This is the first in a series on families in the Bible, especially those of our Hebraic patriarchs and matriarchs: Abraham (Abram) and Sarah (Sarai), Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob, Leah and Rachel.

The aim is to offer additional complimentary lines of modern Israeli interpretation and potential angles of insight into their lives. Please read it as such and agree only with what your heart tells you. This series focuses on their humanity as people who faced life’s challenges. Sometimes they failed and did wrong, and sometimes they succeeded and held the faith.

But they always remained real flesh and blood. Just like all of us.

All the people mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures teach us about everyday life – a life that includes the challenges, failures, successes, loves, hates and more that exist in all of us. The Bible is a living book. Everything in it teaches us about life and the way we should live.

The story of Abraham (Abram) is the story of the birth of the Jewish people and the relationship of this people...