We must look at the past to understand the present. The narratives of our ancestors are filled with tremendous teaching in how to conduct our lives. The good, bad and ugly are all depicted in the biblical episodes that took place thousands of years ago. The difference between Book of Genesis compared to other prophetic works is that the actions of the forefathers there forge the genetic blueprint of the Jewish nation. Each positive or negative act back then had a ripple effect on future generations.

The Arab nations of Ishmael have been a source of discomfort to the descendants of Isaac for millennia. Where is the source of the conflict, and is there a remedy? What began as a wife's intervention to produce progeny for Abraham quickly unraveled into a soap-opera nightmare!

God promised Abraham that he would have a child of his own, and thereby give rise to countless descendants, but he and Sarah were childless after many years of marriage. Sarah takes the initiative (Genesis 16) and suggests that Hagar, her Egyptian bondwoman, should be used as a surrogate; any child Hagar bears will be understood to be Sarah's. Abraham, instead of praying over the idea, quickly goes into "yes dear" mode.

Hagar becomes pregnant and begins to flaunt her fertility before Sarah. But instead of defending the hono

SHAVOUT: REDEMPTION REALIZED

Shavuot is called chag ha-bikkurim, Festival of the First Fruits, as well as chag ha-katzir, Festival of the Harvest. It comes after the counting of the Omer ­ a 49-day period which begins on the second day of Passover. Rabbincally speaking, Shavuot is directly connected to another monumental event that has no specific date, since it and the giving of the Torah both occurred in the month of Sivan.

Most English translators interpret Shavuot to mean Pentecost; a Greek word that signifies the number 50. Pentecost commemorates the Holy Spirit's descent upon the Apostles to begin the church's mission to the world. While according to the Christian canon the event occurred on Shavuot, Pentecost and Shavuot are two separate holidays.

The main source for all biblical holidays is Leviticus 23. Shavuot, literally translated as the Festival of Weeks, occurs right after the discussion of Passover. When the Jewish people are living in Israel, it requires the fruits of the new harvest to be brought to the Temple. An offering of