Questions tagged [avot-patriarch-fathers]
Generally refers to Avraham (Abraham), Yitzchak (Isaac), and Yaakov (Jacob); the three patriarchs of the Jewish People.
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Esav - Patriarch of Nations?
I was listening to HaRav Mendel Kessin shlita and he brought the idea that Esav is a failed Av/Patriarch of the Jewish people.
My question is, is there a concept that he is considered to be in some ...
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What does the Vav in Eliyahu represent?
There is a famous Midrash that Yaakov took a Vav from Eliyahu. This is why their names are spelled
אליה & יעקוב
They say it has to do with the announcements.
What did he take?
I.e. what כח was in ...
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Should we follow the outdated traditions of our forefathers? [closed]
How do we determine which traditions of our ancestors to uphold? For instance, the act of Yaakov kissing Rachel before marriage or women playing drums are practices from the past that definitely don't ...
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It would almost seem as though Hashem was tricking Ya'akov into going down to Egypt?
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָנֹכִ֥י הָאֵ֖ל אֱלֹהֵ֣י אָבִ֑יךָ אַל־תִּירָא֙ מֵרְדָ֣ה מִצְרַ֔יְמָה כִּֽי־לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֥ שָֽׁם׃
“I am God, the God of your father’s [house]. Fear not to go down to Egypt, ...
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Why was Yaakov always fearful?
He may have just had a lot going on to be afraid about however almost every time we encounter Yaakov he is either nervous or concerned that something bad may happen.
By the berachos with getting ...
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Was Yaakov's kidushin to Leah valid?
It says in Masechet Bava Batra 123a:
אָמַר לָהּ מִינַּסְבַתְּ לִי אָמְרָה לֵיהּ אִין מִיהוּ אַבָא רַמָאָה הוּא וְְלאֹ יָכְלַתְּ לֵיהּ אָמַר לָהּ מַאי רַמָּאוּתֵיהּ אֲמָרָהּ לֵיהּ אִית לִי אַחְתָּא ...
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Maharal on lentils
Rashi says that Jacob made lentils for Esau as they are round like a wheel as this day was the day Abraham died and aveilut is the wheel(galgal) of the world.
The Maharal from Prague comments that ...
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70 Souls of Jacob
In Bereshit 46 the Torah tells us that there were 70 descendents of Jacob who came to Egypt with him (excluding the wifes)
33 descendants through Leah
16 through Zilpa
14 throgh Rahel
7 through Bilah
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Was Jacob shomer negiah? [duplicate]
Tradition says that couples may not touch before marriage. One who follows that is called shomer negiah.
Yet when Jacob met Rachel he kissed her:
וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק יַעֲקֹ֖ב לְרָחֵ֑ל וַיִּשָּׂ֥א אֶת־קֹל֖וֹ ...
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Did early biblical figures like Isaac abstain from intimate relations until marriage?
In biblical accounts, several figures, such as Isaac, are noted to have married at a relatively older age compared to today's standards. Isaac, for instance, married at the age of 40. Given the ...
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Biological sample from the ancient dead
Is there any halachic justification, or permission, to take a biological sample from a dead person in an ancient site? For example, in Israel there are many archeological digs which sometimes result ...
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Skills of the Shevatim
I recently read this story - 'Warrior Prophets' by Ben Tzion: https://ben-tzion.com/warrior-prophets/#:~:text=A%20Biblical%20Fiction%20Novel%20based,chaos%20sweeping%20the%20ancient%20world.
(Highly ...
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Yaakov Avinu wanted to learn in yeshiva instead of with an angel?
Rashi (Bereishis 25:22) quotes the Midrash:
ויתרוצצו. עַ"כָּ הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה אוֹמֵר דָּרְשֵׁנִי, שֶׁסָּתַם מַה
הִיא רְצִיצָה זוֹ וְכָתַב אִם כֵּן לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי? רַבּוֹתֵינוּ
דְּרָשׁוּהוּ ...
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Were any books (prior to 1240 CE) teaching תֶּרַח Terach was reincarnated into אִיוֹב Iyov (as described by Zohar, Zera Barekh & Simchat HaRegel)?
Were any books (prior to 1240 CE) teaching תֶּרַח Terach was reincarnated into אִיוֹב Iyov (as described by Zohar, Zera Barekh & Simchat HaRegel)?
https://www.sefaria.org/...
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Is Yaacov Avinu implying that Hashem only fulfils His promises to those who are worthy? (Rashi)
קָטֹנְתִּי מִכֹּל הַחֲסָדִים וּמִכָּל־הָאֱמֶת
I am unworthy of all the kindness and all the truth...(Bereshit 32:11)
Rashi on "truth":
ומכל האמת. אֲמִתַּת דְּבָרֶיךָ, שֶׁשָּׁמַרְתָּ לִי ...
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Yaakov Avinu Talking About Eretz Yisroel
Since it is forbidden to speak badly about Eretz Yisroel, was it considered lashon hara for Yaakov Avinu to tell Pharaoh that he had to leave the Holy Land because it was negatively impacted by famine ...
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Was the angel Ya'akov fought Esau's Angel or Ya'akov's Yetzer ha-ra? Was the wrestling literal?
I discussed with someone recently the incident in Bereshis where Ya'akov wrestles with an angel. It quickly became clear that our understanding of that story was completely different as far as what ...
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What's the source that Eretz Yisroel was promised by Hashem?
I am looking for sources on the topic of when Hashem promised Eretz Yisroel to the Avos. If there's anyone who can help me, I will greatly appreciate it.
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Attained Holiness by Yaakov in Mitzrayim
Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen of Lublin, in his work "Pri Tzadik" on Parashas Vayechi 1:5 explains:
The completion of Jacob's holiness is specifically in Egypt, and not in the land of Israel. This ...
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How did the Avos know the Torah, who taught them?
Is there any source to what my Rabeiim taught me in yeshiva that the Avos knew the Torah by "reverse Engineering the Briyah" because Hashem looked into the Torah to create the world so the ...
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Are there any opinions about Yitzchak's parentage, or other children from Sarah?
Are there any opinions that either Abimelech and Sarah, or Pharaoh and Sarah, had children together? And if so, I would never suggest that would have any bearing on Yitzchak, since he's one of the ...
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Does the covenant with Abraham affect any of his children besides the children of Jacob?
If God established the covenant he made with Abraham first with Isaac, and then with Jacob, does that covenant have any effects at all upon the other children in the family of Abraham such as Ishmael ...
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Wasn't Yaakov afraid to create envy between Ephraim and Menashe?
When Yosef took his sons to receive a bracha from his father, Yaakov switched his hands to put his right hand over Ephraim, the youngest brother. When Yosef questioned him about that, Yaakov said that ...
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Moshe Grave connected with the Cave of the Patriarchs
The Sefer אישי התנ״ך / the encyclopaedia of biblical personalities brings the sifri Beracha 34:51 “ A tunnel cave connected Moses grave with the graves of the patriarchs.”
I can’t seem to find this. I ...
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Are there positive meanings in Torah about horses that relate to Jews? Also dogs?
Sorry if this is basic but if I learned it I forgot it. I think what I'm trying to remember was about Joseph the Righteous, but I will ask more broadly, are there any positive affiliations of Jews in ...
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Why were the shevatim named by their mothers, not Yaakov
Yitzchok and Yishmael were named by Avraham. Yaakov and Eisav were seemingly named by Yitzchok. Yet all of the Shevatim were named by their mothers, based on their situation at the time, without any ...
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Do commentaries address/question the morality of Leah and Rachel's actions against Yaakov regarding switching places?
Leah switches with Rachel to marry Yaakov (parashat ויצא). Following this, Yaakov is surprised (to say the least!), Bereshit 29:25:
וַיְהִ֣י בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּה־הִ֖וא לֵאָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶל־לָבָ֗ן מַה־...
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Signing off the bracha of 'magen Avraham' with just Avraham
In Parshas Lech Lecha 12:2, the pasuk famously reads:
וְאֶֽעֶשְׂךָ֙ לְג֣וֹי גָּד֔וֹל וַאֲבָ֣רֶכְךָ֔ וַאֲגַדְּלָ֖ה שְׁמֶ֑ךָ וֶהְיֵ֖ה בְּרָכָֽה׃
I will make of you a great nation, And I will bless you; ...
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Why was Sara put in a box?
Rashi in Bereishis 12:14 says;
ויהי כבוא אברם מצרימה. הָיָה לוֹ לוֹמַר כְּבוֹאָם מִצְרַיְמָה? אֶלָּא לִמֵּד שֶׁהִטְמִין אוֹתָהּ בְּתֵבָה, וְעַל יְדֵי שֶׁתָּבְעוּ אֶת הַמֶּכֶס פָּתְחוּ וְרָאוּ אוֹתָהּ:...
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Why was Shimon Hatzadik so-called?
In Pirkei Avot 1:2, Shimon is called Hatzaddik (the righteous). I gathered a couple of questions about this fact:
Why was [only] he called so and not other Rabbis? Was he called so by the Greeks (...
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Do Arabs have a distinct stature among non-Jews as they descend from Abraham?
To best of my knowledge, according to Judaism, both Arabs and Jews descend from Abraham. In particular, Arabs are believed to be descended from Ishmael, and Jews are believed to be descended from ...
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Why did the 10 Brothers tell Yaakov that Yosef had died if doing so would cause him such intense pain & grief?
Is there any Torah commentary that addresses how Yaakov’s ten sons could have been so cold, heartless and cruel, to cause Yaakov’s intense, 22-year, unconsolable grief over Yosef’s death? What child ...
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Did Rachel really die on the way from Padan Aram?
Why does Yaakov says that Rachel died when he came from Padan Aram (ואני בבאי מפדן)? Apparently, she died much later, not after leaving from the house of Lavan.
Rachel dies in 35:19, Yaakov departs ...
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What is the significance of Dina in the Biblical narrative?
Dina is mentioned only several times in the Torah - her birth, her rape and the massacre, and her counted with the 70 souls coming down to Egypt. The midrash tells us how Jacob mistreat her with Esau ...
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Why wasn't Yosef's wife counted in the 70 people of Yaakov's family that went down to Egypt?
Some say that they were 66 and that the missing 4 are: Yocheved, Yosef and his 2 sons. How about Osnas (Dina's daughter, Yosef's wife). If Yosef and his children were counted why not Osnas?
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Is there any practical implication to the Avot's being priests?
According to various sources, Malkitzedek was punished for blessing Avraham before blessing Hashem by having his "priesthood" status taken away and placed on Avraham. This status is then ...
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What were Yaakov's original intentions for marrying Lavan's daughter(s)?
I learned from my Rabbi's books (R' Moshe Luriah's "בית גנזי על התורה" - Ariz"l's tradition) that:
Yaakov and Esav paralleled Rachel and Leah and were "destined" one for ...
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Yaakov, Lavan, and the sheep deal(s)
Yaakov tells Lavan that "You changed my wages ten times." [Chazal: actually a hundred times.] It's a sad story. If Lavan had just given Yaakov normal wages, מחצית שכר - splitting the outcome ...
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Shevuah worded in the negative
I've been bothered for a long time: Throughout Tanach, shevuos (oaths) and brisos (covenants) are phrased in the negative (where it doesn't just say, I swear __, like בי נשבעתי ___). Generally ...
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Why did Isaac trust his senses over his feeling?
וַיִּגַּשׁ יַעֲקֹב אֶל־יִצְחָק אָבִיו וַיְמֻשֵּׁהוּ וַיֹּאמֶר הַקֹּל קוֹל יַעֲקֹב וְהַיָּדַיִם יְדֵי עֵשָׂו׃ - So Jacob drew close to his father Isaac, who felt him and wondered. “The voice is the ...
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Why didn’t Yaakov marry both sisters simultaneously?
This might sound strange but the effective Jewish Halacha allows for marrying multiple women at once:
נוֹשֵׂא אָדָם כַּמָּה נָשִׁים אֲפִלּוּ מֵאָה בֵּין בְּבַת אַחַת בֵּין בָּזוֹ אַחַר זוֹ - A person ...
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What Biblical couple is the standard for happy and healthy marital relationships?
On Shabbos, we bless our kids with Brochos to grow like our forefathers/mothers. When my kid announced that he's getting married I exclaimed "may God put your marriage like..." and got stuck ...
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Different languages describing forefathers' wealth
Off the top of my head, I bring three different verses describing the (enormous) wealth of our forefathers, each mentioning different parts of it:
Abraham: "וְאַבְרָם כָּבֵד מְאֹד בַּמִּקְנֶה ...
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Why is Bethuel referred to as "Son of Milkah" and not "Son of Nahor"?
Several times in the Parasha Bethuel is referred to as "Son of Milkah" and not "Son of Nahor", for example:
... וְהִנֵּה רִבְקָה יֹצֵאת אֲשֶׁר יֻלְּדָה לִבְתוּאֵל בֶּן־מִלְכָּה ...
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When does Torah attribute birth to the mother and when to the father?
I spot two approaches to informing a birth in the Torah:
attributing it to the mother, for example: "... הִנֵּה יָלְדָה מִלְכָּה גַם־הִוא בָּנִים לְנָחוֹר אָחִיךָ׃", “Milcah too has borne ...
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Why is abstinence is important for Rivkah but not other foremothers or other Toranic female figures?
וְהַנַּעֲרָ טֹבַת מַרְאֶה מְאֹד בְּתוּלָה וְאִישׁ לֹא יְדָעָהּ ...׃ - The maiden was very beautiful, a virgin whom no man had known. Genesis.24.16
Why is the fact of sexual abstinence is important ...
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Legal status of Abraham sending Eliezer to marry Rivka
I'm confused about the legal status of Abraham sending his slave to get Rivka from Bethuel.
IIRC, Isaac was completely unaware of the mission, he didn't send Eliezer, Abraham was one to send Eliezer ...
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Why didn't our forefathers team up with Shem and Ever?
Our sources mention not only the mere existence of Abraham's pious forefathers, such as Shem and Ever but their Toranic activities in the Promised land, such as Shem being a Kohen in Jerusalem and ...
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Are there any respected rabbis who say that the Avot did not follow all of the laws of the Torah before it was given?
I am disturbed by the oft-repeated claim that Abraham, Issac, and Jacob followed all the details of Torah before it was given to us at Sinai. I suspect that it is a case of later generations ...
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Why did God not prevent all 3 patriarchs from going to Egypt during a famine?
The Ramban strongly criticized Abraham for leaving the Holy Land during a famine, and cited that episode as the reason for the Jews' enslavement in Egypt:
And you should know that our father Abraham ...
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