Do you ever try to… picture the Parsha?  To envision the scenes of the weekly Torah-portion in vivid detail?  To imagine yourself walking right among the great Biblical figures who once walked the earth?  Or, have you ever literally walked in their footsteps?

I was very fortunate to once travel to Israel with relatives in honor of a special occasion.  My experiences there forever touched me and I am grateful to G-d and my relatives every day.  Some of the most overwhelming moments was having the opportunity to literally walk where our ancestors once did.  Where they lived, inspired, lead, taught, built, and dreamed.

Join me as we PICTURE THE PARSHA.  Together.

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The cities of Sodom, Amorah and their satellites in the Jordan Plains become unforgivably evil.  Despite Avraham’s prayers on their behalf, they lacked righteous individuals worthy of salvation.  G-d informs Avraham of the cities’ impending destruction and dispatches two angels to rescue Lot and his family from among them.  They are commanded to flee to the mountains and to not look back.  Lot’s wife looks back and is transformed into a pillar of salt.  

While Avraham dwelled in Be’er Sheva, the Philistine king Avimelech sought to make a pact of peace between his and Avraham’s descendants.  Avraham agreed and also rebuked Avimelech for a well of Avraham’s that Avimelech’s subjects had stolen.  Avraham then gave Avimelech 7 female sheep, which he accepted to show his acknowledgement that Avraham indeed owned the well. 

G-d tests Avraham’s devotion by commanding him to offer up his son on Mount Moriah… the future site of the Holy Temple.  In the absence of the Holy Temple, the Dome of the Rock now stands in its place, and the only remnant that was spared Roman destruction is the Kosel Hamaarovi, or Western Wall.  For Jews it is the holiest place on earth and the closest we are permitted to access the Temple Mount.

 

The towering, feminine salt-pillar said to be Lot’s wife

“Lot’s wife,” upper right, overlooks the Dead Sea from a cliff with Jordan on the horizon.

Tel Be’er Sheva

Ruins on Tel Be’er Sheva

“Abraham’s Well” – allegedly dug by Abraham – on Tel Be’er Sheva

Desert flower in Be’er Sheva

Arab shepherds grazing their flock in Be’er Sheva. Note the telephone wires in the background. In Israel, ancient history directly interacts with modern innovation.

Sunset in Be’er Sheva

View of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus to the northeast. The Temple Mount, location of the Beis Hamikdash (Holy Temple) is located beneath the golden dome to the right of the image

The Kosel Hama’arovi, or Western Wall (and only surviving remnant today) of the Beis Hamikdash.