Daily Aliya for Vayetzei, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: One spring day, Reuven picked jasmine plants from the field, and brought them to his mother. Rachel asks Leah for some of them, and Leah agreed, provided that Rachel relinquishes her turn with Jacob that night. Leah gave birth to another two sons – Issachar and Zevulun – and one daughter—Dinah. Eventually, Rachel, too, gave birth to a son, whom she named Joseph. At that point, Jacob asked Lavan for permission to take his wives and children and return to Canaan. Lavan acknowledges that he has been blessed because of Jacob.

For many years Rachel could not conceive, and when she finally did, the Passuk describes how "G-d remembered Rachel", which Rashi explains to mean that he remembered how Rachel gave her sister the signs to convince Yakov to marry Leah, and how selfless that act was. What's between the lines is that although Rachel had been praying for children for all those years, she never used her previous act of kindness as leverage, or as a complaint for her not having children. Rather, G-d independently remembered what she had done. All those years of her sister benefiting from her kindness, and not once did Rachel regret or even mention her actions that allowed her sister to thrive.

Daily Aliya for Vayetzei, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Lavan had two daughters, the aforementioned Rachel, and her older sister Leah. Jacob loved Rachel and offered to serve Lavan for seven years in exchange for her hand in marriage. Lavan accepted the deal. After the seven years of service passed, Jacob asked Lavan to make good on his word. Lavan arranged a wedding feast, but switched daughters, giving Leah instead of Rachel. When Jacob protested, Lavan offered to give Rachel too—in exchange for another seven years of service. One week later Jacob married Rachel, and began serving an additional seven years. Leah gave birth to four children – Reuven, Simon, Levi, and Judah – but Rachel remained barren. Rachel and Leah both gave their handmaids to Jacob as concubines. Rachel's maid, Bilhah, bore two children – Dan and Naftali – and Leah's maid also bore two children—Gad and Asher.

Sources indicate that it was Rachel who facilitated the switch, motivated by love and compassion for her sister. Rachel gave her private "signals" to Leah in order to save her from a probable marriage to Esav, Yitzchak's biological elder son. This compassion of Rachel's serves her descendants well many years later,when she "intercedes" before G-d following the destruction of the Temple. Tradition tells us that G-d "softened" the punishment with a promise of return from exile only after Rachel pleaded before Him. The Avot and Moshe had not similarly succeeded in their pleas on behalf of the people.

Daily Aliya for Vayetzei, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Jacob continued on his journey, and arrived at a well located on the outskirts of Charan. Upon seeing Rachel, Lavan's younger daughter, arriving with her father's sheep, Jacob single-handedly rolled off the heavy rock that sat atop the well, and gave water to the flock. Rachel told her father about the new arrival, and Lavan rushed out to greet Jacob. Jacob went to Lavan's home, and after spending a month, Lavan offered Jacob the job of tending to his herds, and asked Jacob what he wished in terms of wages.

Medrash Rabah explains that as soon as Yakov was assured protection in his travels, he "lifted his feet" and headed east, which means that he was so excited to go that traveling seemed effortless. Similarly, when Yakov was near the the well where the shepherds were waiting for a crowd big enough to collectively lift the cover off, as soon as Yakov saw Rachel he was able to lift the cover single-handedly. Mood and attitude have everything to do with what we accomplish in life. That's why it's a Mitzvah to be happy, and happiness starts with appreciation.

Daily Aliya for Vayetzei, Rishon (1st Aliya)

General Overview: In this week's reading, Vayeitzei, Jacob travels to his uncle Lavan. En route he stops at the Temple Mount where G‑d appears and assures him that he will return safely to the Land of Canaan. Jacob stays for twenty years in Charan before returning to Canaan. During his stay he shepherds Lavan's sheep, and survives and prospers despite all his uncle's attempted deceptions. He marries Leah and Rachel, and the first eleven tribes are born.

Aliya Summary: Jacob left Be'er Sheva and headed towards Charan, to his uncle Lavan's home. While traveling, Jacob encountered "the place" (Mount Moriah) and since the sun had set, he lay down to sleep. In a dream he saw a ladder reaching up to heaven with angels ascending and descending its rungs. G‑d appeared and informed him that He would bequeath the entire land to his descendants, and that He would safeguard him until he returned to Canaan. Jacob awoke, and now recognizing the holiness of the location, he erected a monument to G‑d, named the location Beth El ("House of G‑d"), and vowed to tithe all his belongings when G‑d's promise of a safe return would be fulfilled.

Daily Aliya for Toldot, Shvii (7th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Esav sees that their father has sent Yakov to Padan Aram to find a wife, because he does not want him to take a Canaanite wife. Yakov goes on his way and Esav takes as another wife, the daughter of Yishmael, Machalat b. Yishmael...

Talmud Yerushalmi exclaims that this is Bosmat, and asks why her name was changed. The astonishing answer is that all Esav's sins were forgiven when he took a wife intended to please his parents. The Talmud generalizes and gives this as the source that the sins of a bride and groom are forgiven when they marry.

Daily Aliya for Toldot, Shishi (6th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Isaac blessed Jacob with the "dew of the heaven and the fat of the earth," and granted him mastery over his brother. No sooner than the blessing ended, Esav arrived from the field, only to be informed by his father – who now understood what had transpired – that the blessing was already given to his younger brother. Esav was furious and Isaac comforted him with a minor blessing. Esav was determined to kill Jacob, but Rivka, who got wind of this plot, asked Isaac to send Jacob to Charan to find a wife. Isaac did so, and blessed Jacob again before he departed.

Yitzchak gave Yakov the blessing of being a master over his brother, and gave Esav the blessing of serving his brother. How can they both be blessings? Perhaps when everyone fulfills their roles in life, everyone is blessed. If there is a master, there must be a servant. Yet the Passuk immediately says that Esav hated Yakov because of the blessing that he got. Wouldn't Esav instead hate Yakov because of the blessings that he didn't get? Unless Esav refused to play his role as follower, thereby abandoning and losing everything. We too have roles in life, sometimes different roles simultaneously (i.e. leaders at home and followers at work, or leaders at work and followers in Shul). The truth is that Yakov is better off now being the leader, but he would have made it work just fine as a follower, had that been his role.

Daily Aliya for Toldot, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Isaac agreed to Avimelech's request. On that day, Isaac's servants informed him that they had successfully dug another well. At the age of forty, Esav married two wives. Their idolatrous ways anguished Isaac and Rivka. Isaac had now advanced in age, and he became blind. He summoned Esav and told him that he wished to bless him, but first he should go to the field and hunt some game for him to eat. Rivka heard this conversation and advised Jacob to don Esav's clothing and trick Isaac into blessing him instead. Rivka prepared meat and gave it to Jacob to bring to his father. She also took hairy goatskin and put it on Jacob's smooth arms and neck. Jacob approached his father and presented himself as Esav, and Isaac ate from the repast Rivka had prepared.

Rivka took upon herself the potential curse if the deception were to be discovered. Targum Onkeles adds a very significant phrase to his translation, adding "to me was told as prophecy..." This way of looking at the episode is that Rivka was, in essence, commanded by G-d to arrange that the blessings go to Yaakov, and in specifically this way. Why is this way of attaining the blessings so important? It might be because wanting something often means going out and getting it, and psychologically helps us appreciate it more.

Daily Aliya for Toldot, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Yitzchak sets himself up in Be'er Sheva. G-d appears to him and reiterates the promises for prosperity made to Avraham. Yitzchak builds an altar to G-d and continues to prosper. Avimelech, realizing that his own prosperity was due to the presence of Yitzchak, comes with a delegation to Yitzchak in order to enter into a covenant with him.

The Baal HaTurim notes that when G-d speaks to Yitzchak, He does not use the name associated with Divine Mercy, as He had done with Avraham and will do with Yaakov. Avraham and Yaakov went through difficult times, but they were treated, so to speak, with an element of Mercy. Yitzchak's trials and tribulations were without G-d's mercy, because Yitzchak had a certain extra strength of character that can withstand powerful trials. Is that fair? Or was Yitzchak tested because he needed to be (for his and our sake), because he could pass those tests, and because his reward is that much greater than those tested less?

Daily Aliya for Toldot, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Isaac became extremely wealthy. He also re-dug some of the wells that his father Avraham had dug, but had since been stopped up by the Philistines. The Philistines eventually became envious of his wealth, and asked him to leave. Isaac complied, moving away from the city and settling in the Gerar Valley. There, Isaac's servants dug two new wells but the Philistines contested his ownership over these wells. The third well he dug was uncontested.

Some see these wells as a hidden reference to the first and second Temples, which fell, and the third which will stand forever. The Gemara in Brachot says that anyone who sees a well in a dream will see peace, because this Aliya is immediately followed by the peace treaty between Avimelech and Yitzchak. Others say that anyone who sees a well in their dream has found Torah, equating water with Torah. These varied references have one thing in common: They acknowledge the symbolism of this Aliya's story. So whether it's salvation, peace or Torah, this story of our past is one of hope for our future.

Daily Aliya for Toldot, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Isaac settled in Philistine. When the townspeople inquired regarding his wife, he told them that she was his sister, fearing that otherwise the Philistines would kill him in order to take Rivka. Eventually, Avimelech, king of the Philistines, noticed that Rivka was Isaac's wife and though he reprimanded Isaac, he issued a decree that no one touch them. While in Philistine, Isaac sowed crops, and miraculously harvested a hundred times more than a field's normal yield.

The first famine that drove Avraham and Sarah to Egypt, when Paroh discovers their true relationship, he sends them away. The second time, when they went to Gerar and said they were brother and sister, and were then "discovered", Avimelech gives them many things and invites them to stay. (Paroh had given Avraham great wealth, but it was before he knew.) Yitzchak and Rivka also say they are siblings, but no one takes Rivka. When they are "found out", they stick around. Why stay? The answer is because G-d told them to stay, but the reason why it was ok for them to stay might be because the men (and king) were decent enough not to have taken Rivka, although they thought she was single.

Daily Aliya for Toldot, Rishon (1st Aliya)

General Overview: In this week's Parsha, Toldot, Yakov and Esav are born. Isaac relocates to Philistine where he digs wells, resulting in friction between him and the locals. Rivka and Yakov successfully deceive Isaac, tricking him into giving to Yakov the blessings he had intended for Esav.

Aliya Summary: Rivka had trouble conceiving. Isaac and Rivka prayed for children, and after twenty years of marriage Rivka became pregnant. She was concerned about her exceedingly difficult pregnancy, and was advised by G‑d that this was due to two children – two nations – struggling in her womb. She gave birth to twin boys: a hairy, ruddy boy named Esav, and a second son, born clutching his brother's heel, named Yakov. Esav became a hunter, while Yakov was an honest man who frequented the schools of Torah. Isaac favored Esav, while Rivka preferred Yakov. One day, Esav came home from the field hungry, and pleaded with Yakov to give him some of the stew he was cooking. Yakov agreed to Esav's request provided that he give him his birthright as firstborn in exchange—and Esav acceded to this barter. There was a famine in Canaan, and Isaac was escaping the famine by traveling to Egypt via Philistine when G‑d told him to remain in Philistine. G‑d also informed Isaac that he would visit upon him all the blessings He had promised to Avraham.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Shvii (7th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The descendants of Yishmael are now enumerated. Yishmael is identified fully as the son of Avraham and Hagar the Egyptian maiden of Sara who bore Yishmael to Avraham. This is quite parallel to the description of Yitzchak's connection to Avraham as stated in the beginning of next week's Parsha. This might further indicate Yishmael's Teshuva in his later years.

It is noteworthy that Yishmael fathered twelve sons, not like Yitzchak, but like Yaakov. Yishmael dies at the age of 100 and 30 and 7 years. The wording in the Torah purposely parallels that which was used to describe Sara's lifespan, a further indication (perhaps) of the change for the better in Yishmael. Rashi says that the age of Yishmael is included to help us compute the chronology of Yaakov.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Shishi (6th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Avraham remarried and fathered several more children. Before his death, however, Avraham gave gifts to his other children and sent them all away, and bequeathed all the rest of his possessions to Isaac. Abraham died at the age of 175, and was buried by Isaac and Ishmael in the cave of Machpela beside his wife, Sarah.

To honor the memory and legacy of his father, Ishmael allowed Isaac to take the lead, understanding that the future of the Jewish people would come from him. That deferral was important to Avraham, and the Gemara deduces is the reason why Avraham lived to a "good" old age. Making peace with family and friends doesn't just affect the parties directly involved, but those around us/them. This aspect of forgiveness is often overlooked, especially while conflict exists. Sometimes only once we resolve conflict do we really see who we were hurting all along.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Rivka's family celebrates the engagement together with Avraham's servant. Next morning, the servant insisted on immediately returning to his master with the maiden in hand, and after Rivka agreed, the two set out for Canaan. Isaac married Rivka, loved her, and finally found consolation for the loss of his mother.

The Medrash says that the day Rivka was brought to Yitzchak, he was busy bringing Hagar to Avraham so that he should marry her. Is it a coincidence that he was helping his father with something that he himself then received help with? Or is this a message that if you want help, you should be involved in helping others?

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Rivka ran to tell her family about the man at the well, and her brother, Lavan, went out, greeted the servant, and invited him to spend the night. The servant told Rivka's family the purpose of his mission to the city, and recounted the heavenly sign that designated Rivka as his master's son's wife. Rivka's family agreed that the match was divinely ordained, and consented to the proposed match.

It's interesting to note that in this Aliya the Torah recaps Eliezer recapping the day's events to Lavan and Betuel. We were told of Eliezer's plans before they happened, the events themselves were written, and now we get a recap of a recap. Rashi mentions a teaching from Rabbi Acha, who said: "The ordinary conversation of the servants of the Patriarchs is more beloved before the Omnipresent than the Torah of their sons, for the section dealing with Eliezer is repeated in the Torah, whereas many fundamentals of the Torah were given only through allusions." In fact, some of Eliezer's words are used in the "Hineni" tefilla recited every Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur. There is so much for us to learn from the respect and commitment that Eliezer handled himself with.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The servant (Eliezer) set out for his master's homeland and evening time found him beside the city well. He prayed for success in his mission, and asked for a heavenly sign to confirm his choice of a girl for Isaac. He would ask a maiden for a drink of water, and the one who would answer: "Certainly, and I'll also give your camels to drink as well," would be the proper choice for Isaac. Immediately a young lady approached and in response to the servant's request for a drink, she offered to give his camels to drink too. Upon questioning her, he discovered that she was Avraham's great-niece, Rivka.

When Eliezer saw that Rivka offered to give the camels water, the Passuk says that he was "astonished at her". Why was he so astonished? Was it her kindness? If anything, Eliezer knew all about kindness, having devoted himself so completely to fulfilling his master's wishes that the story doesn't even include his name! Maybe what was so astonishing about Rivka is that she was so kind despite her surroundings (living with Lavan), while Eliezer was kind because of his surroundings (living with Avraham). Either way, there are always new ways to be kind to others, as both people in this Aliya prove.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Having acquired the land, Avraham buried Sarah in the Cave of Machpela. At this point, Avraham summoned his servant and charged him with the mission of finding a suitable wife for his son Isaac. Avraham had his servant swear that he would not take a wife for Isaac from the local Canaanite women. Instead, he asked him to travel to Aram, his native land, and find a wife for Isaac there.

When the field of Ephron was acquired by Avraham, the Passuk says that it was "established" ("vayakam"). But the hebrew word also means "it was elevated", as Rashi explains, from being owned by Ephron to being owned by Avraham. But it was also raised in stature by its new use, being an object used for a Mitzvah. Just like objects such as this land/cave can be elevated by using them for good things, we too can elevate ourselves and our existence by performing good deeds.

Daily Aliya for Chaye Sarah, Rishon (1st Aliya)

General Overview: In this week's Torah reading, Chaye Sarah, Sarah dies and Avraham purchases the Cave of Machpela as a burial plot for his wife. Avraham's servant travels to Aram to find a wife for Isaac. Isaac marries Rebecca. Avraham dies.

Aliya Summary: Sarah died at the age of 127, and her grieving husband Avraham identified a plot in the city of Chevron that he wished to procure for use as a family burial ground. This plot, a cave situated in the Machpela field, belonged to Ephron the Hittite, so Avraham approached the Hittite tribe and asked for permission to purchase the parcel of land. Originally Ephron wished to give the plot to Avraham as a gift, but after Avraham insisted on paying full price the acquisition was concluded with Avraham paying 400 premium silver coins.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Shvii (7th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: G‑d commanded Avraham to take Isaac and offer him as a sacrifice on a mountain. Avraham took along Isaac and necessary provisions, and set out for the mountain. They arrived and Avraham built the altar and bound Isaac. As Avraham stretched out his hand to take the slaughtering knife, an angel ordered him to desist. Avraham offered a ram, which was caught in a nearby thicket, in lieu of his son. G‑d promised Avraham great blessings as a reward for passing this difficult test. After these events, Avraham was notified that his sister-in-law had given birth to children. One of these children, Betuel, was the father of Rebecca, Isaac's future wife.

G-d said: "Take your son, your only, whom you love..." It would have been easier for Avraham to carry out G-d's command to sacrifice Yitzchak, if he (Avraham) could have somehow suppressed his feelings of love for his son. The "greatness" of this test of Avraham's faith is that he was willing to sacrifice his son, his only one, his beloved (Chidushei HaRim).

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Shishi (6th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Avimelech approached Avraham and requested to enter into a treaty with him, whereby neither party will harm the other for three generations. Avraham agreed, but reprimanded Avimelech concerning a well of water which he had dug which was stolen by Avimelech's subjects. Avraham set apart seven ewes, telling Avimelech to take them as a testimony that he, Avraham, dug the well. Avraham planted an orchard and established an inn in Beer Sheba and proclaimed the name of G‑d to all passersby.

Avraham plants an "Eshel" in Be'er Sheva. In addition to being a type of tree, the word Eshel is an acronym of the Hebrew words for Food, Drink, and Lodgings (or Food, Sleeping, Escort) - the symbol of hospitality for all generations. With these trees, Avraham was literally and figuratively planting the seeds of Chesed for the future, and in our minds.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Isaac grew, and Sarah noticed that Ishmael, Isaac's older half-brother, was a potentially negative influence on her young child. She demanded of Avraham to expel Ishmael, along with his mother Hagar, from the household. Despite Avraham's initial misgivings, G‑d tells him: "Whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her voice!" Hagar and Ishmael wandered in the desert and eventually ran out of water. Ishmael was about to perish from thirst when an angel "opened Hagar's eyes" and showed her a well of water. Ishmael grew up in the desert and became a skilled archer.

The Gemara explains that although Ishmael was destined to do evil things to do the Jews, G-d saved him now because he was not yet evil, which by definition meant that he had the opportunity to stay righteous. That's why the Passuk says "G-d has heard the lad's voice in the place where he is." Where he was THEN, not where he will be. This is one of the 13 Attributes of Mercy (the very first): Giving us a chance to do the right thing, where He knows we'll take it or not.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: G‑d rained fire and sulfur on Sodom, and then overturned the entire region. Lot's wife looked back, and was transformed into a pillar of salt. Lot and his daughters took shelter in a cave. Assuming that the entire world was destroyed, Lot's daughter's intoxicated their father with wine, and seduced him – in order to repopulate the world. They each gave birth to a son – the antecedents of the Ammonite and Moabite nations. Avraham relocated to the Philistine city of Gerar. Avimelech, the king of the Philistines, took Sarah – who was presented as Avraham's sister – to his palace. G‑d afflicted the members of Avimelech's palace with a disease, and appeared to Avimelech in a dream warning him to return Sarah to her husband, Avraham. Avimelech obeyed, and also showered Avraham and Sarah with gifts, and he and his household were healed. Sarah conceived, and at the age of ninety gave birth to a son, who was named Isaac. Avraham circumcised Isaac when he was eight days old.

Avraham's having prayed on behalf of Avimelech for children is juxtaposed to Sarah conceiving. Our Sages teach us that selflessly praying for others can sometimes result in the same prayers being answered for yourself.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The angels arrived in Sodom, and Lot invited them to his home to eat and rest. Word of Lot's guests spread throughout the city – a city that abhorred all acts of kindness – and the incensed residents of Sodom surrounded Lot' house, with intent to assault the guests. Lot refused the demands that he surrender his guests, and – as the Sodomites prepared to break down the door – the angels struck all those surrounding the house with blindness. The angels informed Lot of their mission, and encouraged him to flee. Lot, his wife, and two of his daughters were escorted out of the city to safety, and were warned not to look back as the city was being destroyed.

The word "and he lingered" is read with the rare cantillation mark (trup), the shalshellet, which musically emphasizes the reluctance of Lot to believe and to leave. In contrast, the same word is used in describing the haste with which the Children of Israel left Egypt at G-d's command, symbolized by the matzah which they hastily baked, rather than waiting for the dough to rise and produce a "proper " bread, thus demonstrating their faith and confidence in G-d. Just another example of the many hidden pearls of lessons in the Torah.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Sheni (2nd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The angels departed, with Avraham escorting them on their journey. Their destination: the Sodom region; their mission: to destroy the five cities of the region, and rescue Lot (Avraham's nephew) and his family, who resided there. G‑d informed Avraham of His intention to destroy Sodom because of the great evil of its inhabitants. Avraham attempted to save the region, asking that it be spared if it contains fifty righteous people. When it was apparent that this was not the case, Avraham "bargains" with G‑d – eventually asking Him to spare Sodom even if there are only ten righteous individuals there, but even ten were not to be found.

When negotiating with G-d, Avraham's expression of humility before G-d is "and I am dust and ash". The Gemara says that because of Avraham's humility his children merited two mitzvot - the ash of the Para Aduma and the dust of the Sota. While the ashes remove the impurity of touching the dead, the (Sota) dust can create life (if proven innocent). Thus, Avraham's humility in dealing with G-d affects the full gamut of Jewish life and death, underscoring the importance of humility and respect.

Daily Aliya for Vayeira, Rishon (1st Aliya)

General Overview: In this week's Torah reading, Vayeira, angels visit Avraham and Sarah, informing them that Sarah would give birth to a child despite her advanced age. The angels whisk Lot and his daughters out of Sodom, and overturn and destroy the entire region. Avimelech, king of the Philistines, attempts to make Sarah part of his harem, but through divine intervention she is released unharmed. Isaac is born and Ishmael is expelled from Avraham's household. Avraham makes a peace treaty with Avimelech. The story of the "Binding of Isaac" is recounted – Isaac's "near-sacrifice" experience.

Aliya Summary: G‑d paid Avraham a visit (as he recovered from his Bris), as he sat at the entrance of his tent. Avraham suddenly noticed three travelers passing by, and ran to invite them into his home. These passersby, who were actually angels in human disguise, accepted the invitation, and Avraham and Sarah prepared a sumptuous feast for them. The angels informed Avraham that Sarah would give birth to a child exactly one year later. Eighty-nine-year-old, post-menopausal Sarah, who was standing nearby, heard this assurance, and laughed. G‑d was displeased with Sarah's lack of faith.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Shvii (7th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: G‑d sealed a covenant with Avraham and his descendants; the sign of the covenant is the circumcision of all males when they are eight days old. Sarai's name is changed to Sarah, and G‑d promises a delighted Abraham that he will father another son, this time from Sarah. At the age of 99, Abraham circumcised himself, his son Ishmael, and all the members of his household.

When Avraham finds out that he will have a son, Yitzchak, he laughs. Sarah laughed too, but her laughter was one of disbelief, while Avraham's was one of happiness. It's interesting to note that Yitzchak was named so because of Avraham's reaction, not Sarah's.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Shishi (6th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Avram requested a sign from G‑d that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan. G‑d responded in the famous "Covenant Between the Parts." Avram and the Divine Presence passed between an assortment of halved animals, and G‑d told Avram that his descendants would be exiled and in bondage for four hundred years. At the conclusion of this period, Avram's descendants would leave with great wealth, G‑d would punish the nations which enslaved them, and Avram's children would inherit the lands of Canaan. Following this pact, Sarai -- seeing that she and Avram were still childless -- suggested that Avram father a child with her Egyptian maid, Hagar. Hagar conceived and began to mistreat her mistress Sarai, who responded with a heavy hand, prompting Hagar to flee. Hagar encountered an angel who encouraged her to return to Sarai, promising her that the child she will bear will become a great nation. She obeyed, and gave birth to Ishmael. At the very end of this section, G‑d added the letter hey to Avram's name, making it "Avraham."

This Aliya features classic struggles. Sara struggles with her shortcoming when her handmaid, Hagar, gives birth before her, and drives Hagar to flee (and return at the behest of G-d). Avraham struggles with is feelings of inadequacy when he finds out that he's not perfect in G-d's eyes because he isn't circumcised (he fixes that right away). It's very telling that Avraham gets his name "improved" before Sara does, probably as a subtle lesson to Sara for not dealing with her issues appropriately.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Chamishi (5th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Avram rebuffed the king of Sodom's wish to award him with all the war's spoils. When G‑d reassured Avram that he would be greatly rewarded for his righteousness, Avram broaches his childlessness. "What is the point of all the reward and wealth," Avram cried, "if I have no heir to inherit it?!" G‑d assured Avram that he will indeed have a child, and promised that Avram's descendants will be as numerous as the stars of the heaven.

Why did Avraham refuse to accept anything from the king of Sodom, but he became very wealthy from that which he accepted from Paroh? Commentaries say that Avraham was setting the stage for the fulfillment of G-d's promise to the descendants of Avraham, that they would leave the country of their exile and oppression with great wealth. Hence, there was a purpose to accept the gifts from Paroh, and no reason to accept those of the king of Sodom (and therefore be obligated to him on any level).

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Revii (4th Aliya)

Aliya Summary: The southern region of Canaan was embroiled in a major war involving many kings. When the dust settled, the victorious kings took captive all the inhabitants of the Sodom region -- Lot included. When Avram was informed of Lot's plight he rushed to the rescue along with a handful of men, engaged the victorious kings in battle, soundly defeated them, released all the captives and returned all the spoils.

Some ironic mentions: 1) One of the four winning kings was Shem, one of Noach's sons; 2) Another one of the four winning kings was Nimrod, who had thrown Avram into the fire to prove that he was a man of G-d; 3) Avram was informed of Lot's plight by Og, who Medrash says was the only person outside the ark to have survived the flood by hanging on to it (symbolic of his regret for any wrong-doings?) ; 4) The main battle took place in Ein Mishpat, so named because it was where Moshe and Aaron would be judged for hitting the rock when the Jews needed water. Is there a connection between Og's actions? What was it about Ein Mishpak that so many things happened around it? These are not coincidences, but many of the mysteries of these people, places and events are still unknown to us. Still, we do know that there's a reason for all of it, which should help us perform to those laws that we don't (yet) understand.

Daily Aliya for Lech Lecha, Shlishi (3rd Aliya)

Aliya Summary: Lot, who had accompanied Avram and Sarai, was independently wealthy. When Lot's shepherds quarreled with Avram's shepherds, the two parted ways, with Lot settling in the province of Sodom, which was renowned for its evil inhabitants. After Lot departed, G‑d spoke to Avram again, reiterating His promise to bequeath the land to his descendants, and promising to make his descendants numerous as the soil of the earth.

One commentary says that although Avraham knew that his spirituality was compromised by Lot's presence, he nonetheless did not chase Lot away until he had no choice. Avraham felt a moral obligation to take care of Lot (including saving him after they parted) even though he knew that G-d was "keeping His distance" with Lot around. Is hospitality more important than receiving the Divine Presence? It seems that way.