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In my life there have been many people who have influenced me: from Spinoza to the Rambam (Maimonides), from Frederick Douglass to Harriet Tubman, from Golda Meir to Rosa Parks, from Jimmy Carter to my latest political hero, Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont. But, mostly, I keep thinking of our foremother, the unassuming, amazing Sarah.

Do you remember? She, a barren woman at 80 years of age, was told that she would conceive and give birth to Isaac (Yitzhak – "he who laughs"). Sarah trusted in the promise of her newfound G-d. She trusted unquestioningly and completely.

She gave birth…and then she allowed Abraham to take this child to be sacrificed. Sarah, our mother, again trusted completely. She was rewarded and G-d rescinded the command of sacrifice.

Could any of us today have that much faith?