Ishmael
A wild man, whose hand will be on all and all hands will be on him.
Abraham married Sarah’s servant, Hagar, and together they birthed a son. Abraham loved Ishmael but he did not perpetuate the divine ways of his father. Ishmael was sent from the home, a nomad in the deserts east of Israel. Abraham bequeathed the lands east of the Jordan all the way to the mountains of modern-day Pakistan and the borders of India to Ishmael and his multitude of offspring. Thus begins the tensions of the Middle East we know today, rippling throughout the world.
Chayei Sarah: Can East Meet West?
Abraham surely knew how religious zealotry can breed intolerance, condescension, judgmentalism and prejudices of all sorts — feeding into the ugliest elements of human nature.
Read MoreEikev: A Miracle In Our Times?
Hamas and ISIS (as well as Al Qaeda, Hezbollah and other Islamic terrorist groups) have very similar objectives (obviously with their own variations).
Read MoreBamidbar: Oil Prices
Ishmael has the power to confront Esau and Jacob with their wealth of oil. The presenting question is: Will the nations behave as is befitting the children of Abraham?
Read MorePinchas: Religious Violence Part I
Pinchas, in Parsaht Pinchas, is a peaceful, selflessness zealot & exemplary in the face of current politico-religious tensions, radicalism and liberalism.
Read MoreBamidbar: After 3316 Years How Far Are We From Sinai?
Parshat Bamidbar: Sinai created an interface bridging heaven & earth, giving us the power to fuse matter & spirit entirely without compromising either or.
Read MoreShemini: By the Rivers of Babylon
The current state of the world, as examined through the lens of Babylon, can trace its roots to a fundamental religious and ideological conflict of ancient days.
Read MorePekudei: Two Faces of Esau
The story of Esau’s wedding leads to a two-faced world where some people struggle with G-d and justice while others demonstrate great pride in their faith.
Read More