Instead of Deuteronomy, we have a special portion this week and next! Today we had the incident with Abraham dispatching Hagar from the household at Sarah's behest, as well as his dealing with Abimelech around the well at beersheba, which will lead directly into the binding of Issac next week.
As this group hasn't read Genesis yet, there was a lot of discussion around the general situation, as well as why Rashi was generally dedicated to being derogatory towards Ishmael as compared to Ibn Ezra and Ramban being inclined to take things much more innocently; G-d and their role in setting up various nations and obstacles down the road (and the innocence of people for future deeds); and what's up with this section and the progression of pacts, given that we know where this is going?
The haftarah, meanwhile, was the opening of Samuel I and the circumstances of his birth, echoing Hannah's infertility situation with that of Sarah's.
Short portion this week given the holiday; so I will leave us with a commentary on a favorite topic from Rashi:
