This week, we begin reading the narrative of Abraham and Sarah. They are the first Jews, (though they don’t yet go by this name) and the first of the ancestors we invoke in prayer. When, in the opening blessing of the Amidah, we invoke their names by saying that God is the God of Abraham, and the God of Sarah, it is to remind God that we are descended from them. It is our way of saying we are family – like name dropping when you meet someone new, to build trust or boost our reputation through our connection with someone already known by the other person.
This “name dropping” can be used disingenuously, but it can also be very powerful and positive when we do it honestly. There is a teaching in many circles that organizations grow at the speed of relationships, and relationships grow at the speed of trust.
In Jewish prayer, this tool also works as a reminder to ourselves. In citing the names of our biblical ancestors, we can remember that we come from people who have sought connection, inspiration, guidance from the Source of Life throughout Jewish history and throughout our family histories.
Who do you invoke or remember when you need support to reach for your spiritual connection? Are there ancestors, family or friends who inspire you in this way?
Let us call on our biblical and more recent ancestors to be with us as we begin to read this story again.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Julie
Lech L’cha (Genesis 12:1-17:27) Torah Reading Nov. 1, 2025: Ancestral Namedropping
November 3, 2025 by Rabbi Julie Saxe-Taller • D'var Torah
This week, we begin reading the narrative of Abraham and Sarah. They are the first Jews, (though they don’t yet go by this name) and the first of the ancestors we invoke in prayer. When, in the opening blessing of the Amidah, we invoke their names by saying that God is the God of Abraham, and the God of Sarah, it is to remind God that we are descended from them. It is our way of saying we are family – like name dropping when you meet someone new, to build trust or boost our reputation through our connection with someone already known by the other person.
This “name dropping” can be used disingenuously, but it can also be very powerful and positive when we do it honestly. There is a teaching in many circles that organizations grow at the speed of relationships, and relationships grow at the speed of trust.
In Jewish prayer, this tool also works as a reminder to ourselves. In citing the names of our biblical ancestors, we can remember that we come from people who have sought connection, inspiration, guidance from the Source of Life throughout Jewish history and throughout our family histories.
Who do you invoke or remember when you need support to reach for your spiritual connection? Are there ancestors, family or friends who inspire you in this way?
Let us call on our biblical and more recent ancestors to be with us as we begin to read this story again.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Julie