FLP TORAH STUDY - WEEK 4
Lekh Lekha
This week, the Torah introduces two new important characters - Abram and his wife Sarai. They are from Ur, which is in modern-day Iraq, east of Israel. Shortly after moving north with Abram’s dad Terah, God speaks to Abram.
- Read what God says to Abram in Hebrew out loud. (Genesis, Chapter 12, lines 1-3)
- Now read those lines in English. What does God command Abram to do? What promise does he make to Abram?
- Pretend that you are Abram and that you are writing in your journal about what God said to you. How do you feel about what God commanded you to do? Write your journal entry on our blog.
Later in the parashah, God changes Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah.
- Read Genesis, Chapter 17, lines 1-8 and lines 15-19.
- Why does God change their names?
- What’s your full name? Who named you? Why do you think God would want to rename Sarai and Abram? If you were to change your name, what would you change it to and why?
BONUS QUESTION: Using your TaNaKh, write out a family tree to figure out how Noah and Abraham are related. Start with Noah, his children, their children and so on. Find the answer in Genesis, Chapter 10 and Chapter 11, verses 10-30. If you can figure it out, post your answer on our blog!
Wil and Carly said:
ReplyDeleteWill and Carly:
Dear Diary,
I am so excited that I have been chosen by God to leave my home and enter a new land. I am surprised and excited to be a blessing. I feel safe because God told me that whoever blesses me will be blessed and whoever curses me will be cursed. I am sad that I am leaving my father's home, but I know that in the end my name will be great and known. I am honored to be a blessing and that all families of the earth shall bless themselves by me.
Sincerely,
Abram
_____________________
God changes Abram's name to Abraham because he is going to be the father of a nation. God changes Sarai's name to Sarah because she is going to have a son.
Based on your name you can be taken seriously or not seriously. Abram and Sarai were not well known but since God
changed their names they will be come well-known and popular.
_____________________
My name is Carly and my Hebrew name is Rivka Chava. My Hebrew name is named after my two great-grandmothers. If I could change my name I would change it to Sadie because it is my great-grandmother's name. Sadie is a serious name and even though I am short and funny, I still want to be taken seriously.
My name is Will and my Hebrew name is Zalman Daniel. My Hebrew name is named after my two great-grandfathers. If I could change my name I would change it to Abe because Abraham is the best person in the world and is going to be a blessing and I am the best person in the world and we totally match.
_____________________
Noah-Shem-Arpachshad-Shelah-Eper-Peleg-Reu-Serug-Nahor-Terah-Abram
Emily said:
Wil and Carly,
Thank you so much for your comments! I was so interested to read about your names and your names that you wish for (Wil you are the best person in the world and I think you and Abraham would have gotten along quite well :)
I love your "dear diary" and think it's a great tool to get into the mind of our biblical characters.
Great work Meyers Family!
Aaron: If I had to leave my home and land I would feel a little anxious and nervous because I would not know what to expect.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Aaron Jacob Gomperts. My first name was names after my great grandfather Arthur, my middle name was names after my other great-grandfather, Jack (whose Hebrew name was Jacob).
My parents named me.
I wouldn’t want to change my name.
Aaron,
DeleteWould you be less scared to leave your home if someone had promised to protect you?
Emily
Dear Journal, I feel that He (AKA G-d) could be taking me to a bad place so I would feel a little scared about the place in case it is an unsafe place. It would feel that it would take a lot of faith and trust in G-d to go where he's taking me. But it feels like He has my back because those who curse me He curses and those who bless me He blesses, so I would take a chance and go to the new land. - Julian.
ReplyDeleteLater in the parashah, G-d changes their names. Why does G-d change their names? G-d is making Abraham and Sarah a lot of promises. He gives them new names for their journey which is a Covenant with Him, so he wants a commitment from them in return. Maybe the name change is a symbol of that commitment.
My full name is Julian Solomon Vargas. My mother Nicole Holly Gordon and my father Ernesto Rivas Vargas named me. G-d is like the father of Abraham and Sarah, so maybe that why he wants to rename them as a parent. I would keep my name the same because I love it how it is: Julian is the name of a town that is really beautiful and Solomon is the name of a wise king and Vargas has gone through the generations on my dad's side. I think it's a good representation of where I come from.
Bonus question: How are Noah and Abraham related? Noah had Shem who had Arpachshad who had Shelah who had Eber who had Peleg who had Reu who had Serug who had Nahor who had Terah who had Abram. So… if we are counting correctly, Noah is Abraham's Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandfather. (8 Greats)
This is awesome, Julian! I love the idea of God as a parent of Abraham and Sarah. I also love the idea of a name change being symbolic of a commitment. When someone converts to Judaism they too choose a new name in Hebrew as a symbol of being reborn as a Jew and as a symbol of that commitment. Can you think of any other examples where we use our name as a symbol of a commitment?
DeleteGreat work!