Lech Lecha: Where did Abraham Come From?

Introduction

In this podcast Nechama Goldman Barash explores the origins of Abraham and analyzes a famous midrashic story about Abraham and the idols. Nechama’s analysis enables us to understand how the tantalizingly elusive nature of the Biblical text allows midrashic narrative to influence the way we read stories.

If you’re listening via a podcast provider, a source sheet is available on the www.elmad.pardes.org.

Nechama Goldman Barash

Rabbanit Nechama Goldman Barash is Senior Faculty at Pardes, where she teaches contemporary halakha and Talmud and also holds the positions of Education Director of the Pardes Learning Seminar and Sexual Misconduct Officer. Nechama studied in Matan’s Advanced Talmud Institute and Hilkhata. She holds a Masters in Talmud from Bar-Ilan University, and is a certified Yoetzet Halakha from Nishmat.

In addition to her work at Pardes, Nechama is Senior Faculty at Midreshet Torah V’Avodah, Lecturer at Matan Jerusalem, and Director of Kitvuni at Matan. She has published Uncovered: Women’s Roles, Mitzvot and Sexuality in Jewish Law, which explores questions of women and halakha in contemporary Jewish life. Nechama lives in Gush Etzion with her family and enjoys ice cream, meditation and yoga.