The Role of Terach in the Foundational Stories of the Jewish People

By Harav Dr. Ari Berman '87, President of Yeshiva University.

As the first of the three patriarchs in the book of Genesis, Abraham is known as the father of the Jewish nation. But a careful reading of the foundational stories reveals a more nuanced and complex picture. While there is no question that Abraham is the central figure who launched the family that eventually became the Jewish nation, there is another individual, often over-looked, who also appears to have played an instrumental role. Terach, the father of Abraham, is barely mentioned in the biblical stories, but his significance is far more important than his brief appearance would seem to indicate. Through a close reading of the text, this article seeks to uncover the essential role that Terach plays in the founding of the chosen family.

An audio shiur on this topic is available here >>