Questions tagged [parshanut-torah-comment]
interpretation of parts of Tanach by close reading, not derivation (Pronounced "par-sha-noot")
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3answers
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Why are laws of damages written in the middle of the story of the blasphemer?
In the end of Parshas Emor (Vayikra 24:10-23), the Torah relates the story of someone who blasphemed and his punishment. After the person blasphemes, he is put in a prison while Moshe proceeds to ask ...
1
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2answers
117 views
Why is the 7th commandment restricted to adultery?
The seventh of the ten commandments is Lo Tin'af, do not engage in adultery. But the Talmud tells us that we may break all commandments to save a life, except those against idolatry, murder and sexual ...
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0answers
34 views
Malkizedek, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount
וּמַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק מֶלֶךְ שָׁלֵם הוֹצִיא לֶחֶם וָיָיִן וְהוּא כֹהֵן לְאֵל עֶלְיוֹן׃
And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. (Ber 14, 18)
Many ...
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0answers
41 views
Are Abraham Ibn Ezra and Moshe Ibn Ezra related? [closed]
Are these two figures of Jew tradition related, and if so, can anyone point me to any encyclopedia articles which deal with this question?
1
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1answer
57 views
(How) did the M'kallel know he was doing something the warranted death?
In Vayikra 24:12 it says they placed the person who cursed God in jail. The gemarah (Sanhedrin 78b) explains that Moshe did not know if this person's actions warranted the death punishment and that ...
4
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0answers
18 views
Honoring parents - before and after Shabbos
In the Decalogue (Parashas Yisroh):
Keeping Shabbos is called Zachor (positive Mitzvah)
It precedes Honoring parents
Honoring is a positive Mitzvah (כבד).
In Parashas Kdoshim it says the "opposite" ...
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0answers
42 views
“Robbing the spear” - was it Gezel?
The Gemmorah explains the term Gezel (B"K 79a):
ואלא גזלן היכי דמי אמר ר' אבהו כגון בניהו בן יהוידע שנאמר (שמואל ב כג, כא) ויגזל את החנית מיד המצרי ויהרגהו בחניתו
What are the circumstances of ...
3
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0answers
45 views
Why is the Sinai revelation of the Decalogue called “Matan Torah”?
This question focuses on the term "Matan Torah" used everywhere, its practical and factual events (no metaphors, please). Also, this is not about the festival of Shavuos as in this question.
I've ...
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1answer
76 views
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.
...
2
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1answer
52 views
How does everything that breathes praise God?
I know this was asked before as a joke, but it really IS a serious question. Psalm 150 says:
כֹּ֣ל הַ֭נְּשָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּ֥ל יָ֗הּ
Everything that breathes praises God.
This includes cats, dogs, ...
2
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0answers
41 views
Source for Ramban regarding Devarim 30:7
According to Ramban (in the context of Vikuah), Devarim 30:7 applies both to notzrim and ishmaelim:
וקראתי להם פרשת והיה כי יבואו עליך כל הדברים האלה הברכה והקללה אשר
נתתי לפניך, וגמר הפרשה עד ...
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0answers
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Parshiot that list lots of Mitzvos with no visible order
Leaving the problem of the "Informational density"1 aside, we see Parshiot (Mishpotim, Kedoshim - 51 Mitzvos each) that list tons of Mitzvos in seemingly unrelated order2 or formulation3 one after ...
6
votes
1answer
50 views
Source for Ir Miklat used to improve one's character
I heard in a shiur that one purpose for sending an accidental killer to the arei miklat, the cities of refuge, was so that he could improve his character. He would be surrounded by the Leviim, and ...
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0answers
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“Vaishakehu” Extra Points over entire word? or some letters?
Shalom!
The famous Passuk on which Esav and Jaacov ran, hug, kiss and cry.
The Word VAISHAKEHU has points-dots over every leter.
Siftei Chakhamim seems to have VAISHAKEHU וישקהו with 5 nekudot, ...
2
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0answers
34 views
In Exodus, when exactly they “could not delay” until the dough was leavened?
THe Torah says (Ex 12,39):
וַיֹּאפוּ אֶת־הַבָּצֵק אֲשֶׁר הוֹצִיאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם עֻגֹת מַצּוֹת כִּי לֹא חָמֵץ כִּי־גֹרְשׁוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לְהִתְמַהְמֵהַּ וְגַם־צֵדָה לֹא־עָשׂוּ לָהֶם׃
...
1
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1answer
27 views
Did Adam and Eve realize they sinned?
This question must precede "why-didnt-adam-ask-for-forgiveness".
A short recap of the events as I understand it:
G-d asks Adam not to eat from the tree, Eve is brought to Adam to be his supporter, ...
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1answer
46 views
How did Lavan become so evil and why wasn't he punished?
As in the previous question, the Haggadah mentions the wickedness of Lavan that surpasses the wickedness of Pharaoh.
THat wickedness seems inconsistent with the general story of the Torah - Eisov was ...
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0answers
56 views
Where does Pharaoh's wickedness stem from?
The Torah brings very descriptive lineage of the Good guys (us) and the Bad guys (Eusov's Alufim, Amolek from Eisov etc) but reciting the Haggadah I was stumbled by the fact that Pharaoh's wickedness ...
0
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1answer
45 views
Why at the Seder night it is not sufficient to be wise?
The Haggadah says:
וַאֲפִילוּ כֻּלָּנוּ חֲכָמִים, כֻּלָּנוּ נְבוֹנִים, כֻּלָנוּ זְקֵנִים, כֻּלָנוּ יוֹדְעִים אֶת הַתּוֹרָה
Listing 4 different qualities means that each one is not sufficient, and ...
3
votes
2answers
104 views
What is R. Chananel's/R. Bachye's calculation of the years in Egypt?
In this answer I collected the opinions of various biblical commentators as to how many years the Israelites actually spent in Egypt. One of those views was that expressed by R. Chananel, as recorded ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
What's the difference between two potential (כוחניים) maters the Yuly and the second
I read in the Abarbanel on Bereishit 1:1,quoting the Ramban, that on the first day Hashem created two types of primordial matter:
הראשון לבד שני חמרים מבלי צורה כוחניים בטבעם כענין ההיולי הראשון ...
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1answer
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Body Parallels to the Creation
Inspired by this question.
Some commentaries viewed maaseh bereishis to be the literal description of the creation, and some interpret it in an allegorical fashion. I recall hearing somewhere that ...
5
votes
1answer
298 views
How did Beeri the Hittite come up with naming his daughter Yehudit?
וַיְהִי עֵשָׂו בֶּן־אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וַיִּקַּח אִשָּׁה אֶת־יְהוּדִית בַּת־בְּאֵרִי הַחִתִּי
וְאֶת־בָּשְׂמַת בַּת־אֵילֹן הַחִתִּי׃
When Esau was forty years old, he took to wife Judith ...
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1answer
49 views
Exodus 21:22–25 Relevance for the issue of abortion
I'm asking about the interpretation of Exodus 21:22-25 as a Christian who talks about abortion policies etc. In my reading of the passage, I tend to interpret it that the expectation of the passage is ...
2
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0answers
49 views
Significance of Torah Midpoint
What is the significance of the middle of the Torah in letters being the vav in גָּחוֹן (Vayika 11:42)? (source: Kiddushin 30a)
What is special about the vav in גָּחוֹן that the Almighty chose to ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
What was the Chiddush (novelty) in the 10 commandments?
I'm trying to imagine myself exiting Egypt and arriving at Matan Torah. I expect that for 49 days the Jewish people expect G-d to give them something they didn't already know. Instead, G-d recites the ...
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1answer
42 views
Why things in the Torah are “caused” by dreams but on Purim by insomnia?
Frankly this question was asked by my Chevrutah today.
We see that many things in the Torah are caused or moved by sleeping and dreaming - Yaakov dreaming of the Ladder, Yossef having fights with his ...
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0answers
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Why the sexes are not mentioned with animals?
In the creation of animals the Torah does not mention that they were created male and female:
וַיַּעַשׂ אֱלֹהִים אֶת־חַיַּת הָאָרֶץ לְמִינָהּ וְאֶת־הַבְּהֵמָה לְמִינָהּ וְאֵת כָּל־רֶמֶשׂ הָאֲדָמָה ...
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2answers
36 views
What exactly do we celebrate on Purim - the 14th of Adar?
In the Purim timeline, we can see a series of beneficial events:
the King couldn't sleep and remembered Mordechai (the turn of the story)
Hanging of Haman with his sons and Appointing of Mordechai ...
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2answers
38 views
Purim fighting in Adar - why wait for 8 months?
According to the Purim timeline:
the 13th of Adar (of the next year) was set as the target day for wiping the Jews.
Mordechai became the vice in Nissan and the new decrees to fight Amolekites ware ...
2
votes
1answer
26 views
In Lamentations 2:8 what does it mean to “stretch out a line”?
In Lamentations 2:8 what does it mean to "stretch out a line"?
Rashi says that it refers to a "line of judgment":
What might a "line of judgment" be?
2
votes
2answers
38 views
How can one behold the likeness of G-d, while no one did? [duplicate]
Could someone explain me the meaning of the words ‘he beholds the likeness of HaShem’ from Bamidbar 12:8 in comparison to Devarim 4:15 which states no one saw such a thing’. Because in both verses the ...
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vote
1answer
78 views
Why the Golden calf was a calf and not a bull?
If I recall correctly, the sources say the idol was created grown up and fully functioning.
Even if it was still in infant stages, Bava Kamma 65b:
אמר רבא שור בן יומו קרוי שור
(DonielF) according ...
3
votes
3answers
126 views
603,550 Jews at Sinai and 603,550 Jews Entering Promised Land?
Why in Exodus 38:26 does it say there were 603,550 men over age 20, and then in Numbers 1:46 the exact same number (603,550) is again listed?
Didn’t all the Jews of the generation in Exodus all die ...
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votes
1answer
78 views
Where was Adam when Chava cheated with the snake?
Where Adam was when Chava was sinning with the snake?
For me, it looks that Eden doesn't seem to be a huge place to walk around and Adam was so excited to have a woman by his side, also Adam and ...
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0answers
40 views
Did Adam and Chava have a house in Eden?
I remember Adam was put in Eden and Chavah was created and they hid in bushes, but I don't recall them building a house or a shelter.
I also remember a Midrash saying G-d made a Chupah for them and ...
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1answer
43 views
Why the Targum translates יצר as ברא?
THis question if for people familiar with the Kabbalic concept of אבי"ע.
Please compare the Torah and the Targum:
"וַיִּבְרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הַתַּנִּינִם הַגְּדֹלִים" - "וּבְרָא יְיָ יָת ...
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Why G-d regretted creation of the Man single?
וַיֹּאמֶר ה"א לֹא־טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ אֶעֱשֶׂהּ־לּוֹ עֵזֶר כְּנֶגְדּוֹ׃
God said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him.” Bereishis 2, 18
As we can ...
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0answers
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How did Adam got his intellect?
The tradition says that Adam was created grown up and extremely intelligent. We know that his body was formed from the earth and his soul was blown into the body and then he became a living (talking) ...
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0answers
12 views
Naming animals - different names for males, females and offspring?
My last question "Adam's about naming taxonomy" wasn't so popular, but it presented my view on the logic of naming the animals.
Acc. to Bereishit_Rabbah.17.4 naming the animals represents the ...
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0answers
30 views
Were the domesticated animals created domesticated or wild?
"וַיִּצֶר ה"א מִן־הָאֲדָמָה כָּל־חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה וְאֵת כָּל־עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם"
"And the LORD God formed out of the earth
all the wild beasts and
all the birds of the sky..." Bereishis 2,19:
...
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1answer
39 views
“Let's make the Man” - isn't the Man the purpose of the creation?
"וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹקים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם בְּצַלְמֵנוּ כִּדְמוּתֵנוּ"
And God said, “Let US (plural) make man in our (plural) image, after our (plural) likeness..." Bereshis 1,26
To resolve the apparent ...
5
votes
2answers
216 views
Why for a sorceress does the Torah say “shall not live” instead of “shall be put to death?”
In Exodus 22:17 the Torah tells us:
מְכַשֵּׁפָ֖ה לֹ֥א תְחַיֶּֽה׃
A sorceress you shall not let live.
We learn from Sanhedrin 67a that (man or woman) the punishment for sorcery is death by ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
What's with the food ministers?
The United States has Secretaries for foreign affairs (called the Secretary of State), defense, agriculture, the treasury, commerce, education, and more.
Similarly, Israel has ministers for foreign ...
4
votes
1answer
40 views
Hashem referred as Hamelech in Torah
In Megillah Esther it is said that the word Hamelech is a indirect reference to Hashem.
Is there a word Hamelech or Melech in the Torah that is a reference to Hashem?
Only in the five Books of ...
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0answers
13 views
Why is the חצר not mentioned in Shemos 31 (6 – 11) amongst the other elements of the Mishkan
In Chapter 40 of Shemos, as each stage of the construction of the Mishkan is reported the Torah says eg 40 (19)
כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה ה׳ אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה
As Hashem commanded Moshe.
When we get to ...
3
votes
2answers
60 views
What does אחָד in שמע ישראל actually mean?
In the Shema the word used for the oneness of God is אחָד (ref.). This is startling for a Muslim, as they find in the Quran almost a transliteration of the same word, i.e. the Arabic احد (pronounced: ...
0
votes
1answer
28 views
Saw the G-d of Israel? [duplicate]
In Exodus, G-d tells Moshe that "no one can see Me and live" (Exodus 33:20), but then in Exodus 24 Moses went up with Aharon, his sons, and 70 of Israel's elders, and they saw the G-d of Israel. . . . ...
0
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0answers
34 views
The 62 Years of Darius/Cyrus, and the 62 Weeks of Daniel
Has ancient or medieval Jewish tradition, spanning from the Talmud to the Shulchan Aruch, ever connected these two passages from the Book of Daniel ?
Daniel 5:30-31 In that night was Belshazzar ...
1
vote
1answer
32 views
Of all Aron measures, why the thickness of the Kapores was not mentioned?
While working on "the-holy-ark-weigh-4-tons" I noticed, the thickness of the Kapores (1 Tefach) is concluded only in the Gemmorah by גזירה שווה to other measures (Succa 5a):
"... אלא כפורת טפח מנלן?...
