Weekly Torah portion from Genesis 25:19 - 28:9
10
votes
5answers
118 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 ...
10
votes
1answer
163 views
Why is Jacob idolized and not villainised?
I've just read the story of Jacob and Esau (Bereishis ch. 25 and 27), and I fail to understand why Jacob is consistently portrayed and idolized as a protagonist and a hero - based on what I've read, I ...
9
votes
5answers
246 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 ...
7
votes
3answers
170 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
132 views
Good inclination or evil inclination in the womb?
The Posuk says:
ויתרוצצו הבנים בקרבה (בראשית כה, כב)
To which Rashi comments:
כשהיתה עוברת על פתחי תורה של שם ועבר יעקב רץ ומפרכס לצאת, וכשהיתה עוברת על פתחי עבודה זרה עשיו מפרכס לצאת
...
5
votes
3answers
90 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
139 views
Why would anyone name their daughter Yehudis? The first one vexed Isaac and Rebecca
The first Yehudis is mentioned in this week’s sedrah 26 (34–35).
“And Esau was forty years old, and he married Judith, the daughter of
Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath, the daughter of ...
5
votes
3answers
89 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, ...
5
votes
1answer
127 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 ...
4
votes
4answers
547 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
79 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?
4
votes
2answers
105 views
Why did Eisav say “red” twice?
Genesis 25:30 says:
... הַלְעִיטֵנִי נָא מִן הָאָדֹם הָאָדֹם הַזֶּה ...
... "Pour into [me] some of this red, red [pottage] ..."
Why did Eisav feel the need to say "red" twice?
3
votes
3answers
222 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
65 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
...
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
2answers
66 views
How many factors did Esav need to prompt him to marry Machalas?
At the end of parashas Toldos (28:6-8), the pesukim indicate factors in Esav's decision to add Machalas, who was not a Canaanite, as a spouse:
א וַיִּקְרָא יִצְחָק אֶל-יַעֲקֹב, וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתוֹ; ...
3
votes
2answers
58 views
What is the significance of “as of this day”?
"מכרה כיום את בכורתך לי" (בראשית כה לא)
Translated as: Sell me as of this day your birthright
What do the words "as of this day" mean?
3
votes
1answer
38 views
אוּלַי means we want it to happen
The Posuk says:
אוּלַי יְמֻשֵּׁנִי אָבִי
Translated as: maybe my father will tap me (and realize, and curse me)
The question is accoring to the GRA the word אוּלַי indicates that you want the ...
2
votes
4answers
83 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
99 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
...
2
votes
2answers
89 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
83 views
Was Yackov really simple?
The Posuk (Gen. 25:27)says:
וְיַעֲקֹב אִישׁ תָּם
Translated: Yackov was a simple man
Rashi says on this comment:
מי שאינו חריף לרמות קרוי תם
Translated as:A person who is not astute at ...
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Why the name Beer Sheva
The Posuk says:
וַיִּקְרָא אֹתָהּ שִׁבְעָה עַל כֵּן שֵׁם הָעִיר בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה
Translated as:
And he named it Shibah; therefore, the city is named Beer sheba until this very day
...
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?
