The history of Judaism started from Abraham (<i>Avrohom Ovinu</i>, meaning Abraham our Father), the first Jewish patriarch. Abraham was a truth-seeker, and he knew that there was only one Supreme Being in a sea of idols.
Abraham was then known as Abram. He was born in the city of Ur in Babylonia. He was the son of Terach, who, ironically, ran a business of selling statues of idols. At the young age of three, Abram recognized that there is only one God, creator of heaven and earth.
Abraham was then known as Abram. He was born in the city of Ur in Babylonia. He was the son of Terach, who, ironically, ran a business of selling statues of idols. At the young age of three, Abram recognized that there is only one God, creator of heaven and earth.
One day, he was left alone in his father’s store. With a hammer in his hand, he smashed all idols—except for the biggest one. When his father came back and asked what happened, he told the older that the idols had a fight and smashed each other. But his father revealed that the idols have no life or power. This revelation led Abram to ask his father why he worshipped them if they were not capable of doing anything.
When Abram got older, he was given an offer by God. God wanted him to leave his household to go to a new land, and will be a father of different generations. Many years after he left Ur, he was concerned about his destiny not being right because he was old with no child. While he was married to Sarai, Abram had a child with Hagar, with whom he bore a son called Ishmael. Ishmael is believed to be the father of the Arabs.
But God remained faithful to Abram and his promise. God changed their names to Abraham and Sarah. When Sarah was 90 years old, she and Abraham had a son named Isaac—who is also one of the forefathers of the Jews.
When Abram got older, he was given an offer by God. God wanted him to leave his household to go to a new land, and will be a father of different generations. Many years after he left Ur, he was concerned about his destiny not being right because he was old with no child. While he was married to Sarai, Abram had a child with Hagar, with whom he bore a son called Ishmael. Ishmael is believed to be the father of the Arabs.
But God remained faithful to Abram and his promise. God changed their names to Abraham and Sarah. When Sarah was 90 years old, she and Abraham had a son named Isaac—who is also one of the forefathers of the Jews.
Abraham’s existence is also noted in other faiths, including Islam and Christianity.
Ronald Safdieh is the president of Dameron Fine Art, a school for K-8 Jewish boys in Lakewood, New Jersey. Read more about the Jewish history and culture on this blog.
Ronald Safdieh is the president of Dameron Fine Art, a school for K-8 Jewish boys in Lakewood, New Jersey. Read more about the Jewish history and culture on this blog.