Weekly Torah portion from Genesis 25:19 - 28:9
9
votes
5answers
244 views
Why are parshat Noach and parshat Toldot named that way?
I was taught that the parshiyot are named for the first significant word (or, rarely, phrase) in the parsha, and obviously names have to be unique. This week's parsha begins "eileh toldot Noach" and ...
4
votes
4answers
528 views
Are Europeans Edomites?
I had always thought that Europeans descended from Yafet, not Shem, and certainly not Shem, Avraham and Yitzhak. I am aware that it was common in the past to equate Rome with Edom, but I always ...
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
120 views
Why was Yaakov punished for not honoring his parents?
Bereshit 37:34 (translation by machon-mamre):
וַיִּקְרַע יַעֲקֹב שִׂמְלֹתָיו, וַיָּשֶׂם שַׂק בְּמָתְנָיו;
וַיִּתְאַבֵּל עַל-בְּנוֹ, יָמִים רַבִּים
And Jacob rent his garments, and put ...
5
votes
3answers
85 views
How old was Eisav when he fell into bad ways?
Rashi on Bereishis 25:30 states that Hashem shortened Avraham's life by 5 years (180->175) in order that he shouldn't see Eisav, his grandson acting wickedly ('Tarbut Ra-ah').
And on that day, ...
3
votes
2answers
47 views
“The days of mourning for my father” - why wait?
The Posuk says(27,41):
יִקְרְבוּ יְמֵי אֵבֶל אָבִי וְאַהַרְגָה אֶת יַעֲקֹב אָחִי:
Translated as:"Let the days of mourning for my father draw near, I will then kill my brother Jacob. "
The ...
3
votes
3answers
219 views
Why does Rashi say “I don't know”?
The Posuk says (Genesis 28:5):
וַיִּשְׁלַח יִצְחָק אֶת יַעֲקֹב וַיֵּלֶךְ פַּדֶּנָה אֲרָם אֶל לָבָן בֶּן בְּתוּאֵל הָאֲרַמִּי אֲחִי רִבְקָה אֵם יַעֲקֹב וְעֵשָׂו
To which Rashi comments on the ...
2
votes
2answers
84 views
Goy Versus Leum
The Posuk Says (Gen. 25,23):
שְׁנֵי [גיים] גוֹיִם בְּבִטְנֵךְ וּשְׁנֵי לְאֻמִּים מִמֵּעַיִךְ יִפָּרֵדוּ
Translated as: Two nations are in your womb, and two kingdoms will separate from your ...
1
vote
2answers
59 views
Why did he bring wine Yitzchok did not ask for?
In order to give the Brachos Yitzchok requested food from his son:
וַיָּבֵא לוֹ יַיִן וַיֵּשְׁתְּ
If he asked for food why did Yaakov bring wine?
