishit 12:7); later: “Raise your eyes and look out... for all the land you see, to you I will give it…(Bereishit 13:14-15); again later: “To your seed I have given this land from the river of

And all the earth was one language (safah), one set of words. This verse introduces the story of the Tower of Babel and its unhappy ending. In the Bible, explains the Mei HaShiloah, there are two words that are used for “language”: safah and lashon. Interestingly, safah can also mean lip and lashon can also