Questions tagged [vayera]
The weekly Torah portion of Vayera (Genesis 18:1-22:24)
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Avraham going down to Mitzrayim: contradiction between the Satmar Rav and Noam Elimelech
The Noam Elimelech teaches us that Avraham Avinu went down to Mitzrayim to "influence" the wicked in his generation. In order to do this, a tzaddik sometimes needs to "descend to a ...
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Yom tov and non-Jews
How was Avraham Avinu able to cook for the melachim if he thought they were Arabs and you’re not allowed to cook for non-Jews on yom tov?
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Noam Elimelech and the primary aspect of a mitzvah
In this article By Rabbi Abba Wagensberg, a teaching from the Noam Elimelech is cited. It reads:
The primary aspect of a mitzvah is not its technicalities and details, but rather the love we put into ...
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Why did Abraham run to greet the visitors in Genesis 18?
Did he run because he knew they were angels?
Or did he run to exhibit hospitality to strangers in the desert?
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Why didn't Avraham tell Sarah about Hashem's promise to have Yitzchak?
At the end of Lech Lecha, Hashem promises Avraham that Sarah will give birth to Yitzchak, which is followed by Avraham performing a bris on his entire household including himself. Three days later, ...
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Why did Hashem wait until the 3rd day to visit Abraham?
B"H
At the beginning of parshas Vayeira, Rashi says that Hashem came to Avraham to "visit the sick" on the third day after the bris.
And [the Lord] appeared to him: to visit the sick (...
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Why did God listen to Lot's prayer to save Sodom, yet didn't listen to Abraham's?
After all of Abraham's wondorous prayers to Hashem to save Sodom the posuk says (י״ח:לג):
וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ יְהוָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר כִּלָּ֔ה לְדַבֵּ֖ר אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם וְאַבְרָהָ֖ם שָׁ֥ב לִמְקֹמֽוֹ
God 'went' when ...
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Why the long delay for Akeidas Yitzchak?
In Bereishis 21:8 the pasuk writes:
וַיִּגְדַּ֥ל הַיֶּ֖לֶד וַיִּגָּמַ֑ל וַיַּ֤עַשׂ אַבְרָהָם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֣ה גָד֔וֹל בְּי֖וֹם הִגָּמֵ֥ל אֶת־יִצְחָֽק׃
The child grew up and was weaned, and Abraham held a ...
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Angels visiting Abraham during Pesach [duplicate]
I start it from the end: regarding Lot it is written (Bereishit 19:3):
וַיִּפְצַר־בָּ֣ם מְאֹ֔ד וַיָּסֻ֣רוּ אֵלָ֔יו וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־בֵּית֑וֹ וַיַּ֤עַשׂ לָהֶם֙ מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וּמַצּ֥וֹת אָפָ֖ה וַיֹּאכֵֽלוּ׃...
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The angels who accused Yishmoel – what action were they suggesting?
Beraishis 21 (17)
Hashem judges Yishmoel “בַּאֲשֶׁר הוּא שָׁם " - “in that condition in which he now is”. The ministering angels according to the Medrash said, “Master of the Universe, for him ...
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Were there any Tzaddikim in Sodom?
In Vayera, Avraham asks HaShem to save Sodom if even 10 righteous people exist. Sodom gets destroyed. Are there any sources that say Sodom had any righteous people, even if less than ten?
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Hashem vindicates Sarah's jealousy?
According to the Ibn Ezra (21,9), Sarah's demand to banish Yishmael was based purely on jealousy. Why would Hashem agree with her and instruct Avraham to send him away?
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Does Rashi refer to Arabs when describing the 3 people who visited Abraham?
The Torah writes (Bereshit 18:2)
[Abraham] saw three men standing near him
Rashi comments right after (on 18:4)
כַּסָּבוּר שֶׁהֵם עַרְבִיִּים
which can be translated "[Abraham] thought they ...
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Why does God appear to Avraham about Sarah’s laughter?
In Bereshis (Perek 18) why would God appear to Avraham regarding Sarah’s laughter and not appear to Sarah herself? Isn’t one’s relationship with God personal, not necessarily involving one’s spouse?
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Why did Sarah demand to expel Hagar?
IIRC, Hagar was [happily] married to Abraham for at least 17 years (one or two for pregnancy, 13 of Yishmael before his circumcision, one for Sarah's pregnancy, and two for Itzhak's Gmilah). If it was ...
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Why was Abraham cheap with Hagar and his son Yishmael?
Following "why-would-Hagar-go-to-the-desert-to-die", IIRC Abraham was freakishly wealthy and he should be full of Chessed (toward his former wife and his own son), Sarah didn't deny any ...
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Why would Hagar go to the desert to inevitable death?
"Early next morning Abraham took some bread and a skin of water, and gave them to Hagar. He placed them over her shoulder, together with the child, and sent her away. And she wandered about in ...
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Did Abraham and Sarah say a blessing on hearing a good news about their future heir?
IIRC, one says a Brachah of "Hatov veha-Meitiv" on hearing good news (source needed).
When the angels came to inform Abraham and Sara of giving birth to Isaac in exactly one year, did they ...
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Why בניו if Yishmael is the Only Son Now?
Bereishit 18:19 says:
כי ידעתיו למען אשר יצוה את בניו וגו׳
At this point Avraham’s only son is Yishmael. Why does the pasuk say בניו and not בנו? Does he have more than one son now? Rashi even ...
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Why is the name of mercy YHWH is mentioned exclusively in the story of Sodom?
The name YHWH is associated with mercy whereas the name Elokim is associated with justice (Refer to Rashi on Devarim 3:24 quoting the Sifrei here).
I noticed that the name of YHWH is used exclusively ...
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The sources of Abraham's wealth
The Torah specifies that Abraham profited well from deceiving Pharaoh and Avimelech by presenting Sarah as his sister:
וַיַּעַל אַבְרָם מִמִּצְרַיִם הוּא וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ וְלוֹט עִמּוֹ ...
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Why didn't Abraham ask straight how many Tzaddikim are there in Sodom?
Maurice asked "why didn't Abraham ask "How many righteous people do there have to be in that place for you not to destroy it?"
From Rasi it is clear that Abraham knew that 10 Tzaddikim ...
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God's response: "If I find fifty innocent ones..." - what does "if" mean?
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ה' אִם־אֶמְצָ֥א בִסְדֹ֛ם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים צַדִּיקִ֖ם בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעִ֑יר וְנָשָׂ֥אתִי לְכָל־הַמָּק֖וֹם בַּעֲבוּרָֽם׃
And the LORD answered, “If I find within the city of Sodom fifty innocent ones,...
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Angels Eating: The case of Avraham Vs Lot
I came across a fascinating Tanna D'Vei Eliyahu Rabbah (12:1) which states:
וכל האומר לא אכלו מלאכי השרת עם אברהם אע"ה לא אמר כלום אלא בצדקתו של אותו צדיק ובשכר טורח שטרח בשבילם פתח להם הקב"...
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Did Avraham know the visitors were angels?
Related (among others)
When the three men walk past Avraham's tent, he runs out to bring them in and feeds them (expressions of Mid-Eastern hospitality). Does he know (think, guess?) at any point that ...
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Why does the description of Yitzchak change?
When Avraham is told to take Yitzchak to the akeida, Yitzchak is specified with a series of 3 descriptions (Bereishit 22:2):
אֶת־בִּנְךָ֨ אֶת־יְחִֽידְךָ֤ אֲשֶׁר־אָהַ֙בְתָּ֙
your singular son whom you ...
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Was it a specific knife and fire?
related Avraham's knife was called Ma'achelet. Why?
Why doesn't Yitzchak mention the knife?
When Avraham takes Yitzchak to the Akeida, the pasuk reads וַיִּקַּ֣ח בְּיָד֔וֹ אֶת־הָאֵ֖שׁ ...
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How many covenants did Hashem make with Abraham?
How many covenants did Hashem make with Abraham?
When reading Bereshit/Genesis, on the Chabad website, one comes across various passages of Hashem's conversation with Abram/Abraham (chapters 15, 17 ...
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One visitor healed Avraham
From were was the idea derived that one of the angels/messengers who visited Avraham healed him?
Although tradition teaches us that Avraham had just been circumcised, the text in itself doesn’t ...
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I will descend to Sodom and Amorah
In Genesis 18:21 G-d seems to say something like: I will descend now and see, whether according to her cry, which has come to Me, they have done.
Did He really descend right at that moment in time or ...
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Genesis 18:21 then I will know?
I find it strange that Genesis/Bereshit 18:21 seems to imply that G-d has limited knowledge of what's going on in Sodom and Amorah, so I wondered if the word eda'ah (אֵדָעָה) could be translated as: ...
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Are there any Midrashim where Yitzchak was actually sacrificed by Avraham?
Are there any Midrashim where Yitzchak was actually sacrificed by Avraham?
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1136172-gen-22-11-16a-the-story-of-the-near-sacrifice-of-isaac-is
"a later midrashic ...
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Genesis 18:3 Adonai, My Lord or lords and why?
Rabbeinu Bahya (13th Century) wrote that in non-sacred usage the Nun of adonai has a Patah, and only with an Etnahta or Sof pasuk a Qamatz when the word stands on its own. ‘And for this reason in the ...
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Why didn’t Avraham run the first time he saw the three men?
It becomes clear from Bereshit 18:2 that Avraham is looking around from the entrance of the tent and sees three men appearing, cause it reads: והנה שלשה אנשים נצבים עליו.
But what did Avraham see the ...
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Why did Avraham respond to Avimelech but not Pharaoh?
There are two instances recorded in the Torah where Avraham and Sarah have to leave their home and go to a dangerous region. Both times Avraham tells people that Sarah is his sister, and both times ...
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Why was King David allowed to kill Phillistines?
In Breishit 21:23–24, Avimelech asks Avrahm to swear that his future generations will not destroy his sons or grandchildren.
Bechor Shor commentary says:
תעשה עמדי. כשתבא לידך שלא תגרש גם אתה את זרעי:...
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Source for Rashi's claim that some nations worshiped dust?
Rashi (Gen 18,4) on "יֻקַּח־נָא מְעַט־מַיִם וְרַחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיכֶם׃" says:
כַּסָּבוּר שֶׁהֵם עַרְבִיִּים שֶׁמִּשְׁתַּחֲוִים לַאֲבַק רַגְלֵיהֶם
He thought they were Arabians who worship the dust of ...
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Does Hashem speak Lashon Hara about Sara?
In this week's Parasha, it seems to me that Hashem speaks L'H about Sarah, regarding her laughing about having a child (Genesis.18.13).
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ה' אֶל־אַבְרָהָ֑ם לָ֣מָּה זֶּה֩ צָחֲקָ֨ה שָׂרָ֜ה ...
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Prayer for individual tzadikim in Sodom
According to Rashi, Avraham began his prayers by reasoning let the tzadikim save the entire cities, and if the tzadikim can't save the whole city, at least don't kill the tzadikim themselves.
אולי יש ...
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Why would G-d let angels speak on His behalf?
In regards to this question of mine I would like to ask:
In Genesis/Bereshit 18:10 it seems that one of the men/angels visiting Avraham is saying that Sarah will give birth to a son, while in Genesis ...
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Genesis 18 who is the ‘he’
Avraham stands at the entrance of his tent after his Brit - Bereshit 18 - looking around he sees three men at a short distance (even getting closer).
At a certain point they ask Avraham: “Where is ...
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What are the limits of hospitality? [duplicate]
Hospitality is valued very highly in Judaism, witness Abraham [Gen. 18:1-5], Lot [Gen. 19:1-8], Laban [Gen. 24:28–32], Manoah [Judges 13:15-16] or the unhappy matter of the concubine of Gibeah [Judges ...
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If צחק refers to the 3 worst misdeeds why Itzchak was called so?
On the Posuk: "וַתֵּרֶא שָׂרָה אֶת־בֶּן־הָגָר הַמִּצְרִית אֲשֶׁר־יָלְדָה לְאַבְרָהָם מְצַחֵק׃" Rashi (Gen 21.9) explains the meaning of the root צחק:
מצחק: לְשׁוֹן עֲ"זָ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ...
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Forty and five, not five and forty
In Bereishis 18:28, when Hashem says that He will not destroy Sedom if there are 45 righteous people there, the number is spelled out "forty and five." However, most times a number between twenty and ...
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Why does the Artscroll commentary to Vayeira mention Ishmael?
The Artscroll commentary to the first pasuk of Vayeira says that Abraham pressed Ishmael into service to teach him about hospitality. From whence this comment about Ishmael?
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Why not name a Jew "Lot"? [duplicate]
I never heard of a Jew named Lot. Are there not any? Why not? What did Lot do that disqualifies him?
His righteousness and (exaggerated) hospitality allowed him to be spared the fate of Sodom. ...
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Are women less generous with guests than men?
Bava Metzia 87a:
The verse states: “Make ready quickly three measures of flour, fine flour” (Genesis 18:6). The Gemara questions the apparent redundancy. It is written: “Flour,” and it is also ...
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Why does Rashi say Avraham thought the angels were wayfarers?
Rashi on Breishis 18:16
And the men arose from there, and they looked upon Sodom, and Abraham went with them to escort them,
says
to escort them: Heb. לְשַׁלְּחָם, to escort them. He thought ...
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Lot's Reason for Marriage
Based on the fact that Lot was such a giving person (Bereishis 19:2) that he was willing to risk his life for kindliness
וַיִּפְצַר־בָּם מְאֹד וַיָּסֻרוּ אֵלָיו וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ
וַיַּעַשׂ ...
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What would qualify a Sedomite as a "righteous person"?
In Genesis 18:23-33, Avraham pleads with God to spare Sedom from the destruction it had earned through its wicked institutionalized cruelty. Eventually, Avraham extracts an agreement from God that the ...
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