פרשת בראשית
Parshas Bereishis
Creation
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹקִ֑ים
אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
When God began to create
heaven and earth—
רש"י דיבור המתחיל בראשית
Q: Why does the Torah begin בראשית instead of starting with the first מצוה?
A: This way when the nations of the world call us thieves for stealing ארץ כנען we can say that 'ה owns the whole world and He gave this land to us.
Hashem creates the world in six days
At the beginning all of creation is a mess of deep waters and the spirit of Hashem hovers above it - not at home within it.
Day 1: Hashem created light and darkness.
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹקִ֤ים ׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם
וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר
י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃
God called the light Day,
and the darkness He called Night.
And it was evening and it was morning,
Day One.
רש"י דיבור המתחיל יום אחד
Q: Why does this פסוק end with יום אחד (day 1) instead of יום ראשון (the first day) like all the others do?
Day 2: Hashem made an expanse of sky to separate between the upper waters and the lower waters.
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹקִים֮ אֶת־הָרָקִיעַ֒
וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֙יִם֙
אֲשֶׁר֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ
וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ
וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
God made the expanse,
and it separated the water
which was below the expanse
from the water which was above the expanse.
And it was so.
רש"י דיבור המתחיל מעל לרקיע
Q: Why does the Torah say that the waters were above (מעל) the sky instead of on (על) the sky?
Day 3: Hashem moved the waters into the rivers and oceans revealing dry land. He then commanded the earth to grow vegetation.
Day 4: Hashem set the Sun, Moon and stars in the sky.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹקִ֗ים
יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה
וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים
וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃
God said,
“Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky
to separate day from night;
they shall serve as signs for the set times—the days and the years;
ד"ה יהי מאורות וגו
Q: Where were all the creations before their special day?
A: They were all created on the first day but were lost in the watery mess until Hashem put them in their designated place on their special day.
ד"ה ולמועדים
Q: Which holidays is the פסוק referring to here?
A: It is talking about the future - when the Jewish people will start scheduling their holidays according to the moon.
Day 5: Hashem created fish and all sea creatures in the sea and birds in the sky.
Day 6: Hashem commanded the earth to give forth all the living things that walk or crawl upon the earth.
Then Hashem created Man.
ד"ה נעשה אדם
Q: Who is Hashem talking to when He says נעשה אדם -Let US make man?
A: This is where you see Hashem's humility - He consulted with angels before creating man, so that the angels should not be jealous. He said to them that He needs to create intelligent beings on Earth so that earth should not be jealous, since there are already intelligent beings in heaven.
ד"ה נעשה אדם
Q:Why would Hashem say "Let us make man" if it is going to cause trouble makers to claim that there is more than one god?
A: Hashem does not shy away from teaching an important moral lesson about humility even if some people will interpret the words incorrectly.
As for the heretics: the answer is in the next פסוק - "Hashem created man", Hashem by Himself made man.
ד"ה זכר ונקבה ברא אותם
Q: Why does the תורה say that Hashem created them male and female if חוה was created later?
A: Midrash says אדם was created both male and female and then the two parts were separated. The simple meaning is that both male and female were created on the sixth day. The details of that process are explained later.
ד"ה יום הששי
Q: What does the letter ה which is added to the number ששי tell us?
A: Two possibilities:
- 5 = ה which tells us that the whole creation depends on the Jewish people accepting five books of the Torah!
- הששי mean the special sixth day - the sixth day of חודש סיון when Hashem gave the Torah on הר סיני
(ה) וְכֹ֣ל ׀ שִׂ֣יחַ הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה טֶ֚רֶם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ וְכָל־עֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה טֶ֣רֶם יִצְמָ֑ח כִּי֩ לֹ֨א הִמְטִ֜יר ה' אֱלֹקִים֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאָדָ֣ם אַ֔יִן לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
ד"ה כי לא המטיר
Q: Why had it not rained?
A: There was no one on Earth to know the value of rain. Once אדם would see the need for rain and pray for it Hashem would caus the rain to fall
Although it had not rained yet, Hashem made dew and mist to moisten the earth so He could form the body of אדם from the dust of the earth.
ד"ה וייצר
Q: Why is this word written with two Yuds when only one is necessary?
A: To reveal the secret of the afterlife - that man will be formed twice, once in this world and once in the World to Come. This is not the case for the animals.
ד"ה ויפח באפיו
Q: Why did Hashem create Man in two stages - the body from the earth and the soul from heaven?
A: To be fair. On day one He created Heaven and Earth. On day two and four He created heavenly things. On days three and five He created earthly things. Therefore on day six He needed to create for both heaven and earth or else one of them would have an additional day of creation over the other.
ד"ה לנפש חיה
Q: What is the difference between the souls of men and the souls of animals which are both called נפש חיה?
A: Man's soul is the most alive because it has understanding and speech.
Hashem brought all the animals to Adam that he should give them names.
Adam saw that all the animals have mates and he was alone.
ד"ה לא טוב היות
Q: Why was did Hashem say it was bad for Man to be alone?
A: So people wouldn't think that just Hashem rules alone without a mate in Heaven so does Man rules alone on earth without a mate.
Hasham made Adam fall into a deep faint and removed one of his sides, turned it into a woman, and closed up the site of the surgery with flesh and skin.
ד"ה על כן יעזב איש
Q: What is the commandment here?
A: This statement forbids even non-Jews from behaving immorally.
ד"ה לבשר אחד
Q: How can a man and a woman become one flesh?
A: The child that is the product of their marriage is the one flesh that comes from the two of them.
Tree of Knowledge
Hashem tells Adam and the Woman that they may eat any of the things that grow in Gan Eden, except for the one tree in the middle - the עץ הדעת.
The snake meets the Woman and asks her, "Is it true that you are not allowed to eat any of the fruits in this garden?"
The Woman replies, "Not true, we are allowed to eat from all the fruit...
ד"ה ולא תגעו בו
Q: Where did חוה get this idea from - that she was not allowed to touch the tree?
A: She added it to Hashem's command and that caused her downfall! Torah therefore says "Don't add anything to the mitzvos!"
ד"ה לא מות תמתון
Q: How could חוה believe the snake that she wouldn't die, when Hashem said she would?!
A: The snake pushed her until she bumped into the tree and when she didn't die the snake told her that even if she actually ate from the fruit she still would not die!
The Woman is convinced and eats the fruit, giving some to Adam as well, and he eats.
They suddenly realize that they are naked and quickly make something to cover themselves with.
Then they hear the voice of God flowing through the Garden and Adam and the Woman hide among the trees.
Hashem calls to them, "Where are you?"
Adam replies, "I heard the voice of God and was ashamed for I am naked."
Hashem responds, "How do you know what naked is? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
"For this transgression you will have to work so hard to get your food, you will put your efforts into the earth and it will give you thorns so you'll have to eat grass!"
ד"ה עצבונך
Q: What form do the "pangs" take?
A: The pains of raising children.
ד"ה והרנך
Q: What is the pain of conception?
A: That is the pains of pregnancy.
ד"ה בעצב תלדי בנים
Q: What is the pain of bearing children?
A: This is the pain of childbirth.
The snake was also punished. It was reduced to the lowest and most despised creature.
Adam named the Woman Chava (from the word Chaya - implying that she is the mother of all life) and Hashem sends them out of the Garden.
***
Kayin and Hevel
Adam and Chava had two children, Kayin the farmer, and Hevel the shepherd. Both brought sacrifices to Hashem, Hevel brought his best animals and Kayin brought his trash. Hashem accepted Hevel's sacrifice and ignored Kayins. This fueled an argument between the brothers and one day Kayin killed Hevel.
Hashem calls to Kayin, "What have you done? Where is your brother?"
Kayin responds famously, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Hashem scolds Kayin for his crime and Kayin realizes how terrible it was - now he feels that he is the lowest of all creatures. He fears that everyone will feel free to kill him.
ד"ה וישם ה' לקין אות
Q: Why was the sign necessary?
A: Kayin was afraid that the animals and beasts would no longer fear him and might kill him like any prey, thus Hashem put a letter of HIS name on Kayin's farhead.
Lemech was the seventh generation from Kayin. He was blind and his son had to help him hunt for food.
One day the boy said, "I see a beast in the trees!" Lemech fired and killed the beast, which turned out not to be a beast at all! It was Kayin - finally avenged for taking his brother's life.
Lemech continued to have children and grandchildren. Most famous among his descendants is Noach!
פרשת נח
Parshas Noach
The Great Flood
ד"ה אלה תולדת נח נח איש צדיק
Q: Why does the Torah mention that Noach was righteous in middle of describing his generations?
A: Two possibilities:
- Whenever you mention a Tzaddik you are supposed to compliment his righteousness.
- Here the Torah teaches that the trues fruits of the Tzaddik's life are his good deeds.
(13) God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with theft because of them: I am about to destroy them with the earth.
ד"ה כי מלאה הארץ חמסד
Q: Why did Hashem tell Noach that theft was the reason for the world's destruction when people had become completely corrupt?
A: חמס means theft - that it was only because of theft that the decree to destroy the world was sealed and carried out.
ד"ה עשה לך תבת
Q: Hashem could have saved Noach in many ways - Why did Hashem choose to have Noach build a תבה?
A: Hashem instructed that Noach build a תבה which would take 120 years, so that people would see it and have a chance to do Teshuva!
The Ark was meant to be 300 amos long, 50 amos wide and 30 amos tall.
(16) Make an opening for daylight in the ark, and terminate it within a cubit of the top. Put the entrance to the ark in its side; make it with bottom, second, and third decks.
ד"ה צהר
Q: What is a צהר?
A: Two possibilities:
- A window or skylight to let light into the תבה
- A precious stone that shone sow brightly it lit up the תבה.
ד"ה ואל אמה תכלנה מלמעלה
Q: What does this instruction mean - how was Noach meant to build the roof?
A: The roof was to be an "A" frame, slanting from a center beam at the top and spreading across the whole תבה so that the rain should run off and not pool.
ד"ה תחתים שנים ושלשים
Q: What were the three floors for?
A: Top; humans and food. Middle; animal cages. Bottom; trash.
Noach and his wife Naama had three sons, Shem, Chom and Yefes.
ד"ה ראיתי צדיק
Q: Why didn't Hashem call Noach "צדיק תמים" as He did in ו:ט?
A: This shows that it is proper to never complement a person completely to their faces.
Hashem commanded Noach to gather one male and one female of each animal in the world and bring them onto the Ark so that they might also survive and repopulate the world.
ד"ה הטהורה
Q: The pure animals would only be pure once the Torah was given - how would Noach know what they were?
A: This shows us that Noach studied Torah before it was given.
ד"ה שבעה שבעה
Q: Why did he need so many more pure animals than the impure ones?
A: So that he could offer sacrifices when he would emerge from the תבה.
Hashem commanded Noach saying, "Enter the Ark, for in seven days I will bring the flood to the world."
ד"ה מפני נמי המבול
Q: Why does Noach enter the תבה to get away from the water - why didn't he go because of Hashem's command?
A: Noach also didn't completely believe that Hashem would bring a flood upon the whole world - so he didn't enter the תבה until the waters really began to flood.
ד"ה בעצם היום הזה
Q: Why does the Torah emphasize that Noach entered the תבה in the middle of the day.
A: The people threatened that if Noach entered the תבה they would destroy it and kill him. So Hashem led him in before their very eyes (Hashem caused lions and bears to surround the תבה) and they could do nothing!
ד"ה אשר בחרבה
Q: Why does the Torah specify that land animals were killed - which animals do not live on dry land?
A: The fish did not need the תבה since the waters wouldn't harm them.
Timeline of Ark's journey according to Noach's age:
- 17th day of 2nd month of 600th year the flood begins
- Rain falls for forty days and nights
- for 120 days the flood grows in strength
- In the seventh month the Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat
- After a whole year and eleven days the earth was dry
ד"ה בשבעה ועשרים
Q: The rain started falling on the 17th of Cheshvan - why did the flood last eleven days longer than a year?
A: Cheshvan is part of the lunar (moon) calendar which is ten days shorter than the solar (sun) calendar. The punishment lasted an entire solar year.
Hashem commmands Noach to leave the Teva and to fill the world with new generations of people and animals.
Noach immediately takes a portion of the pure animals and offers a sacrifice to Hashem.
(כא) וַיָּ֣רַח ה' אֶת־רֵ֣יחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ה' אֶל־לִבּ֗וֹ לֹֽא־אֹ֠סִף לְקַלֵּ֨ל ע֤וֹד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ בַּעֲב֣וּר הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֠י יֵ֣צֶר לֵ֧ב הָאָדָ֛ם רַ֖ע מִנְּעֻרָ֑יו וְלֹֽא־אֹסִ֥ף ע֛וֹד לְהַכּ֥וֹת אֶת־כָּל־חַ֖י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִֽׂיתִי׃
ד"ה מנעריו
Q: Why is the word not spelled fully - מנעוריו?
A: This spelling allows it to also mean movement - that as soon as the fetus moves itself to be born, the Yetzar Harah enters!
ד"ה וחתכם
Q: If this word means "fear of you" it is just repeating the previous word - which new idea is hidden here?
A: This word is also related to the Hebrew word חיות meaning life. The lesson is that animals will fear man as long as he or she is alive, but not when the bodies are dead.
ד"ה ואך את דמכם
Q: The word "אך" means but - to separate and differentiate the coming statement from a previous statement. Which statement is the new Passuk differing from?
A: Torah just gave permission for man to spill the blood of animals for food. Now Torah warns that this permission does not extend to the blood of man!
ד"ה לנפשתיכם
Q: Why are is life called "Blood of life"?
A: To teach that suicide or homicide with no spilled blood - poisoning or strangling - are also forbidden.
ד"ה ואתם פרו ורבו
Q: Why is this phrase repeated here?
A: Two possibilities:
- The first was a blessing and this one is a command.
- The Torah is implying that avoiding having children is tantamount to murder.
The Torah lists the generations of Shem, Cham and Yefes.
We see the names of many famous nations here.
Among the famous names we find the king Nimrod.
ד"ה גבר ציד
Q: What did he hunt that made his hunting unique?
A: He hunted people's minds to turn them away from Hashem with his arguments.
'ד"ה לפני ה
Q: Why was Nimrod's hunting considered "before Hashem"?
A: Nimrod was challenging Hashem directly - "in His face!"?
ד"ה על כן יאמר
Q: Who deserves to be called a Nimrod?
A: Those who act brazenly against faith in Hashem.
Tower of Bavel
ד"ה שפת אחת
Q: Which language were all the people speaking?
A: Lashon Hakodesh - Hebrew
ד"ה ודברים אחדים
Q: What were the unified words?
A: 3 Possibilities:
- To conquer heaven from Hashem
- To wage war and rebel against Hashem
- To protect themselves from the great flood, which they figured would come every 1,656 years.
ד"ה על פני תרח אביו
Q: Why is Haran's father mentioned by his son's death?
A: Two possibilities:
- Haran died during his father's lifetime.
- Terach caused his son's death by turning Avram over to Nimrod. Haran chose to side with Avram when he saw the great miracle that saved Avram from the great furnace.
פרשת לך לך
Parshas Lech Lecha
ד״ה לך לך
Q: What is the meaning of "go to you"?
A: It means go for your benefit- there you will have children and achieve fame; here you will have nothing.
ד"ה ואעשך לגוי גדול
Q: Why does Hashem promise Avraham these things?
A: These three things often suffer when a person travels a lot. Therefore Hashem promised him a large family, fortune, and fame.
ד"ה אשר עשו בחרן
Q: How does one "make" souls?
A: 2 possibilities:
- As in, "One who teaches the son of his friend Torah, it is as if he made him." -students
- As in, "making a living" - slaves
ד"ה וילך למסעיו
Q: Why is Avraham's return trip from Egypt called "His Journeys"?
A: He returned along the same route, stopping in the same inns, for two possible reasons:
- To politely give his former patrons the repeat business.
- To repay his debts now that he was a wealthy man.
ד"ה ויהי ריב
Q: What were the details of the argument?
A: Lot's shepherds were letting their flocks graze on private property, because, they argued that it would all eventually belong to Lot (as Avraham's heir). Avraham's shepherd argued that it was not yet theirs and that allowing the animals to graze was theft.
ד"ה כארץ מצרים
Q: What is the meaning of this comparison?
A: That the land was extremely lush and fertile.
ד"ה באכה צער
Q: What is the implication of this description?
A: It is similar to many others describing moral depravity - implying that Lot was attracted to Sodom for that reason.
ד"ה ויבא הפליט
Q: Why was Og called "the survivor", and why did he bother to inform Avraham about Lot's capture?
A: He was a survivor of Great Flood and the war of the Four Kings, and he hoped Avraham would fall in his attempt to save Lot and then Sarah would be free for the taking.
ד"ה העברי
Q: Why was Avraham called "Ivri"?
A: Because he was from "Ever - across" the river.
ד"ה שמונה עשר וגו
Q: What is the significance of this number?
A: It implies that although Avraham did bring 318 soldiers with him, the victory was achieved by Eliezer his servant whose name equals 318.
ד"ה אם מחוט ועד שרוך נעל
Q: What does Avraham intend in this phrase?
A: That he would not even keep such small things from the spoils of the war.
ד"ה ואם אקח מכל אשר לך
Q: What does Avraham intend with this phrase?
A: That the king of Sodom should not even offer him a monetary reward, for he would not accept it.
ד"ה ולא תאמר וגו
Q: Why would Avraham not take any of his fairly earned spoils?
A: Avraham did not want the King of Sodom to be able to claim credit for Avraham's wealth, when it was meant to be a blessing from Hashem.
ד"ה אחר הדברים האלה
Q: What is the difference between אחר and אחרי?
A: אחר denotes closely following, while אחרי implies long afterwards.
Q: Why does the war of the Four Kings need to be followed by Hashem's assurance that He will remain with Avraham?
A: Avraham was worried that he had used up his credit with G-d after having received all the miracles in the war.
ד"ה ויוצא אותו החוצה
Q: What did Hashem take Avraham out of?
A: 3 possibility:
- Out of the tent to see the stars
- Out of his astrology - meaning that Hashem tells Avraham not to worry about the stars indications
- He literally was lifted out of the Universe to gaze down at the stars to try and count them
ד"ה שפחה מצרית
Q: Why was הגר, the Egyptian princess, a slave in Avraham's house?
A: When Pharaoh saw the miracles that Hashem performed for Avraham he felt it would be better for her to serve him than to be a princess.
ד"ה מקץ עשר שנים
Q: What is significant about this number of years?
A: This is the maximum amount of time a childless couple should remain married - after this length of time a man must seek a fertile wife.
ד"ה לשבת אברם וגו
Q: Why are the ten years only counted from when Avram settled in Israel?
A: Because Avraham was never meant to be blessed with children outside of Israel - so any years spent outside of Israel do not count towards the ten year limit.
ד"ה פרא אדם
Q: What is the definition of this?
A: A man who loves the wilderness and will not live in cities
ד"ה ידו בכל
Q: Definition?
A: His descendants will be bandits.
ד"ה ויד כל בו
Q: Definition?
A: All will hate him and pursue him
ד"ה כי אב המון גוים
Q: Why did Avraham's name receive a letter while Sarah's name had a letter switched - where did the Yud from Sarah's name go?
A: The Yud was later added to Yehoshua's name.
פרשת וירא
Parshas Vayera
Q: Why did Hashem appear to Abraham?
A: It was the third day since his circumsion and Hashem was fulfilling the mitzvah of visiting the sick.
Q: Why is it important to mention that the day was hot?
A: Hashem initially wanted to prevent ravelers from passing by so that Abraham would not exhort himself to serve them - when Hashem saw that Abraham was pained by this He sent the three angels.
Q: Why were there three men?
A: These were angels and angels can only fulfill one mission. The three missions that were to be completed that day were: salvation and healing for Avraham and Lot, blessing Sarah with a child, and destroying Sodom.
Q: Is there a hint to this in the verse?
A: Yes, all along the men are referred to as a group except when one of the objectives is being carried out - then each angel is referred to individually.
What do the dots about the letters aleph, yud, and yud indicate?
Those letters spell the word Ayo- where is he. It is proper to ask a person about their families.
Why did they ask Avraham where Sarah was?
To endear her to him and to bring blessings to her by mentioning her modesty.
Q: What is intended by "I will descend"?
A: 2 possibilities:
1. Hashem set an example for all judges throughout time that they must investigate the finest detail of a case before passing judgment.
2. Hashem "went down the line of history" checking to make sure that no descendant of the people of Sodom were destined to be righteous.
Q: Whose screams was Hashem looking into?
A: the cried of the city of Sodom. Or maybe a young girl who was brutally murdered for feeding hungry people.
Q: Why is there a separation between the words Asu and Kala (they did - completely)?
A: To indicate that Hashem intended to investigate whether they were going to persist in their wickedness, for if they would turn away He would exact punishment for passed evils but would r grain from destroying the city completely.
Q: Why did Lot's wife turn to salt of all things.
A: She sinned with salted by bringing danger upon the visistng angels by saying to a neighbor, "Can I have some salt for my husband is entertaining guests."
Q: Which merit (connected with Avraham) did Lot have that earned him salvation from the destruction of Sodom?
A: When Sarah tried to conceal fact that she was married to Avraham Lot did not inform on her to the Egyptian authorities.
How did Avraham know that the people of Phlistia had no fear of heaven?
When they arrived there the people were asking about Sarah's relationship statusinstead of inquiring as to the travelers needs.
Why are we told that Hashemresponded to the boy's prayer when he and his mother were both praying?
To show that a prayer offered by one in need is answered more swiftly than prayers offered by others one's behalf.
What is the meaning of "Where he is"?
It refers to his spiritual station - Hashemwouldjudge him only on his present situation and not take into account his wicked past or his evil descendants.
Dvarim means events but also means words, whose words were followed by the Akeida and why?
Satan argued that Avraham was more devoted to Yitzchak than to Hashem, and Yishmael argued that Yitzchak was less committed than he (for he had been fully aware during his circumcision). Hashem argued that Avraham would willingly give up Yitzchak for Hashem. Yitzchak argued that he would willingly gov his very life to HashEm ifitwere asked of him.
Why does Hashem say please during this commandment?
Hashem was pleading with Avraham to pass this ve y difficult test.
Why does Hashem describe Yitzchak in so many ways?
1. To break the news to Avraham gently.
2. Each discription is a separate command, thus Avraham would even greater rewards.
Why is the place of the akeida (Jerusalem) called Moriah?
1. Referring to the teachings (hora'ah) that would emenate from there.
2. Referring to the fragrance affecting that would be offered in the Beis Hamikdash.
What was the actual command about the Akeida?
Simply to bring him up - the plan was never to actually slaughter Yitzchak.
Why did Avraham take two servants (Eliezer and Yishmael) with him?
An esteemed person should never travel with less than two attendants. This way he will always have an escort even if one attendant needs to take a break.
How did Yitzchak receive the news that he would be the sacrifice if there was no sheep?
He still walked with the same commitment as his father.
Why did the angel say two commends - "Don't send your hand" and "Don't do anything to him"?
When the angel said "don't slaughter the boy" Avraham said, "then I have come here for nothing, allow me to make a small mark on him with the knife." Thus the angel replied, "don't do anything to him."
פרשת חיה שרה
Parshas Chaye Sarah
Why is each number followed by the word "years"?
To show you to interfere teach number individually, as follows: at 100 she was innocent like a 20 year old. At 20 she was as pretty as a 7 year old.
Why does the verse repeat the fact taht these are the years of Sarah's life?
To emphasize that they were all equally pious and productive years.
Why are the binding of Isaac and the passing of Sarah recorded next to each other in the Torah?
For it was from the news taht hesr son survived the Akeida that she died.
Why is the cave called Machpela (doubled)?
Because it had two stories and people were buried in pairs there.
Why is Ephron's name missing the letter Vov here?
Because although he promised much he actually did very little help Avraham. He first offered the cave a a gift but in the end charged Avrahama very steep price for it.
(יד) וְהָיָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַטִּי־נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙ וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה וְאָמְרָ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה אֹתָ֤הּ הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיִצְחָ֔ק וּבָ֣הּ אֵדַ֔ע כִּי־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־אדושם
Q: What does this test prove about the girl?
A: That she is kind and therefore fitting to serve as matriarch of the Jewish People.
(כב) וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלּ֤וּ הַגְּמַלִּים֙ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת וַיִּקַּ֤ח הָאִישׁ֙ נֶ֣זֶם זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדֶ֔יהָ עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מִשְׁקָלָֽם׃
Q: What does the weight of the nose ring symbolize?
A: The half shekel ever Jew would donate to the Mishkan project.
Q: What do the two bracelets symbolize?
A: The two Luchos (tablets).
Q: WHat does the weight of these bracelets symbolize?
A: The ten commandments that were engraved upon the Tablets.
Q: Why did Laban run to greet Eliezer?
A: He saw the gold his sister was wearing and he got excited.
Q: WHat did Eliezer mean when he said "I came today" (Obviously it was today...)?
A: I left my masters home today and I arrived here today, the earth folded up beneath me.
Q: Why is Eliezer's report of the whole story written - we already know the story?
A: The words of those faithful servants of Avraham's house are very precious.
Q: Where was Yitzchak coming from when Rivka saw him for the first time?
A: He had gone to bring Hagar back to his father.
Q: How did Yitzchak know that Rivka was fitting to be a mother of the Jewish people?
A: When Rivka entered Sarah's tent the special miracle of the bread and candles staying fresh and lit from friday to friday, as well as the cloud of Hashem glory returned to rest on the tent.
(ו) וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנוֹ֙ בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם׃
Q: Why is the word pilagshim missing a yud?
A: To tell us that Hagar and this new lady, Keturah, are the same person.
Q: How do we know that Yishmael did teshuvah?
A: He allowed Yitzchak to lead the funeral of Avraham.
Parshas Toldos
Q:Why are we repeating Rivka.
A To honer her for not been influenced with the wikedness around her.
Q: why were the babaies strugging in her?
A: 2 possibilities:
1. Yaakov would fight to go to yeshiva when they passed one and Eisav fought to go to temples of idolatry.
2. They were struggling over who would inherit the two worlds, physical and spiritual.
Q: what does it mean that he was red?
A: It means that he will spill blood.
Q: Who name him Yakov and why.
A: to possibilitys ,1 Hashem named him Yakov because he considered him like the firstborn,
2 Yitzchak named him Yakov because he was holding on to Esav's heels
Q: What kind trapping was Esav good at?
A: He deceived his father, to make him think that he was a Tzaddik.
Q: What does the man of the field do?
A: Just walk around the field and hunts.
Q: Why is Yakov called innocent?
A: A person who is not astute at deceiving is called innocent.
Q; In whose mouth was the hunting?
A: Two possibilities:
1. Yitzchak's; the food that Esav hunted.
2. Esav's; Esav's was tricking his father with his words.
Q: Whe was Yaakiv preparing lentils?
A: Yitzchak was mourning for his father and mourners are traditionally given lentils.
Q; Why do we serve lentils to mourners?
A: The simple round shape of lentils (and eggs) symbolize the circle of life and tha fact that mourners have no words to speak.
Q: Why was Yitzchak not meant to go to Egypt?
A: Because he was a Korban himself and there for he can't go out of Eretz Yisroel.
Q:What does it mean"gaugding my guarding?
A:Things to guard against transgressing .i.e. Secondary pronabitions.
Q: What is referred to by the term "Commandments"?
A: Cammandments are things that Hashem cammandments even if it is so logical
Q: What are "My Statutes"?
A: Irrational (unlogical) commandments.
Q: Why does the verse imply that there are multiple Torahs?
A:Because there are ,1the writing torah and the other was the oral torah.
Q:Why is it important to know that Esav was 40 years old?
A:He was mimicking his father by marrying at the age of 40 despite him being a Rashah. And that makes"
him a pig.
(35) And they were a source of bitterness to Isaac and Rebekah.
Q: We would assume that the Canaanite daughters-in-law would do certain things that would displease Yitzhak and Rivka, what is the pasuk telling us?
A: That the girls were rebellious not simply idolatrous. They tried to embittered the lives of Esav's parents.
Q: What were the reasons that Yitzchak's eyes went dim.
A: Three possibilities.
1: Because of the smoke of Esav's wives.
2: Another possibly is when Yitzchak was bound on the altar, and his father was about to slaughter him, the
heavens opened, and the ministering angels saw and wept, and their tears fell upon Yitzchak's eyes.
3: The thier possibly is that Yitzchak should be blind so that Yakov can get the blessing.
Q:What made Yitzchak suspiciuos?
A: Because Yakov mentioned Hashem, and Yitzchak knew that Esav never mentions Hashem's name.
Q: Why was Yitzchak scared?
A Because he saw Gehinnom open beneath him.
Q: Why was he named Yaakov?
A: Because he was destined to deceive Esav.
Q: Why did Yitzchak shudder when Esau came in?
A: He was scared the he did an injustice - by blessing the younger son before the older one.
Q: Why does Yitzchak say, "He too shall be blessed"?
A: Yitzchak realized that he was not wrong, and therefor confirmed yaakovs blessings.
Parshas Vayetze
Q: Why does it mention Yaakov's leaving?
A: When a Tsaddik leave's his city, it's honor and glory leaves.
Q: Which place
A: Mount Hamoriah. Because it says "and Avraham saw "the place" ", which was Mount Hamoriah. So to here, Yaakov is journing in "the place".
S2: ״ופגע״ means two things.
Q2: What are these two things?
A2: It means and "he reached", and, "and he prayed."
Q: how did Yokov arrange the stones?
A: he put them around himself so that wild animals wouldn't kill him.
Q: Why does Torah specify that he layed down in THAT place- as apposition to what?
A: For the entire fourteen years that he was at the academy of Shem and Ever he never layed himself down to sleep.
Q: Shouldn't angels defend before they ascend - don't they come from heaven?
A: These were Yaakov's guardian angels. But as he left the holy land the angels belonging to the holy land ascended to heaven and left him, while angels of the rest of the world came down to join him.
Q: Why did Yaakov cry after meeting Rachel?
A: Two possibilities:
1. He prophecies that they would not be buried together.
2. He was penniless and had nothing to give her.
Q: What happened to Yaakov's wealth?
A: Eisav sent Eliphaz to kill Yaakov. When they met Yaakov convinced Eliphaz that penniless is as good as dead. So Eliphaz took all of Yaakov's possessions instead of his life.
Q: Why would Leah's eyes be "soft"?
A: She wept regularily, thinking tha as the older sister of Laban she was destined to be married to the elder son Rivkah - Eisav.
Q: Why does Yaakov need to describe Rachel so precisely (Rachel, your daughter, the younger one)?
A: Yaakov knew that Laban was a crook and would try to twist his words and have him marry someone else so he made his intentions as clear as possible leaving no room for misinterpretation. (It didn't help.)
Q: Why did Yaakov not realize that it was Leah until the morning?
A: Rachel had given Leah their secret code and in the darkness of night Yaakov trusted that code. Only when the sun came up did he realize he had been tricked.
Q: Why does Leah feel that only after Levi was born would her husband feel attached to her?
A: Since she assumed that each of Yaakov's four wives would bear him three sons - with Levi's birth she had delivered her full portion of sons.
Q: After her third son, why was Leah still praying for children?
A: She desired very strongly to increase the number of Shvatim (Yaakov's sons who would be leaders of tribes).
Q: Which blessing did LAvan attribute to Yaakov's presence in his home?
A: When Yaakov arrived LAvan had no sons (his daughters had to be his shepherds), when Yaakov left Laban was able to pursue Yaakov together with his sons! LAvan attributed his sons' births to Yaakov's presence.
Q: Yaakov treated Rache as the foundation of the family - she was the reason Yaakov married Leah, Bilha and Zilpa. How did Leah's children feel about this?
A: They understood and were ok with it - even Boaz of Shevet Yehudah blessed Ruth to become "Like Rachel and Leah" listing Rachel first.
Q: Why would she steal from her father?
A: She hoped he would forget about his idolatry.
Parshas Vayishlach
Q: Why does the pasuk call the messengers "Malachim"?
A: Yaakov sent actual angels to Eisav.
Q: Why does Yaakov describe his years with Laban as "stayed" and not "lived" or "settled"?
A: He possibly wanted to make two points:
1. I have been a stranger in a strange land for all this time - the blessings have not been fulfilled in me, so you have no reason for anger or jealousy.
2. גרתי equals 613. Even as I lived with Lavan I never abandoned Father's teachings, and I am thus invincible.
Q: What was he afraid of; and what caused him pain?
A: He feared that he might be killed, and he was pained by the thought that he might kill.
Q: How did Yaakov prepare himself for his encounter with Eisav?
A: He took three actions:
1. He prayed to Hashem for help.
2. He sent a bribe.
3. He prepared for battle.
Q: What does it mean "I am too small"?
A: He feels he may have sinned and therefore wouldn't warrant a miracle to protect him.
Q: What is "all the truth"?
A: You have kept all the promises.
Q: "What is my staff?"
A: Two points: 1. He was poor, he had nothing but his staff. 2. He put his staff into the jordan river and it split, allowing them to cross.
Q: Where is Dina? There should be twelve children here, not eleven?
A: Yaakov hid Dina ina box, in fear of abduction from Esauv.
Q: What is ויאבק?
A: The word means "a dust up." A fight.
Q: Who was the angel?
A: It was Esauv's angels.
Q: What was the angel's response to Yaakov asking his name?
A: Angels don't have names, their names change depending on their role.
(2) putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children last, and Rachel and Joseph last.
Q: Why are there two "lasts?"
A: Being last denotes preciousness.
Q: Why was Esauv moved?
A: Since Yaakov bowed so many times, it moved Esauv to embrace him.
Q: What do the dots mean?
A: Sometimes the dotted letters outnumber the plain, and sometimes vice versa. In each case pay special attention to the larger group. When the entire word is dotted it changes the meaning of the word.
Q: Did Eisav truly reconcile with Yaakov?
A: Some say yes, some say no. There is a principle that "Eisav hates Yaakov".
ד"ה שלם
Q: How was Yaakov "whole" when he arrived in the Shchem region?
A: Whole in body (healed from his limp), whole financially (he wasn't lacking even after that huge gift to Eisav), and whole spiritually (he wasn't influenced at all by Lavan).
ד"ה בת לאה
Q: Why is Dina called "Leah's daughter" and not "Yaakov's daughter"?
A: In this instance she demonstrated that she was her mother's daughter, in that she left the privacy of her home and went out (as in (Gen. 30:16), "And Leah went out towards him").
ד"ה וישכב
Q: Why does it say that Reuven laid with Bilhah?
A: Since he interfered with his father's private affairs the Torah records it as though he had violated his father's marriage.
ד"ה ויהיו בני יעקב שנים עשר
Q: Why does the Torah declare that Yaakov had twelve sons in the same verse as Reuven's trespass?
A: To indicate that all the sons, including Reuven, were equally righteous (that Reuven's trespass, though egregious for a Tzaddik ,is not actually a sin).
פרשת וישב
Parshas Vayeishev
'ד"ה וישב יעקב וגו
Q: Why does the Torah review the descendants of Eisav so briefly?
A: It is similar to a minor who digs quickly through the sand to get to the gems.
Q2: Why are Yaakov's descendants listed immediately after Eisav's?
A2: To demonstrate the power of Yaakov's descendants, that a single spark will emerge from Yaakov that will destroy (burn up) Eisav.
ד"ה את דבתם רעה
Q: What was Yosef reporting to his father about his brothers?
A: A few examples:
1. They were eating flesh from a living animal
2. They were mistreating the sons of the maidservant (Bilhah and Zilpah)
3. They were not being modest when dealing with women
Q: Was there a consequence for Yosef for this?
A: For each tale, he suffered a corresponding punishment:
1. They slaughtered an animal and dipped his coat in the blood
2. He was sold into servitude
3. He suffered from his master's wife's immodest intentions
ד"ה בן זקונים
Q: What does the phrase "child of his old age" mean?
A: 2 possibilities:
1. Yosef was born when Yaakov was at an advanced age
2. Yosef was his wisest and most learned son
ד"ה וימצאהו איש
Q: Who was this guy?
A: The angel Gavriel.
ד"ה למען הציל אותו
Q: How do we know what a person's intentions might be?
A: Torah testifies that these were his intentions. He knew that if anything were to happen he, the first born would get the blame.
ד"ה והבור רק אין בו מים
Q: Once we know that the pit was empty, why does the verse say that it had no water; isn't that obvious?
A: To point out that while it was empty of water it wasn't completely empty. There were poisonous snaces and scorpions in there.
ד"ה חיה רעה אכלתהו
Q: Why did Yaakov conclude that Yosef was devoured by a wild beast?
A: He unknowingly prophecied that Yosef would be attacked by Potiphar's wife.
Q: Why didn't Hashem reveal to Yaakov that Yosef was still alive?
A: The brother sealed a covenant that no one would ever tell Yaakov the truth, and they included Hashem in this pact.
Q: Why didn't Yitzchak tell Yaakov that Yosef was alive?
A: He figured that if Hashem wasn't telling, he shouldn't either.
ד"ה וימאן להתנחם
Q: Why couldn't they comfort him?
A: G-d imprinted on man's nature the unnatural ability to forget a deceased loved one. But this only kicks in if the loved one is actually deceased. Yosef was not.
ד"ה והיא שלחה אל חמיה
Q: Why did Tamar send a secret message to Yehuda instead of presenting her evidence at the court case?
A: She prefered to be burned at the stake rather than to shame another person.
ד"ה ויוסף הורד
Q: Why are the episodes of Yehuda and Yosef juxtaposed (right next to each other)?
A: It was because of Yosef's sale that Yehuda was demoted among his brothers and had to leave home.
Q: Why are the episodes of Tamar and Potiphar's wife juxtaposed (right next to each other)?
A: Just as Tamar's intentions were pure, Potiphar's wife also intended to fulfill the destiny prepared for her in heaven. Her astronomers told her that she would have descendants from Yosef, in the end, she was to be the grandmother, not the mother.
ד"ה ויחלמו חלום שניהם
Q: What did each man dream?
A: A careful reading of the verse reveals that each one dreamed his own dream as well as the interpretations of his fellow's dream.
Q: If he didn't remember he obviously forgot?
A: Forgetting is a longer form of not remembering.
Parshas Miketz
(מג) במרכבת המשנה הַשְּׁנִיָּה לְמֶרְכַּבְתּוֹ, הַמְהַלֶּכֶת אֵצֶל שֶׁלּוֹ:
(43) במרכבת המשנה means — the chariot second in order to his chariot — that which drove next to his own.
(מג) אברך כְּתַרְגוּמוֹ "דֵּין אַבָּא לְמַלְכָּא", רַךְ בִּלְשׁוֹן אֲרַמִּי (נ"א רוֹמִי) מֶלֶךְ; בְּהַשּׁוּתְּפִין לֹא רֵיכָּא וְלֹא בַּר רֵיכָּא, וּבְדִבְרֵי אַגָּדָה דָּרַשׁ רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אַבְרֵךְ זֶה יוֹסֵף שֶׁהוּא אַב בְּחָכְמָה וְרַךְ בַּשָּׁנִים, אָמַר לוֹ רַ' יוֹסֵי בֶּן דּוּרְמַסְקִית עַד מָתַי אַתָּה מְעַוֵּת עָלֵינוּ אֶת הַכְּתוּבִים? אֵין אַבְרֵךְ אֶלָּא לְשׁוֹן בִּרְכַּיִם, שֶׁהַכֹּל הָיוּ נִכְנָסִין וְיוֹצְאִין תַּחַת יָדוֹ, כָּעִנְיָן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וְנָתוֹן אוֹתוֹ וְגוֹ':
(43) אברך Render this as the Targum does: “This is the father (counsellor) of the king”. In Aramaic (some editions read in Roman i.e. Latin) רך means king (rex). Thus in the chapter beginning with השותפין (Bava Batra 4a) we have: “neither a noble (ריכא) nor the son of a noble (ריכא)”. In the Midrash (Sifré Devarim 1:1) Rabbi Judah explained: אברך is appellation for Joseph who was אב “a father” in wisdom and רך “tender” in years. Whereupon Rabbi Jose the son of a woman of Damascus said to him: “How much longer will you pervert for us the meaning of Scripture? The word אברך can only be connected with the word ברכים knees (i.e. “Bend the knee”), for all came in and went forth only by his permission, just as it states “and he set him [over all the land of Egypt]”.
Q: What is ״אברק״?
A: 1: In Arabic ״אבר״ means advisor.
2: Similar to Rex, meaning king in Latin.
3: Or similar to ״ברכים״ denoting knees, as they would be on their knees before them.
Parshas Vayigash
Parshas Vayechi
CHAZAK CHAZAK VENISCHAZEK!