Ep. 610: Is Europe Suffering Its Fate Due to Their Mistreatment of Jews?

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics:
What should our focus be at this time of year?   

• What should we do when we don't feel inspired? 
• What great things are accomplished through self-generated effort? 

• What lessons do we learn from living with the times, with this week’s Torah parsha? 
• Can we view Sarah's laughter when she heard that she would bear a child in a positive way? 
• Are the problems caused today by Arabs/Muslims a continuation of Hagar and Ishmael being sent away from Abraham's home? 
• How could Abraham, a merkavah to G-d's will, challenge G-d for wanting to destroy Sodom? 
• Was it inappropriate of Abraham to pray for Sodom? 
• What does it mean when G-d says "I will descend now and see" if Sodom has sinned – isn't G-d omnipresent and omniscient? 
• Why did the residents of Sodom mistreat travelers?  
• Why doesn't G-d destroy other wicked cities? 
• Why did Lot's wife turn into a pillar of salt? 
• How do we explain the strange story of the Akeidah? 
• Why didn't Isaac resist? 

• Can you present a short biography of the Rebbe Rashab? 
• How do we explain the Tzemech Tzedek's response that Abraham earned G-d's revelation due to his circumcision – didn't G-d reveal Himself to Abraham earlier as well? 

Vayeira  
Chof Cheshvan Can we say that Europe is suffering its fate due to its mistreatment of Jews, as G-d told Abraham, "Those that bless you shall be blessed"?