Generally refers to Avraham (Abraham), Yitzchak (Isaac), and Yaakov (Jacob); the three patriarchs of the Jewish People.
9
votes
1answer
127 views
Why did Hashem not tell Avraham to have a Bris earlier?
Avraham Avinu was told to have a Bris at 99 years of age. Why didn't Hashem have him do a Bris earlier?
3
votes
3answers
181 views
How old were Avraham and Sarah when they got married?
How old were Avraham Avinu and Sarah Imeinu when they got married?
8
votes
1answer
88 views
Why are Isaac and Rivka in Shochen Ad
Many siddurim capitalize the Yitzchak in Shochen Ad. Some draw attention to the Rivka. But why are either of them there? If you wanted to throw Yitzchak somewhere, why not minchah, which we ...
6
votes
2answers
138 views
Why does the Yom Kippur service seem to reenact Abraham's treatment of his sons?
In the Yom Kippur service during Temple times, the Kohen would (Lev 16:7-10ff):
And he shall take the two goats, and set them before the LORD at the door of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall ...
3
votes
1answer
57 views
Hilchot Shchita for the Binding of Isaac
I was wondering if Hazal referred to the question of how exactly Abraham was planning to perform the שחיטה of his son Isaac. Clearly, Abraham had intended to do it as it is written "ויקח את המאכלת ...
10
votes
5answers
117 views
Why do we find two adjacent pesukim stating what seems to be the same?
In Breshit 26:3 Hashem tells Yizhak: "...and to your zera (sons?) I will give all these lands...".
In the next passuk, Hasehm says: "...and I will give to your zera all these lands...".
Isn't this ...
7
votes
2answers
237 views
How are we to understand Malchi-Tzedek, non-Jewish priest of God?
Malchi-Tzedek is a gentile priest who worships God. I initially read this as just saying God is not exclusive (it says somewhere in Nevi'im that God also has covenants with other peoples), but today ...
1
vote
1answer
142 views
Were the prophets and holy people who lived before Judah (Yehudah) also Jews?
The word "Jew" originates from the name of the eldest son of Jacob. The term "Jew" was introduced many generations and decades after him. I wonder whether Adam, Noah, Lot, Abraham and Moses were all ...
1
vote
0answers
40 views
Abraham and Matzah [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Avot keeping Mitzvot
According to some traditions, Abraham was completely Torah observant. Would this include the mitzvah of eating matzah? Or participating in the ...
6
votes
1answer
90 views
Yeshivat Sheim v'Eiver
Assuming that our patriarchs Abraham Isaac and Jacob spent time learning in the House of Study of Sheim v'Eiver, the descendents of Noach, what were they learning? The seven commandments of the ...
10
votes
1answer
152 views
Why should the patriarchs have lived to 180?
Rashi to B'reshis 25:30 says that Avraham should have lived to the age of 180 had his life not been cut short.
Yitzchak lived to 180.
The Daas Z'kenim to B'reshis 47:8 quotes a midrash as saying ...
10
votes
5answers
194 views
Why do the angels need a ladder?
We know the angels in Yaakov's dream go down and up a ladder but why do they need the ladder? Angels appear on earth and with Hashem throughout the Bible without a ladder.
5
votes
1answer
91 views
“There they buried Yitzchak” — not “my father”?
"What is awe" of a parent? asks Shulchan Aruch Yore Dea 240:2. It includes, SA answers, that one
shall not call [his parent] by [the latter's] name, neither during [the parent]'s life, nor in his ...
4
votes
1answer
78 views
Why not do as Avraham and Sara did w.r.t. conversion
Rashi to B'reshis 12:5 quotes Rav Huna: "... whom they brought [to Judaism]. Avraham was converting the men and Sara the women...".
My understanding is that nowadays female prospective converts study ...
10
votes
2answers
76 views
Why does Yosef bring his sons to Yaakov
Yaakov famously blesses Ephraim and Menashe but who tells Yosef to bring them to their grandfather? It doesn't seem that this would be a natural thing to do as they are not Yaakov's sons. Does ...
5
votes
3answers
89 views
Why does Yitzchak's blessing of Yaakov refer to Yaakov's mother's *sons*?
B'reishit 27:29 reads:
Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curseth thee, and ...
4
votes
3answers
70 views
Why didn't Yaakov and Yosef spend much time together?
It seems that Yaakov and Yosef did not spend much time together in Egypt. After the emotional reunion is there any other mention of them together? Why not?
5
votes
2answers
49 views
What was the effect of Yaakov placing his right hand on Efraim?
Yaakov saw (Beraishis 48 (19)) that Efraim would be greater than Menashe and so insisted that his right hand should rest on Efraim. Did the placing of the hand bring about the greatness and if not why ...
10
votes
6answers
218 views
Why Didn't Yosef tell Yaakov He was Still Alive?
What do the meforshim say on why Yosef didn't tell Yaakov he was still alive? Do any critique him?
12
votes
8answers
334 views
Yaakov Marrying Two Sisters
According to those that say the Avos kept the Torah beforehand (here), how was Yaakov allowed to marry two sisters?
(Yes, I'm aware that there are many answers)
4
votes
2answers
195 views
why did the angel fight with yaakov?
Why did hashem allow the angel to even fight with yaakov in the first place?
4
votes
1answer
50 views
Why didn't Hashem call twice to Yitzchak like he did to other prophets?
Avraham Avraham, Yaakov Yaakov, Moshe Moshe, Shmuel Shmuel - why not Yitzchok Yitzchok?
Related to Hashem calls people twice and Hinneni
We find in Tanach that Hashem called Avraham Avraham, ...
0
votes
1answer
116 views
How many stones did Yackov take to sleep on and what are their significances? [closed]
How many stones did Yackov take to sleep on and what are their significances? (Genesis 28:11)
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Yaakov blessed the angel?
Vayishlach, perek 32, describes Yaakov's struggle with a "man" who many, including targum Yonasan (:25, :27, :29), explain is actually an angel. In pasuk 27 (as explained by Yonasan), Yaakov seeks a ...
7
votes
5answers
157 views
“עם לבן גרתי”? Really? “עם לבן ברתי” maybe
Rashi brings a gematria at the beginning of Parshas Vayishlach:
גרתי בגימטריא תרי"ג, כלומר, עם לבן הרשע גרתי, ותרי"ג מצות שמרתי, ולא למדתי ממעשיו הרעים
Now, if one takes this literally, it is ...
3
votes
1answer
60 views
What was the composition of Yaakov's two camps?
In Parshat Vayishlach Yaakov divides his group into two camps so that if one is attacked the other might escape. How did he divide people between them? Did Leah go in one and Rachel in the other, ...
3
votes
2answers
52 views
אַשְׁרֵי--שֶׁאֵל יַעֲקֹב בְּעֶזְרוֹ: Why Kel Yaakov?
Tehilim 146:5 says אַשְׁרֵי--שֶׁאֵל יַעֲקֹב בְּעֶזְרוֹ: why Kel Yaakov? Why not Kel Avraham or Kel Yitzchok?
13
votes
2answers
149 views
What happened to the Yeshivas Shem v'Aiver?
What happened to the Yeshiva of Shem v'Aiver and all who learnt there?
2
votes
4answers
81 views
Why Bless Eisav and not Yackov
Why was that Yizhak originally chose to Bless Eisav and not Yackov, at least he should have Blessed both equaly what was his thinking?
2
votes
4answers
98 views
Yitzchok falls for Eisav's tricks?
The Posuk says:
ויהי עשיו איש יודע ציד וגו' (בראשית כה, כז)
Translated as: ... and Eisav was a man who knew how to hunt ...
Rashi comments:
יודע ציד, לצוד ולרמות את אביו בפיו
...
7
votes
3answers
166 views
Why did Rivka consult Shem, and not Avraham or Yitzchok?
The Posuk says (Gen. 25:22) regarding Rivka:
וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ הַבָּנִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ וַתֹּאמֶר אִם כֵּן לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי וַתֵּלֶךְ לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת יְ־הֹוָ־ה
Translated as: And the children ...
8
votes
3answers
110 views
Why does Rashi not comment on the repetition of the word “shono” in the age of Yishmoel?
Rashi comments on the repetition of the word “shono” in the ages of both Soroh Braishis 23 (1) and Avrohom Braishis 25 (7). Why is there no comment for the age of Yishmoel which also repeats “shono” ...
6
votes
1answer
57 views
Wasn't Yishmael already sent away from Avraham's house?
In Bereshit 22:3, Rashi tells us that when Avraham went to sacrifice Yitzchok, the two lads he took with him were Yishmael and Eliezer.
Wasn't Yishmael already gone from Avraham's house? In Bereshit ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
How did Rivkah give Yackov Eisav's clothing? Borrowing without asking is stealing
How did Rivkah give Yackov Eisav's clothing without asking?
וַתִּקַּח רִבְקָה אֶת בִּגְדֵי עֵשָׂו בְּנָהּ הַגָּדֹל הַחֲמֻדֹת אֲשֶׁר אִתָּהּ בַּבָּיִת וַתַּלְבֵּשׁ אֶת יַעֲקֹב בְּנָהּ הַקָּטָן
...
4
votes
2answers
77 views
How could Yackov Lie
How could Yackov Lie it is גניבת דעת to say
אָנֹכִי עֵשָׂו בְּכֹרֶךָ
How was he allowed to make this statement?
6
votes
3answers
97 views
What happened to Avraham's students?
We read how Avraham was going around convincing people to believe in one G-d and of his many students. Yet we don't hear of those students (or their descendants) ever again.
What happened to them ...
4
votes
2answers
106 views
Why does revi'i of Vayeira seem to end four verses late?
Why does revi'i - the fourth reading - of Parashat Vayeira end with the first few verses of the story of the birth of Yitzchak (Gen. 21:1-4)?
Objections:
There's a natural break in narrative before ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Why the Children of Avraham and not Yitzchok and Yacckov?
In the song Kol Mikadesh it says:
זרע אברהם אוהבו
Translated as: Children of Avraham his Beloved
Why does the song mention only Avraham and not any of the other forefathers in this stament what ...
9
votes
3answers
152 views
How did Avrohom learn that nine doesn't work?
The Midrash says (Bereshis Rabbah 49:13 quoted in Rashi Genesis 18:32) that Abraham stopped asking HaShem to save Sodom in the merit of less than 10 people because Noah and his family who were 8 ...
4
votes
1answer
159 views
If Ketura wasn't Hagar, who was she?
The Torah tells us (Bereshit 25:1) that "Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah."
The Yalkut Shimoni (Iyov 904) says that Ketura was from Yafet (english from here):
"Abraham married ...
8
votes
1answer
122 views
Avram-Avraham; Yaakov-Yisroel; Yitzchok-?
Why from the three Avos, Avraham and Yaakov had their name changed, and not Yitzchok?
-3
votes
5answers
316 views
Does G_d get incarnated?
There are 3 religions that says so. The obvious one is Christianity with that being it's central term. The second one is Hindu. Khrisna is said to be a God incarnate.
But in torah I often see stories ...
7
votes
2answers
93 views
Why didn't Noach Pray for his generation like Avraham did for Sodom
Why didn't Noach Daven to save his generation like Avraham Davened for Sodom?
4
votes
1answer
85 views
How could Yaakov name his children Gad and Dan?
Shabbos 67b says Gad was the name of an idol of the Amorites, and Dan was an idol of Samaria. If we're not supposed to even say the name of idols, how could Yaakov name his sons after them? (or is it ...
1
vote
2answers
121 views
Why did God select Abraham, when it also mentions that Abraham didn't even know God's name
The bit where Abraham asks for God's name sounds like they are still strangers to each other having spent little time discussing things, and yet God selects him. Why is that?
3
votes
3answers
100 views
Why did Efron have such an extreme change of heart?
When Avram wanted to buy the field that belonged to Efron, Efron said I want to give it to you for free, then after Avram said that I wanted to pay for it Efron charged him a ridiculous price for it.
...
4
votes
1answer
43 views
“Bizchus Avrohom ovinu”. Why is it said as a response to “bircas kohanim”?
Why do some answer the bircas kohanim pesukim with “kein yehi rotzon bizchus Avrohom ovinu” etc. How does the “bizchus” phrase help?
1
vote
4answers
105 views
Why was the letter “Hai” added to Avraham's name?
Avarham Avinu was originally Avram - and Hashem added the letter Hai to his name and changed it to Avraham. Why from all letters was the letter Hai added?
2
votes
3answers
110 views
why isn't moshe considered a “forefather”
if moshe led us out of egypt, into israel, and is a great man why isn't he considered a forefather.
3
votes
5answers
165 views
Why is the test (Nisayon) of Kivshan Haish not mentioned in the Torah?
One of the difficult tests Avraham Avinu faced was when Nimrod threw him into the (Kivshan Haish) fire. It is not mentioned in the Torah at all. Why?
