Questions tagged [commentaries]
Questions related to Jewish commentaries, their meaning and their origin.
692
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"Purimfest 1946" and the ten sons of Haman
In the Megillah (Esther 9:7), the Torah lists the ten sons of Haman that were hanged. If we look at the words, we notice that some letters are written small.For example, the "tav" in the ...
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1
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64
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The Alshich's explanation on the machatzis hashekel
The Alshich HaKodesh (Shemos, 30:13, sv. והנה על דבר שיעור מחצית השקל ולא שקל שלם) seems to explain what the reason is behind the machatzis hashekel - the half shekel - he seems to be saying that the ...
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Can someone please translate this commentary by Malbim on Psalm 84:7
Here’s the relevant text:
עברי, והמסלות האלה הנמצאות בלבבם הם עוברים בעמק הבכא, שבבל היתה עמק ומלאה בכאים ואילנות, כמו שנקראת בשם נחל הערבים, והמליץ תפס תחת הערבים שם בכאים, שיש בהוראתו גם בכי, כי על ...
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What is Omek Rom and omek Tachat in Chassidus
BH
What is omek Rom and omek tachat in Chassidus how are both connected?
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0
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87
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The beauty of referencing Torah-sources
Rashi, in several places, says "לא ידעתי" - I don't know. It is said that Rabbi Akiva Eiger made a list of the times Rashi said "לא ידעתי" - I don't know, people were bothered by ...
2
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2
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I want to study all 613 Mitzvot in depth. Can someone recommend a good book for me to read dedicated to that topic?
Other than the Mishnah and the Talmud , are there any books that give in-depth commentary, explanation, and context for each and every mitzvot? I'm only referring to books soley focused on the topic ...
2
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0
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Meaning of Mishlei 14:18?
Shalom.
Mishlei 14:18 reads, in Rabbi Eliezer Ginsburg’s English translation, ‘Simpletons have inherited folly, but the shrewd make knowledge a crown.’
I only have Rabbi Ginsburg’s commentary on this ...
2
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1
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83
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Avraham, the four Kings, and the future redemption
In parshas Lech Lecha (Bereishis 14:1-3), the Torah recounts the war of the four kings:
וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ אַמְרָפֶ֣ל מֶֽלֶךְ־שִׁנְעָ֔ר אַרְי֖וֹךְ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֶלָּסָ֑ר כְּדׇרְלָעֹ֙מֶר֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ עֵילָ֔ם ...
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191
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Why wait? Shabbos and the Tree of Knowledge
In Bereishis 1:29 we read:
And G-d said, Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, on which is the fruit yielding seed; to you it shall ...
2
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2
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83
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The Plague of Darkness and the Light that rectified it
The Maharal of Prague (Gevuros Hashem, 57) famously explains that the ten plagues in Mitzrayim, correspond to the ten utterances of G-d with which the world and the heavens were created.
The Shem ...
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111
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Moshiach, Arabia and the Eirev Rav
In a comment in this question, Rabbi Yitzchok Soloveitchik is said to have said that ערביא (Arabia) is referring to the Eirev Rav and their role in the End of Days.
So, according to this opinion, ...
2
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1
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128
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The Ox and The Donkey: Moshiach and Eisav
The Torah tells us in Parshas Vayishlach that Yaakov says:
וַֽיְהִי־לִי֙ שׁ֣וֹר וַחֲמ֔וֹר - I have acquired oxen and asses
There are some commentaries that connect this very specific posuk to ...
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1
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24
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Is there a Halacha in Rambam that says in the presence of your teacher you should always look at him?
BH
Does it say in Rambam that a person in the presence of his teacher should always look at his face and never show him his back? If yes what is the Halacha’s source?
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Is there a Sefer that explains each 'melech' in the megilla? [duplicate]
Esther Rabba (3:10) says that any place in the megilla where it says מלך without specifying אחשוורוש afterwards, it is referring to both the mundane king - Achashverosh, and to the holy king - hashem. ...
4
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0
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155
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Esav/ Yishmael and Mahalath, and the explanation of the Gra
Rabbi Sorotzkin in his sefer "Keitz HaYamin" (vol. 1, p. 13) writes:
עשו וישמעאל הן קין והבל - Eisav and Yishmael are Kayin and Hevel
It seems that he got this idea from the Gra on Sifra ...
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83
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Galus: three or four?
There are different sources (Bereishis Rabbah 2:4, Shemos Rabbah 15:6, Ramban; Bereishis 15:14) that say that there were decreed four galuyos - four exiles. There are also explanations that explain ...
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Parshas Vayechi: The impurity of Philistim
The Shivlei Pinchas (Parshas Vayechi, 5774) shares an incredible idea about the spiritual impurity/kelipah of the Philistim (Hebrew here).
The Shivlei Pinchas explains, regarding Shimshon HaGibor, ...
3
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1
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Translation help: powers of the seven great men of the city
I'm struggling with a particular part of the reasoning of the Mahari ben-Lev in responsum 2:72, in which he addresses whether or not the טובי העיר have the power to make a rule banning townsfolk from ...
2
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0
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Malchus Yishmael and the connection with clay
I was stuyding the Midrash Rabbah (Bereishis Rabbah 2:4) on the four galuyos and why Malchus Yishmael isn't included.
This got me to sefer Daniel 2:31-33. There, we read about a great statue, with a ...
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1
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105
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The descent of Yehudah as a preparation for the geulah
In the sefer "
ושב ורפא לו" by Rabbi Tikotzinski (Parshas Vayeshev, p. 119) explains that all things that happened to Yehudah, were a preparation from G-d to bring the redemption. He says:
...
3
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1
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English translation of Ibn Ezra's Torah commentary
I'm trying to look for a book with Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Torah, with both Hebrew, and English translations. However, I can't find one. Could anyone recommend a book which has this?
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0
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45
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What daf and exact quote is this talking about in the Rashash
BH
The Rashash on the Tosfot daf 7B dibur hamaskil VeIbait Eima brings support from a different Gemara somewhere in Brachot. What’s the exact source and lashon of this? Like where is it? In my Gemara ...
6
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2
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481
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How did the Greeks make the menora-oil impure?
The Gemara in Shabbos 21b famously writes "Mai Chanukah"- what is Chanukah? The Gemara elaborates:
When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary they defiled all the oils that were in the Sanctuary
...
4
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1
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Wise saying in the Netflix series 'Shtisel'
Some time ago, I watched the fantastic series 'Shtisel' on Netflix. I can't remember everything clearly, and unfortunately, the series is no longer available on Netflix. However, there's one scene ...
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Is it true Baal Shem Tov knew his zivug?
Is it true the Baal Shem Tov knew his zivug before he got married to her? If yes how did he know?
That is, in this story, we read:
Rav Efraim Kitover, the Av Beit din of Brody, was once involved in a ...
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0
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61
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Having a Chassidishe Gaiva
BH
One of my teachers said once that a student of the Alter Rebbe was in a city filled with so much materialism and sin that he was later asked how he was able to overcome the tests and so he said &...
2
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0
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44
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What is the source of not to speak dvarim betelim
BH
What’s the source and meaning of not speaking dvarim Beteilim purposeless words?
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1
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Eretz Yisroel as G-ds palace
Based on this answer, I was looking for sources that describe Eretz Yisroel as the "palace of G-d".
Are there any sources that describe Eretz Yisroel as such? As "Palace of the King&...
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2
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Locating a Sfas Emes on the influence of Chanukah
In addition to this question, I am eagerly looking for the location of a Sfas Emes where he discuss the following concept (parphrased):
Chanukah and Purim are both Rabbinical festivals. Chanukah and ...
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3
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226
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Chanukah and Purim as two friends: insight of the Shaloh
The Shaloh HaKadosh in Aseret HaDibrot, Yoma, Derekh Chayim famously writes that:
וחנוכה ופורים הם שני רעים - Chanukah and Purim are like two friends (my own translation)
What exactly does this ...
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0
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Original version of Radak on borders of Eretz Yisrael after Moshiach comes
Sefaria offers a translation of the Radak's commentary to Bereishis 26:23. The translation of that Radak says:
ויעל משם באר שבע. This was not far away from Gerar as we already
explained. As to the ...
2
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0
answers
308
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Avraham going down to Mitzrayim: contradiction between the Satmar Rav and Noam Elimelech
The Noam Elimelech teaches us that Avraham Avinu went down to Mitzrayim to "influence" the wicked in his generation. In order to do this, a tzaddik sometimes needs to "descend to a ...
3
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1
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131
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Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Hoffmann: The tree of knowledge of good and evil and morallity
Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Hoffmann in his commentary to Bereishis 2:7 explains (thanks to AlHaTorah for making this available) that originally, it was the will of Hashem that man was going to learn knowledge ...
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0
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47
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Noam Elimelech and the primary aspect of a mitzvah
In this article By Rabbi Abba Wagensberg, a teaching from the Noam Elimelech is cited. It reads:
The primary aspect of a mitzvah is not its technicalities and details, but rather the love we put into ...
3
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3
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225
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Writing a commentary on Chumash using Microsoft Word
I am trying to write a commentary (in Hebrew) on Chumash. I would like to have a layout where the verses are at the top of the page, and the commentary underneath (adjusted for size based on how much ...
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0
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Arvei Nachal Translation
Does anyone know if there is a published English or Spanish translation of the sefer Arvei Nachal by Rabbi David Shlomo Eibshitz?
Thanks!
0
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1
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85
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The Tzadik, The Nations and the Geulah: the chiddush of Rabbi Mordechai Rottenberg
Rabbi Mordechai Rottenberg, Rabbi of Antwerp (1872-1944), has written an interesting teshuva on the Shalosh Shevuos (the three oaths. Refer to Kesubos 111a). Rabbi Rottenberg, in his reaction to some ...
3
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1
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Summary of mefarshim in back of Gemara
Hey can anyone write a brief summary of some of the most used mefarshim in the back of the Oz VeHadar Gemara for example and maybe a fact on the nature of the commentary. for eg. the Ritva, is he ...
3
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1
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95
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The parallel of 6000 years and the six days of creation
I have read in the Yalkut Biurim-section of the Mesivta Gemara Sanhedrin (p. 98 of the Yalkut Biurim), that the six days of creation are intertwined with the teaching that the world will exist for ...
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1
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44
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Lech Lecha: Avraham fulfilled G-ds mitzvos with joy
Rabbi Yerucham Brodianski in his sefer Siach Yitzchak (Parashas Vayigash, p. 480, sv. תשמע לאומרים) quotes the Nesivos Shalom and says that bitachon in Hashem will give a person inner joy when ...
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2
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105
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Textual parallel between Eve and Cain, why?
In Bereishit 3:16, Eve is cursed:
אֶֽל־הָאִשָּׁ֣ה אָמַ֗ר הַרְבָּ֤ה אַרְבֶּה֙ עִצְּבוֹנֵ֣ךְ וְהֵֽרֹנֵ֔ךְ בְּעֶ֖צֶב תֵּֽלְדִ֣י בָנִ֑ים וְאֶל־אִישֵׁךְ֙ תְּשׁ֣וּקָתֵ֔ךְ וְה֖וּא יִמְשׇׁל־בָּֽךְ׃
And to ...
2
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0
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90
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The wicked redemption: chiddush of the Rabbeinu Gershom
The Gemara in Tamid 32a writes:
He said to them: Who among you is wiser than the others? They said to him: We are all equal in wisdom, as every matter that you say to us, we solve for you unanimously....
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1
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53
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The language of the “farewell-blessing” of Moshe
In Moshe’s final blessing to Klal Yisrael (parashas Vezos HaBeracha, Devarim 33:1), the Torah says:
וְזֹ֣את הַבְּרָכָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בֵּרַ֥ךְ מֹשֶׁ֛ה אִ֥ישׁ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לִפְנֵ֖י ...
0
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1
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64
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Why does G-d, blessed be He, say that something did not enter His mind when He is all-knowing?
Jeremiah 19:5 states:
They have built high places to Baal on which to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal— something I never commanded or mentioned, nor did it even enter My mind.
...
2
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2
answers
88
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Ibn Ezra on Vayikra 26:45
Can someone help me understand the first Ibn Ezra on the pasuk?
The pasuk:
וזכרתי להם ברית ראשנים אשר הוצאתי־אתם מארץ מצרים לעיני הגוים להית להם
לאלקים אני ה׳
But I will remember for them the ...
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1
answer
95
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Masei: spiritual rectification through the encampments
The Torah in Parashas Masei tells us (Bamidbar 33:1):
Eileh Masei B'nei Yisrael - these are the journeys of
the children of Yisrael
One of the journeys was from Sinai to Kivroth HaTaavah (v.16)
And ...
1
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0
answers
91
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Did Rashi die while working on multiple tractates?
I've seen printed in some גמראs that רש"י died, and another פרוש follows. Is there any evidence to support this? Is it possible that רש"י's commentary was partially lost in some tractates?
1
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0
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29
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Parashas Eikev: The Consolation of Exile
The Lubavitcher Rebbe is quoted in explaining that just as the theme of the haftara of this weeks parasha "Eikev" is "redemption", so too is the case with the parasha itself.
...
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3
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127
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Do the sages give any sort of insight as to why humans and land animals were created AFTER birds and fish?
The genesis description of creation states that on the 5th day, G-d created all fish and sea creatures and filled the sky with all variety of birds that fly.
After this, G-d creates all the land ...
1
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2
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121
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Tzafnat Panei’ach
I’m looking for some help with Tzafnat Panei’ach’s commentary to Genesis 17:23 (pages 137-138 of this PDF). Specifically:
The author queries whether Abraham circumcised himself before his household, ...