How should we look at our development over different periods of our lives? And when we want to evaluate our lives, what is the most important commodity to focus on? What makes the most difference in the final analysis?

How can we explain Hashem's decision to first command Avraham to sacrifice his son, and then stop him at the last minute? Why didn't He just command him not to practice human sacrifice, and leave it at that? Something deep is going on here!

The first posuk of this parsha teaches an important lesson about getting back to our essence, and reaching out to Hashem for personal guidance to have the confidence to follow Him even if it means bucking the majority and making major changes.

What do we learn about trusting Hashem through this parsha, and how does it relate to how we respond to events like the current war and, in general, planning for the future?

This year, we have to evaluate not only if we have to repent for specific negative actions, but also for the attitudes that resulted in those actions. Because even if it's hard to identify specific acts we did wrong, or even after we have made amends for the specific actions, it may be that the attitudes which caused the actions could themselves be considered on the level of transgressions.

When thinking about how to do teshuvah and correct previous mistakes, we often regret things we have done which, often unintendedly, to cause pain to others. This parsha, which contains many mitzvos, has several chains of mitzvos that show how actions are connected over time, and how we have to be aware of how things follow in the long run, as well as establishing the right attitudes so we avoid wrongdoing to begin wth.

In the month of Elul, we prepare for the judgment of Rosh Hashanah. But what is driving our teshuvah? It is out of fear for our own skin, or a true emotional reaction to how G-d reveals Himself to us in life? Rather than worrying about how He judges us, maybe we should consider whether we are serving Him as He deserves!

Why is the same action significantly different depending on whether one was commanded to do it, or does it optionally out of the goodness of his heart? We often think the latter is higher, but in reality it's the opposite. Find out why!