Questions tagged [parashat-bereishit]
The weekly Torah portion of Bereshit (Genesis 1:1-6:8)
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Order of events in parashas Bereishis
BH
I am having a lot of trouble understanding the order of the following events:
The creation of Man
The births of Cain and Hevel
The death of Hevel
The snake
Eating from the ...
5
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1answer
117 views
Why should we be punished for Adam's sin?
My kid asked:
I understand that Adam and Eve violated God's command by eating from the tree of knowledge and thus deserved punishment: as described in Genesis, Adam would have to work for his food ...
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0answers
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Was Josef sold in Egypt by the Midianites or the Ishmaelites? [duplicate]
In Bereishit 37:28 it says, "The Midianite traders passed by...and sold him (Josef) to the Ishmaelites..."
In Bereishit 37:36 it says. "Now the Midianites had sold him (Josef) in Egypt to Potiphar..."...
5
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1answer
79 views
On the interpretation of Genesis 1: 1
I'm an Italian noahide.
Here are some observations on Genesis 1: 1, about which I would very much like to know your opinion.
1 In most translations I have consulted, the verse is thus render:” In ...
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2answers
66 views
G-d is formless even if we have divine spark
If G-d is formless, how then did He take a piece of Himself and put it in Adom?
And the L-rd G-d formed man of dust from the ground, and He breathed
into his nostrils the soul of life, and man ...
3
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0answers
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Did Ralbag's predecessors help him, or make things more difficult for him?
At the end of his commentary to Parshat Bereishit, Ralbag writes that he had difficulty composing his commentary to this parshah because the earlier commentaries practically pushed him away from ...
4
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0answers
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Difference Between Shamayim and Rakia
In parshas Berashis, the words Shamayim and Rakia keep on coming up. someone asked me what is the difference between the 2, and I had no idea.
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0answers
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Understanding the cantillation of Bereshit 5:29 [duplicate]
In Bereshit 5:29 it states
וַיִּקְרָ֧א אֶת־שְׁמ֛וֹ נֹ֖חַ לֵאמֹ֑ר זֶ֠ה יְנַחֲמֵ֤נוּ
In every chumash I have seen the word זה has 2 cantillation marks on it a telisha and a gershayim (according to the ...
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0answers
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The Aliyot in Parshat Bereisheet
According to the Hertz (Soncino Press) chumash, the aliyot for Bereisheet are (excuse my poor formatting)
Aliyah...…. begins at
2...…………..1:14
3...………….1:24
4...…………..2:4
5...…………..3:22
6......
4
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1answer
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What sources say that Kayin inspired Hevel to bring an offering?
I've heard the idea that Kayin was the one who inspired his brother Hevel to bring an offering to Hashem (Genesis Chapter 4). One possible place I saw this was from Rabbi David Fohrman, although I don'...
2
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1answer
101 views
What was the size of the כָּתְנוֹת עוֹר?
What was the size of the כָּתְנוֹת עוֹר (garments of skins for Adam and his wife) (Genesis 3:21)?
By "size", I mean, was the garment just covering the area that an underwear would cover, or was it a ...
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0answers
35 views
Why does Rashi specifically tell us his interpretation method on 3:8?
In Bereishis 3:8, Rashi makes the following comment about his method of interpretation:
וישמעו. יֵשׁ מִדְרְשֵׁי אַגָּדָה רַבִּים וּכְבָר סִדְּרוּם רַבּוֹתֵינוּ עַל מְכוֹנָם בִּבְ"רַ וּבִשְׁאָר ...
1
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1answer
43 views
Which sources tell how Eve got to know they could not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil?
The command not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil is given to Adam in 2(17) before the creation of Eve.
In 3(3) and with Rashi's comments we read that Eve knew of the prohibition.
...
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0answers
27 views
Why does G-d need to say how 'good' His work in the creation was?
Why does Elokim need to say that His work was good? Of course it was good!!! What else would G-d's work be? Why did He have to add this ? It seems totally un-G-dly and completely superfluous/
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3answers
184 views
Beresheit 3:21: What was the material Hashem used to cover Adam and Chava?
I'm seeking a general consensus on what material Hashem used to clothe Adam and Chava. I realize there are various translations stating they were leather or animal skins. Commentaries range from ...
1
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3answers
86 views
Don't Touch: Fruit of the tree versus Non-kosher corpses
The Hizkuni on Bereshies 3:3, where Chava tells the serpent that they can't TOUCH or eat from the Eitz, writes
ולא תגעו בו. לאכלו, כמו ובנבלתם לא תגעו (ויקרא יא ח), לפי הפשט. והאמת כל המוסיף ...
4
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1answer
111 views
Is there any significance to the age at which Methuselah died?
Bresheit 5:27 records the death of Methuselah as 969 years. His is the longest lifespan recorded in the Torah. Is there any meaning for his death at such an age, or is there significance to the ...
3
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1answer
62 views
Men's Earth vs. Women's Bone
Someone recently mentioned to me that there is a Chazal saying אדם was created from עפר which gets hot quickly but doesn’t retain the heat too long, while women were created from bone which takes ...
3
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1answer
38 views
Is there any significance in the distinction between Avos d’Rebbi Nassan and Bereishis Rabbah regarding Chavah and the snake?
In Avos d’Rebbi Nassan 1:5, as quoted and linked by DanF here, when Chavah told the snake that Hashem commanded them not to touch nor eat from the Etz HaDa’as, the snake touched the tree, saying, “...
5
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2answers
825 views
What does Judaism teach about Eve's addition to divine commandment that she not touch the fruit?
In Genesis 2:17 we read:
But of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat of it, for on the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die."
Later, during Eve's temptation, we read:
...
1
vote
1answer
104 views
Birthmarks - What are they?
I personally have a Mongolian birthmark that consumes half my chest and right leg. I've heard of Mongolian birthmarks being indicators of someone being Jewish. But otherwise, it's just a mark.
...
0
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1answer
75 views
Which of the three forbidden fruits was the opinion of the Arizal; grapes, wheat or figs and why?
We were asked earlier this week about what the Arizal's opinion was on which forbidden fruit was on the Etz HaDaat. Does anyone know what it might be?
1
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1answer
66 views
Which of Adam’s sons married which of his daughters?
According to Rashi to Bereishis 4:1-2, Kayin was born with a twin sister, and Hevel was born with two triplet sisters. As Rashi to Vayikra 20:17 explains, Kayin married his sister in order that the ...
3
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1answer
71 views
How did Hevel acquire his flock?
In Bereishit 4:2-4 we read that Hevel was a keeper of sheep and that he offered from the firstlings of his flock. How did he come to acquire the flock? Did he have to trap them and domesticate them or ...
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2answers
98 views
How could Kayin have married his sister, if it was prohibited?
The Rambam writes in Melachim uMilchamot (Ch. 9) that six different mitzvot were given to Adam. One of these mitzvot is the prohibition of incest and adultery.
The Gemara (Sanhedrin 38b) says that ...
2
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0answers
48 views
Does Hashem create a Michshol?
There is a Jewish law forbidding putting a michshol, a stumbling block, in front of a blind person. This is extended also to mean that one should not lead others into sin, including providing the ...
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0answers
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Was Adam allowed to eat the meat of an animal which he did not kill?
The Gemara in SANHEDRIN 59b says:
אמר רב יהודה אמר רב אדם הראשון לא הותר לו בשר לאכילה דכתיב (בראשית א, כט) לכם יהיה לאכלה ולכל חית הארץ ולא חית הארץ לכם
§ Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: Meat was ...
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2answers
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Cursing other opinions
In Bereishit Rabbah 26:5 we read רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי מְקַלֵּל לְכָל מַאן דְּקָרֵא לְהוֹן בְּנֵי אֱלָהַיָּא -- that R. Shim'on Bar Yochai cursed anyone who interpreted Bereishit 6:2 as ...
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1answer
48 views
Adam and Chava's lack of repentance
I searched but did not find this exact question. Were Adam and Chava's expulsion also in part due to their lack of repentance or was it specifically because of their disobedience?
1
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1answer
44 views
Understanding Bereshit 1:30
Bereshit 1:30 says
וּֽלְכָל־חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָרֶץ וּלְכָל־ע֨וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ רוֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־בּוֹ֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה אֶת־כָּל־יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב לְאָכְלָ֑ה וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
And to ...
2
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1answer
225 views
When was water created?
Bereishit 1 goes into detail on when and how Hashem created various things in creation. One thing I notice though is that there is no specific detail on how or when water was created. It just sort of "...
2
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2answers
111 views
Oldest Tree and Creation
Since it can be shown that there is a tree over 9,500 years old https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080416104320.htm , and according to the dates in the Torah, mankind has been around for ...
4
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2answers
131 views
Was Avrohom really born in 1948?
I have always been told that Avrohom Ovinu was born 1948 years after Odom was created. I recently thought I would add up the relevant figures in Sidra Bereisis and Sidra Noach to see what number I ...
6
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2answers
148 views
Is there still a prohibition on eating from the Eitz Hadaat (Tree of Knowledge)?
Obviously this is a philosophical question, not a practical one, but I am curious to see if anyone has commented if whether the prohibition for eating from the Eitz Hadaat still stands today.
On the ...
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3answers
70 views
Which verse is correct? Genesis 1:14 or Leviticus 23:27? [duplicate]
Genesis 1:14 says that all Appointed Times (מועדים) are determined by the Sun and the Moon Phases. For example, all Holy Meetings (מקרא קדש) in the 1st or 7th months fall on moon phases.
However, ...
3
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2answers
118 views
Why was Adam Embarrassed
Genesis (3:7) states that Adam and Eve realised that they were naked so they made loincloths from fig leaves:
וידְע֔וּ כִּ֥י עֵֽירֻמִּ֖ם הֵ֑ם וַֽיִּתְפְּרוּ֙ עֲלֵ֣ה תְאֵנָ֔ה וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם ...
3
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1answer
81 views
What are the 3 worlds of the Kli Yakar?
The Kli Yakar talks about 3 created worlds. What is he referring to?
Kli Yakar Bereshit 1:1:
ויש עוד דרך שלישי, אבל אין כל אדם יכול לעמוד עליו והוא להכיר מציאת השם ית' מתוך החקירה וידיעת ...
7
votes
2answers
205 views
Torah view on the Chicken or the Egg?
What is the Torah's viewpoint on the age old question whether the chicken or the egg was created first?
Note: Although this article shows Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin writes both fish and chicken eggs ...
4
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0answers
131 views
Purpose of Torah in Gan Eden [closed]
We know from several midrashim (see first chapter of Midrash Tanchuma to Bereshit) that Torah had already existed before the world was created. It should have contained all the positive and negative ...
6
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2answers
164 views
Apple as Forbidden Fruit?
Is there a source for the commonly (mis)understood forbidden fruit being an apple? The Gemara Brachos (40a) identifies the possibilities of wheat, grapes, or figs:
דתניא אילן שאכל ממנו אדם הראשון ...
0
votes
2answers
364 views
Genesis 4:7 Timshol-bo
The verse of Genesis 4:7 ends with the words תמשל-בו (timshol-bo), and is often translated as 'you shall rule over it'.
But the prefix Bet often means 'in', 'with', 'at' or 'on'. Maybe there some ...
1
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2answers
178 views
Where is there a discussion in any source, where a woman refers to herself, literally or figuratively as worn-out or aging or decaying?
Where is there a discussion in any source, from Talmud to Midrash, where a woman, whether as the only wife or one of several wives of the same husband, refers to herself (or is referred to), literally ...
1
vote
1answer
88 views
Was Adam HaRishon made incomplete? If so why?
Rav Yosef Albo (Sefer Halkkarim 3:2) explains that the expression 'Ki Tov' is used to describe something that has reached i.e. fulfilled its potential and reached its (goal, purpose) shleimus (...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Genesis 1 and 2 are both displaying a correct order based on the words 'making' and 'forming'?
Looking for a possible explanation why Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 seem to contradict each other, I noticed a difference in the order of things being 'made' in Genesis 1 and the order of things being '...
0
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1answer
74 views
Why couldn't man be alone, and what was the need for a ezer kenegdo.
Why was it not good for Adam to be alone?
And why was it that he needed a ezer kenegdo?
Genesis 2:18 (Mechon Mamre)
יח וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים, לֹא-טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ; אֶעֱשֶׂה-לּוֹ ...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Nefesh Chaya in Bereshit and Rashi
In Parashat Bereshit, Rashi comments 3 times the words Nefesh Chaya נפש חיה (Bereshit 1:20 ; 1:21 and 1:24) the same way which is:
"נפש חיה: שיש בה חיות", translated by www.chabad.org "living ...
0
votes
1answer
44 views
Taking control a command for men and it's meaning
With so many words which describe ruling, submission, dominion, leading, controling, reagning etc.
I wondered why the word mashal was chosen in Bereshit 3:16 and rarah and kabash in Bereshit 1:26-28,...
4
votes
3answers
196 views
Why add pain and travail to the birthing process?
After Adam and Chava went against the Will of HaShem, HaShem seems to give them some reprocussions for their deeds. But why was it that HaShem said to Chava: 'I will greatly multiply thy pain and thy ...
1
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0answers
43 views
Did Adam name all the breeds of the same type of animal?
Breishit (Gen.) 2:20 indicates that Adam named all the animals.
Did he give each class of animals just general names, or was Adam specific to name each breed of animal as well? E.g. - Did he name ...
6
votes
1answer
505 views
The snake slept with Chavah?
Chazal say (Avodah Zarah 22b) that the snake had relations with Chavah. Does the Gemara elsewhere ever fault her explicitly for this? If not, why not, as she was already commanded in it (Sanhedrin 58a,...
