Avraham Our Father: The Journey of the Man Who Changed the World

According to the commonly accepted view, our patriarch Avraham was born in the city of Ur Kasdim, in southern Mesopotamia, in the year 1948 from Creation (1812 BCE). Midrash teaches that already at the age of three, he began contemplating the wonders of creation and understood that the world could not function without a Creator. Over time, he began spreading this truth to the people around him.

At 25, he married Sarah.
At 75, he left Charan for the Promised Land following God’s famous command, “Lech Lecha — Go forth from your land.”
At 86, his son Yishmael was born.
At 99, he circumcised himself at God’s instruction.
At 100, his son Yitzchak was born.
Avraham ultimately passed away at the age of 175.

Family Lineage

From Adam to Avraham there were 20 generations. Avraham was born to parents whose names few would guess in a trivia game:

• Father: Terach son of Nachor — an expert in idolatry

• Mother: Amatlai (daughter of Karnevo)

Avraham had two brothers: Nachor and Haran.
Haran’s children were Lot, Milcah, and Yiscah — who, according to the Sages, is actually Sarah.

Avraham married Sarah, and after her passing married Keturah (whom some say was actually Hagar who returned). His two well-known sons are Yitzchak and Yishmael, from whom the Jewish and Arab nations respectively emerged.

Names and Divine Mission

At birth, Avraham was named Avram. God added the letter ה (Hei) to his name — making him Avraham — as part of changing his destiny and granting him the future birth of Yitzchak. Sarah’s name likewise changed from Sarai to Sarah.

The added ה symbolized the presence of God in their lives.

His title “Avraham the Hebrew” (HaIvri) comes from Midrash:
He stood on one side of the world believing in the One God, while the entire generation stood on the other, worshipping idols.

Nimrod and the Fiery Furnace

When Avram was still an infant, the astrologers of Nimrod, the wicked king of the time, foresaw his destiny. The night he was born, they saw a great star rise from the east and swallow four stars from the four corners of the heavens. They concluded that this child would rebel against Nimrod and spread belief in the One God.

And indeed, Avraham became the greatest kiruv figure (spiritual influencer) in history. As Rashi explains on the verse “and the souls they made in Charan” — Abraham converted the men and Sarah the women — spreading monotheism throughout the world.

The Ten Tests of Avraham

To refine Avraham and elevate his spiritual stature, God tested him with ten trials, including:

• The fiery furnace

• “Lech Lecha” — leaving his homeland

• Famine in the Promised Land

• Rescuing Lot

• Covenant Between the Pieces

• Circumcision

• The Binding of Yitzchak (Akeidat Yitzchak)

These ten tests are seen as the root of all types of challenges in life, and Avraham’s success planted within his descendants the spiritual resilience to withstand life’s trials.

In parallel to these ten tests, God gave Israel ten correspondences:

• Ten Days of Repentance

• Ten miracles for Israel in Egypt

• Ten Plagues upon the Egyptians

• Ten Commandments

Abraham’s Legacy: Kindness and Prayer

Abraham, who authored Sefer Yetzirah, established the morning prayer (Shacharit) and represents the pillar of Kindness in the world. His hospitality was legendary — even in great physical pain after his circumcision, he eagerly welcomed guests.

Children After Sarah

After Sarah’s death, Avraham married Keturah and had six additional sons

Passing and Burial

In the year 2123 from Creation, Avraham passed away “old and full of days.” The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 10b) debates whether he died in Tishrei (Rabbi Eliezer) or Nisan (Rabbi Yehoshua).

Avraham was buried by his two sons, Yitzchak and Yishmael, in the Cave of Machpelah, next to Sarah.