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“And Hashem said, ‘Nevertheless, your wife Sarah will bear you a son and you should name him Yitzchak.'” (17:19)

The name Yitzchak does not mean, “he who laughs,” or “he who rejoices”, it means “he who causes laughter,” who brings a smile to the lips of his parents. Also, the word generally denotes an ironic form of laughter, brought about by something utterly ridiculous or inconceivable.  Indeed, the fact that Yitzchak is given his name simply to “commemorate” the laughter his forthcoming birth provoked, is especially significant. Horav S.R. Hirsch, z.l., in raising these issues, comes to the following conclusion. To expect a 100-year-old man and a 90-year-old woman, who had never before had children, to give birth to…

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“Also, Lot who went with Avram had flocks, cattle and tents. And the land could not support their dwelling together for their possessions were abundant and they were unable to dwell together.” (13:5,6)

The parsha relating to Lot is difficult to understand. Hashem’s command of “Lech Lecha,” His imperative for Avraham to uproot himself, to leave his country and birthplace, is considered one of Avraham’s ten trials.  Yet, Lot accompanied Avraham as a devoted student without being commanded to do so!  He went along simply out of a profound desire to be with Avraham and to learn from him. If this is so, how did Lot suddenly transform into a greedy person, willing to throw it all away and live in the degenerate city of Sodom, just for the sake of material gain?…

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