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Table of Contents

ONE: Abraham the Patriarch: A Mission of Truth

Theme 1: Abraham’s World
     The Origins of Idolatry

Theme 2: Abraham Meets God
     What was Abraham Looking for in God?
     What was God Looking for in Man?

Theme 3: Abraham Disseminates the Truth of God’s Existence
     The Art of Effective Communication

TWO: Abraham Travels to the Land of Canaan

Theme 1: Abraham in Ur Kasdim: An Untold Story
     God’s View of Jewish Destiny

Theme 2: God Blesses Abraham
     Finding the Source of Success

Theme 3: The Destination
     The Attraction of the Land of Israel

THREE: Journey to Egypt

Theme 1: The Famine
     Why Does God Test Man?

Theme 2: Abraham’s Plan
     The Balance of Human Efforts and Divine Providence

Theme 3: Divine Punishment
     How God Communicates with Man

FOUR: Troubles in Canaan

Theme 1: The Quarrel
     Anatomy of a Dispute

Theme 2: A Fundamental Principle in Biblical Narratives of the Patriarchs
     God’s Historical Blueprint

Theme 3: Abraham and the Four Kings
     The Central Theme of World History

FIVE: Timeless Messages

Theme 1: Lot’s Capture
     The Jewish Image

Theme 2: Abraham’s Victory
     The Jewish View of Humility

Theme 3: Abraham and the Wealth of Sodom
     What is Blessed Wealth?

SIX: The Covenant Between the Halves

Theme 1: Abraham is Promised a Son
     Qualities of Jewish Continuity

Theme 2: The Egyptian Exile
     Creating a Godly Nation

Theme 3: Egyptian Punishment
     Judging Intent

SEVEN: The Covenant of Circumcision

Theme 1: Circumcision
     Discovering Human Potential

Theme 2: Abraham Seeks Counsel from His Friends
     The Value of Advice

Theme 3: Abraham Performs Circumcision
     How to Do a Mitzvah

EIGHT: Abraham Hosts the Angels

Theme 1: Abraham Hosts the Angels
     The Art of Hosting and Being a Guest

Theme 2: God Communicates to Abraham
     The Foundations of a Torah Education

Theme 3: Abraham’s Method of Performing Charity & Justice
     The Benefit of Earning Reward

NINE: Abraham & Sodom: A Beginning and an End

Theme 1: The Evil of Sodom
     A Life of Decay

Theme 2: The Birth of Isaac
     Laughter of Joy and Laughter of Mockery

ADDENDUM:
     God’s Involvement In Jewish History: A West-Point Story

Theme 3: The Binding of Isaac
     Complete Devotion to God

Addendum: Biblical Exegesis & Torah Commentaries

Part 1: Methods of Commentary on the Torah Text

Part 2: Objectives of Ramban and Sforno Torah Commentaries
     Rediscovering the Link to the Living Torah

Part 3: Biographical Sketches of Rabbis
     Moshe ben Nachman and Ovadiah Sforno

Appendices

Appendix A
     Torah Texts (from the Book of Genesis)

Appendix B
     Historical Table of Primary Events & People

Appendix C
     Abraham’s Ten Trials
 
The purpose
of this book
Book Review
Student's Comments
Table of 
contents
Sample
lesson
Order
form
JIS Homepage>