All Questions
Tagged with history parshanut-torah-comment
49 questions
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What kingdom was Melchizedek the king of?
Practically all commentators learn that Salem was Jerusalem, as it says (Gen 14.18): "And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High."
What do we ...
- 28k
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votes
1
answer
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What is the historic background to the first Rashi?
The first Rashi on Genesis says:
Rabbi Isaac said: The Torah, which is the Law book of Israel, should have commenced with the verse (Exodus 12:2) “This month shall be unto you the first of the months”...
- 1,446
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1
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238
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Is there any special mitzvah connected with the upcoming “March for Israel” rally on November 14 at the National Mall in Washington DC?
Upon reflection, the last time there was a potentially world altering convergence of Jews in the United States was for the Freedom Sunday for Soviet Jewry Rally on December 6, 1987. It was estimated ...
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102
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The Watchers in Judaism [duplicate]
My wife asked me if there were any opinions that the B'nei Elohim that slept with the daughters of men were actually angels. In one of her Torah commentaries it said there was no such opinion. I ...
- 11.8k
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2
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Why would some people "return" to Gehinnom?
Rashi on Psalms 9:18 states:
לשאולה: אמר רבי נחמי' כל תיבה הצריכה למ"ד בתחלתה הטיל לה ה"א בסופה
כגון (בראשית יב) מצרימה מדברה התיבון לי' והכתיב ישובו רשעים לשאולה א"ר
אבא בר זבדי ...
- 41
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2
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395
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If the ENTIRE Egyptian army drowned, why didn't the Babylonians/Hittites invade Egypt?
The following is an excerpt of a critique on "Reason to Believe":
Critic: Under these conditions, were the Ten Plagues and a total crush of the Egyptian army in the Red Sea waters to happen,...
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102
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Philistines destroyed the Temple?
Posting for someone else:
The Rashbam on Bereshis 22:1 brings that Hashem, in retaliation for Avraham giving 7 sheep to Avimelech, says that Avimelech's descendants will destroy 7 sanctuaries of ...
- 21.2k
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33
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Why is there no differentiation between drashos and asmachtos in shaas?
Similar to this quesion, I have been bothered for a while now with the following question: How is it that the Talmud was written with no indication at all between drashos gemuros and asmachtos?
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Pre-plagues hail?
In Shemot 9:24, it says about the plague of hail:
"וַיְהִי בָרָד וְאֵשׁ מִתְלַקַּחַת בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּרָד כָּבֵד מְאֹד אֲשֶׁר לֹא הָיָה כָמֹהוּ בְּכָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם מֵאָז הָיְתָה לְגוֹי."
&...
- 28.4k
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Which nations were the Cherethites and Pelethites?
Which nations were the Cherethites and Pelethites?
Divrei Hayamim I - I Chronicles - Chapter 18:17 And Benaiah the son of
Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and the sons of
David ...
- 41
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1
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99
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Are there Orthodox sources on alternative estimations of the Exodus?
When discussing the Exodus, some academic scholars try to reconcile the Biblical narrative with empirical findings by lowering the estimates for the number of people involved and the grandiosity of ...
- 28k
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206
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Where is the rest of Rabbi Shmuel Belkin's manuscript of The Midrash of Philo?
I am currently researching Philo of Alexandria, also known as Philon (פילון) or Yedidyah HaKohen of Alexandria.
There is a book that was prepared in manuscript by Rabbi Shmuel (Samuel) Belkin, z”l, ...
- 16.7k
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2
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867
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Were there insects in the garden of eden?
I was recently thinking, we create comfort for ourselves by keeping nature at bay.
Flies and mosquitos are annoying, would Adam and Eve have thought the same?
There were certainly serpents, maybe ...
- 268
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709
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Who is Artaxerxes of Ezra 4?
Ezra 4:4-24:
4. Thereupon the people of the land undermined the resolve of the people of Judah, and made them afraid to build.
5. They bribed ministers in order to thwart their plans all the years of ...
- 46.6k
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2
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219
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Allegory vs. Literalism in Judaism and How to Tell the Difference [duplicate]
In the following article, the author makes a compelling argument for why Judaism doesn't always approach scripture literally. However, although there are many examples throughout the Bible for the use ...
- 444
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40
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Ramifications of lack of Brachah for the tribe of Shimon
I have a hard time understanding Moses' Brochos to the tribes and how it correlates to the actual course of history. As I can see, the interpreters felt the same problem and tried to pick single ...
- 28k
3
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116
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When did Jewish court systems replace Yisro's "chiefs" system?
The Jews in the desert implemented Yisro's "chiefs" system to act as judges, but we know at some point the nation transitioned to the courts system with judges of 3, 23, 71, etc. At what point and ...
- 131
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2
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136
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Why do we use the term "Jew" or "Jewish" when referencing people in the Torah/Chumash passages?
Why do we use the term "Jew" or "Jewish" when referencing people in the Torah/Chumash passages?
In the Torah (the Chumash), the "children of Israel" are called just that "בני ישראל" or Israelite.
...
- 41
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2
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241
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Why does the Torah mention the lineage of Yishma'el and Esav?
The first Rash"i in the Torah cites Rav Yitzchak's question as to why the Torah didn't begin with the first mitzvah, because it's assumed that the purpose of the Torah is as a mitzvah guide and not a ...
- 71.5k
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1
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77
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Does Devarim 11:10 make some indirect reference to the shaduf irrigation system?
The end of the verse in Devarim 11:10 says "...You watered the green garden with your foot." (rough translation.)
My brother, an anthropology professor who studied Biblical history, explained to me, ...
- 71.5k
2
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0
answers
150
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Do Jewish scholars and/or Rabbis consider myths to be a violation of the second commandment?
Scripture consistently instructs against idols. It is the second of the Ten Commandments:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or ...
- 224
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1
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191
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What Egyptian/Greek text was Ibn Ezra consulting for his commentary on the name "Moshe"?
Ibn Ezra suggests that Pharaoh's daughter, who spoke Egyptian, most likely called the baby Monios, the Egyptian word for drawn; the Torah translated into Hebrew as "Moshe." He then writes that he ...
- 136k
3
votes
2
answers
612
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Did God create all animals in pairs?
I can't find any proof about how many animals of every kind were created in the creation of the world. Is that information mentioned anywhere? Before this question, I mistakenly thought that the ...
- 131
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0
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49
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Is nechoshet copper, brass or bronze [duplicate]
In the bible the word נחושת means what?
I saw a few translations: copper, brass, bronze.
What is the definition of the word
- 7,614
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2
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594
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The Three Jewish Tribes That Lived In Medina At The Time Of Mohammad
Is there any mention at all in the Talmud that backs the claim in the Quran that there were three Jewish tribes that lived in Medina at the time of Mohammad?
user8730
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463
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Is it generally accepted by Jewish scholars that Judaism was at one stage henotheist and/or monolatrist? [duplicate]
It is widely believed, among scholars of the history of Judaism and the Jewish scriptures, that the earliest books of the Tanakh display a gradual shift from a position of henotheism, to a form of ...
- 2,110
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1
answer
206
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How did our forefathers bake the dough they took out of Egypt? Would it qualify as matzo now?
Shmos 12 (39) says:
“They baked the dough that they had taken out of Egypt as unleavened
cakes, for it had not leavened, for they were driven out of Egypt, and
they could not tarry, and also, ...
- 48.7k
10
votes
3
answers
533
views
Rainbows prior to the Mabul
Did the rainbow exist as we know today, prior to the Mabul? Was it the same, different, or it did not exist at all prior to the Mabul? (sources please)
- 140k
11
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3
answers
189
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Paro enslaved Yisrael but they kept the good land -- was that normal?
When Yisrael come to Mitzrayim Paro gives them "the choice land of Goshen" Bereishis 47:6 which is also called "Raamses" Bereishis 47:11. Later a new king Paro who doesn't ...
- 57k
6
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3
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498
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What are some of the old commentaries prior to 1 BCE of the Torah?
I believe that there would be commentaries of the Torah older than 1 BCE and that can shed significant light on what the message of God is in terms of its authoritativeness.
Israelites have a glorious ...
- 2,013
-5
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1
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Which nation in this prophecy of Haggai will shake nations and will be given peace(שָׁלוֹם) [closed]
The following verse in the Torah prophesizes about a nation which will be given "peace" and coming of a praised being:
and I will shake all nations, and the choicest(חֶמְדַּת ) things of all ...
- 2,013
8
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2
answers
596
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If the Canaanites occupied the land in Moses’ day, why would Moses write that they were in the land then?
What does the Torah imply when it notes 'the Cannannites were then in the land' (Gen. 12:6)? It seems to suggest they were in the land then (when the tale took place) but not now (when the book was ...
- 479
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2
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645
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Sefer Milhamot Hashem - from Bamidbar 21:14
Does anyone know of any discussion of the the "sefer Milkhamot Hashem" mentioned in Bamidbar 21:14? Someone had asked me about the content of the book and I had no idea of what to answer him.
- 1,662
15
votes
2
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566
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Understanding of Ps. 137 before the exile
Psalm 137 starts (in my own translation)
On Babylon's rivers, there, we sat, also cried, in our remembering Zion.
and continues to describe the scene. Ibn Ezra cites some who hold that David ...
- 73.9k
9
votes
3
answers
2k
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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 ...
- 7,448
12
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2
answers
3k
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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 ...
- 136k
17
votes
2
answers
2k
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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 ...
- 44.8k
31
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3
answers
730
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What happened to the Yeshivas Shem v'Aiver?
What happened to the Yeshiva of Shem v'Aiver and all who learnt there?
- 1,472
13
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3
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289
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Were Avraham's tactics in rescuing Lot typical of the time?
Parshat Lech L'cha describes how Lot was captured in the battle of four kings against five kings. When Avraham heard, he mounted a night-time attack to rescue him.
This got me wondering: was a ...
- 57k
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1
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Where did the Plishtim (Philistines) come from?
Concerning the Plishtim (Philistines), Easton's Bible Dictionary (quoted here) says:
They occupied the five cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath, in the south-western corner of ...
- 44.8k
10
votes
3
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775
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Did all animals come into the Teiva?
Were there any type of animals that were destroyed completely by the Mabul? (For example - Is there any source that there were dinosaurs or any other type of wildlife and they were destroyed by the ...
- 140k
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2
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18k
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All people in world are Jews?
According to the Book of Genesis, Noah saved his family and representatives of every animal from a flood by constructing a boat. So since all of humanity should be descended from Noah, does that mean ...
user711
5
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1
answer
266
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"The Romans' Book" in Ramba"n
The commentary of Ramba"n on Vayikra 26:16 explains a large swath of parashas B'chukosai as an allegory to the two batei Mikdash and the corresponding exiles. Included therein, he elaborates on the ...
- 24k
3
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4
answers
298
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Why isn't Moshe considered a "forefather"?
If Moshe led us out of Egypt, into Israel, and is a great man why isn't he considered a forefather?
user380
7
votes
1
answer
248
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Timing of the Commandment of Gid Hanashe
The Torah mentions, after the story of Yaakov getting injured in Parshas Vayishlach,
that we do not eat the Gid Hanashe for this reason.
The Meforshim seem to concur that this mitzvah was included in ...
- 28.7k
37
votes
9
answers
4k
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Avot keeping Mitzvot
How are we to understand the tradition that the patriarchs kept all of the mitzvot in the Torah (see for example: the last mishna in Kiddushin (4:14), Rashi on Bereshit 32:5, etc.) in light of the ...
- 4,008
5
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2
answers
101
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Primacy of Rash"i
How did Rash"i's commentary on the Torah become the primary (phrasing intentionally vague) commentary among the hundreds of others that have been written?
- 24k
8
votes
1
answer
248
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Who initially populated Chanoch City?
The Torah tells us (Genesis 4:17) that Kayin built a city and named it after his son, Chanoch. If Chanoch was only of the third generation of humans, how was the total human population at the time ...
- 48.6k
12
votes
7
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910
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Why was Moshe buried alone?
Why did Hashem bury Moshe in an unknown place, and did not do so with other great Tzadikim like Avraham, Yitchak and Yaakov?
- 1,405