interpretation of parts of Tanach by close reading, not derivation (Pronounced "par-sha-noot")
4
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1answer
82 views
wine from his country
The g'mara (M'gila 12a) says that the drinking at Achashverosh's party's being described as "no forcing" means that everyone was given wine from his own country (so he'd be accustomed to it, according ...
3
votes
4answers
96 views
Why does Yisro appear to have higher standards for judges than Moshe does?
First Yisro says:
וְאַתָּה תֶחֱזֶה מִכָּל הָעָם (1)אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל (2)יִרְאֵי אֱ־לֹהִים (3)אַנְשֵׁי אֱמֶת (4)שֹׂנְאֵי בָצַע וְשַׂמְתָּ עֲלֵהֶם
Then when He selected it says he got:
...
3
votes
1answer
102 views
Rashi's proof of the timing of Yisro's conversation with Moshe about judges
Rashi (to Ex. 18:13) cites Mechilta that "the next day," when Yisro saw Moshe judging the people and offered his advice about appointing inferior judges, was the day after Yom Kippur. Part of his ...
3
votes
3answers
134 views
Why does Rashi say Yisro heard *two* things?
Shemot 18:1:
וישמע יתרו: מה שמועה שמע ובא, קריעת ים סוף ומלחמת עמלק
Now…Jethro…heard: What news did he hear that [made such an impression that] he came? The splitting of the Red Sea and the ...
3
votes
1answer
53 views
Moshe's change of looks on the mountain
When Moshe ascended heaven to receive the commandments there is a tradition that Hashem changed his appearance to that of someone else. Why was he changed and to whom was he changed? Is there a ...
3
votes
2answers
95 views
Why does the Torah repeat that the nation believed in Moshe?
In Yisro it says:
וְגַם בְּךָ יַאֲמִינוּ לְעוֹלָם
Earlier it says:
ויאמינו בה' ובמשה עבדו
Why Both?
9
votes
1answer
244 views
Where did the Egyptians get the wealth they brought to the sea?
In Shemot 15:22, Rashi says:
Moses led Israel away: lit., made Israel journey. He led them away against their will, for the Egyptians had adorned their steeds with ornaments of gold, silver, and ...
5
votes
3answers
78 views
Why strong wind when splitting the sea?
The verses describing the splitting of the Yam Suf (Reed Sea) say a strong wind blew overnight before the sea split. To me, this implies a gradual process of moving a great deal of water.
On the ...
3
votes
3answers
190 views
Why is Parshas Beshalach called Shabbos Shira?
Most people know that we read Az Yashir on Shabbos Shira and we put out bread for the birds. However this is the only Shabbos that has a special name simply because of what we read in the Parsha. ...
7
votes
3answers
141 views
Why did the Mitzryim turn water into blood rather than vice versa?
Why didn't the Mitzryim magic makers just take away the blood from the first makkah to prove to Moshe that he was just doing magic and Hashem had nothing to do with it: why did they add blood (Exodus ...
3
votes
2answers
284 views
are homosexual relations forbidden by God? Why?
To my understanding, Bible says that God does not like homosexual relations. But why? Why did God punish and destroy inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah? They were not Jewish and were not given the laws ...
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.
10
votes
2answers
222 views
Did Moshe see Paro's face again after all?
After the ninth plague Paro once again offers to let the people go and then recants. At the end of this conversation Sh'mot 10:28-29 says:
28 And Pharaoh said unto him: 'Get thee from me, take ...
4
votes
2answers
94 views
Bais Vov & Kof in Tehilim 25; why are they missing?
In Tehilim ch. 25 it goes through the entire alphabet and skips the letter "Bais" "Vav" & "Kof"; why so?
8
votes
3answers
217 views
How is “החודש הזה לכם” the first mitzva?
The following question came up in this week's Parshat Hashavua' Chat:
Rashi, at the beginning of his commentary to the Torah:
אמר רבי יצחק: לא היה צריך להתחיל [את] התורה אלא (שמות יב ב) מהחודש ...
4
votes
1answer
31 views
Did Paroh give offerings
In Shemos 10:25, Moshe told that Paroh himself will give offerings to Hashem. Did this really happen?
16
votes
2answers
262 views
Why are none of the Pharaohs in the Torah identified by name?
Throughout the Torah, the various Egyptian Pharaohs are always referred to as simply "Pharaoh" or "the king of Egypt" (or both), but never with any other parts of their official titulary.
By ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
172 views
Why only beginning with the fourth plague is the exemption of the Jews mentioned?
In Moshe's warning to Pharaoh (in Hashem's name) of the fourth plague, arov, he adds (Ex. 8:18-19):
וְהִפְלֵיתִי בַיּוֹם הַהוּא אֶת-אֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן אֲשֶׁר עַמִּי עֹמֵד עָלֶיהָ לְבִלְתִּי הֱיוֹת-שָׁם ...
5
votes
3answers
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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 ...
14
votes
7answers
361 views
why half-believe the Torah?
(I'm not sure this is on-topic, and feel free to close it if it's not, of course.)
I understand some who study the Bible claim natural reasons for things we recognize as miracles, from the plagues of ...
7
votes
2answers
439 views
Ten plagues of Egypt: hail and pestilence
According to Moses, the fifth plague of Egypt killed all livestock except that of Israel. If all were killed, then why did Moses warn the Pharaoh to bring his cattle to shelter before the hail? The ...
4
votes
1answer
137 views
The Frogs Plague [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“Moshe cried out” - really?
For this plague, the posuk says Moshe left and "cried out" (tzoak) to God that the plague should stop.
Why did this plague affect ...
9
votes
3answers
218 views
How do scientists such as Natan Aviezer and Gerald Schroeder understand the fourth day of creation?
If I understand correctly, scientists such as Natan Aviezer and Gerald Schroeder have readings of Genesis Chapter 1 that fit with the current scientific understanding of how the universe/planet/life ...
6
votes
2answers
166 views
Dibur HaMatchil: Where did it come from
When reading Rashi, each comment on the pasukkim is split up by DiBur Hamatchil (quotes from the pasuk to let you know what Rashi is commenting on).
Are these original to Rashi, or were they added?
On ...
8
votes
1answer
313 views
Did the Egyptians use whips on the Hebrew slaves? Why do we assume so?
It seems like every image I've ever seen drawn (or acted) of the Jews' slavery in Egypt involves them being whipped by Egyptians. The Torah says that the Jewish foremen were stricken as their ...
5
votes
1answer
87 views
Shmita and Joseph's Dreams
Shmita is every 7 years and we leave the land unused.
In Egypt there were 7 years of feast, then 7 years of famine.
As leaving the land unused could be considered famine like conditions, are there any ...
5
votes
2answers
186 views
Why did Noach curse Canaan and not Cham?
After the incident with Cham after the flood, Noach curses Canaan (Genesis 9:25). Why does he not curse Cham, the one who actually wronged him?
The explanations I've seen of this incident have Cham ...
0
votes
1answer
75 views
From Cursing to Blessing
What was Billam's thought process? At first he was going to curse the Jews; after Hashem tells him no, he says 'OK, in that case, let me bless them'? If you want to curse someone, your second option ...
9
votes
1answer
184 views
2.4 million killed according to Rashi in B'shalach. Why does no one talk about it?
In the begining of Parshat B'shalach, Rashi says that one p'shat for "Vachamushim" means one fifth, because during Makas Choshech, 4 out of 5 were killed out, and it happened during the time it was ...
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?
2
votes
1answer
64 views
King cant Forgive how did they ask Yosef King of Egypt for forgiveness
The Posuk says (בראשית פרק נ' י''ז):
כֹּה תֹאמְרוּ לְיוֹסֵף אָנָּא שָׂא נָא פֶּשַׁע אַחֶיךָ וְחַטָּאתָם
Translated as:
"Please, forgive now your brothers' transgression and their sin"
The ...
5
votes
1answer
86 views
Questions about the Beginning of Vayechi
My Torah Tidbits this shabbat told me that Vayigash is the only Parsha in the Torah to end before a "paragraph break". (Is this true?)
This got me to look more closely at the beginning of Vayechi, ...
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?
7
votes
1answer
58 views
Why did Binyamin think Yosef was still alive?
Rashi (Bereshit 43:30), quoting the Talmud (Sotah 36B), tells us that Binyamin named each of his 10 sons in honor of Yosef.
Many of the names indicate that Binyamin knew that Yosef was alive, in ...
2
votes
1answer
70 views
Why does the pasuk describing idols leave out “speaking?”
In Parshas Vaeschanan the Posuk says:
עֲבַדְתֶּם שָׁם אֱ־לֹהִים מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵי אָדָם עֵץ וָאֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִרְאוּן וְלֹא יִשְׁמְעוּן וְלֹא יֹאכְלוּן וְלֹא יְרִיחֻן
Translated as:
And there ...
1
vote
4answers
81 views
Why the Heel of the foot? (Parshas Ekev)
Parshas Ekev starts off
וְהָיָה עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים
Rashi says on this:
אם המצות הקלות שאדם דש בעקביו תשמעון:
What is the significance of the so called lite Mitzvos ...
7
votes
2answers
105 views
Why didn't Yosef's brothers recognize him?
The Posuk says (Genesis 42:8):
וַיַּכֵּר יוֹסֵף אֶת אֶחָיו וְהֵם לֹא הִכִּרֻהוּ
Translated as:
Now Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him
The question is: How did ...
5
votes
6answers
179 views
Chanukah and Miketz
What is the connection between Chanukah and Miketz — as, in most years, Chanukah falls out in this Parsha?
2
votes
5answers
146 views
Magicians' Inability to Interpet Pharaoh's Dreams
The Posuk says (Genesis 41:3):
וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע פָּרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת עֹלוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶן מִן הַיְאֹר רָעוֹת מַרְאֶה וְדַקּוֹת בָּשָׂר וַתַּעֲמֹדְנָה אֵצֶל הַפָּרוֹת עַל שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר
Translated as:
...
11
votes
1answer
211 views
How does Orthodox Judaism view the Book of Jubillees
How is the Book of Jubilees regarded by Orthodox Jewry (I'm not asking if we believe it existed, but if we hold any of the information in it to be accurate).
Is it ever quoted by any of the ...
4
votes
1answer
71 views
Did the Jews in Egypt gain monetary benefit from the miracle of the first plague?
There is a well known Medrash Rabbah that the Jews during the Plague of Blood sold water to the Egyptians for exorbitant amounts of money. The question is how was this allowed as we have a rule that ...
2
votes
1answer
115 views
Was Lot's Wife transformation into a Salt Pillar a miracle?
We tend to envision Lot's wife becoming a salt pillar as a (lehavdil) medusa-like sudden freezing from a normal human-organic state to a stone-cold hard mineral state.
Was this incident a miracle?
7
votes
2answers
62 views
Joseph and Chanukkah
The Parshiot about Joseph always fall right before or during Chanukkah. It their a relationship between the Joseph stories and the Chanukkah stories? It there something to be learned from the fact ...
5
votes
2answers
138 views
Who sold Yosef, and who knew?
I had always understood that Yosef's brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites. We know that they planned to do so, but during this week's torah reading I noticed this for the first time:
כח ...
4
votes
0answers
53 views
How did the Parshiyot get their names [duplicate]
and what are the names' significance?
Thanks
Naomi
Duplicate of:
Where are the rules for naming parshiyot explained?
