פרשת בראשית
Parshas Bereishis
Rashi comes to address specific glaring questions in the Torah's text:
- Clarifications (when words are hard to understand, Rashi explains them)
- Contradictions (when verses seem to contradict each other, Rashi aligns them)
- Superfluities (when words or ideas seem to be repeated, Rashi distinguishes them)
- Juxtapositions (when unrelated themes are next to each other, Rashi relates them)
- Deviations (when the Torah's grammar rules seem to be broken, Rashi rights them)
- Disparities (when the words change from the norm, Rashi reveals their secrets)
Creation
בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹקִ֑ים
אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
When Hashem began to create
heaven and earth—
רש"י דִיבּוּר הַמַתְחִיל בראשית
Q: Why does the Torah begin with the history of the world and the Jewish people instead of starting with the first מצוה?
A: This way when the nations of the world call us thieves for stealing ארץ כנען we can say that 'ה owns the whole world and He gave this land to us.
Hashem creates the world in six days.
At the beginning all of creation is a mess of deep waters and the spirit of Hashem hovers above it - not at home within it.
Day 1: Hashem created light and darkness.
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹקִ֤ים ׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם
וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה
וַֽיְהִי־עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי־בֹ֖קֶר
י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד׃
Hashem called the light Day,
and the darkness He called Night.
And it was evening and it was morning,
Day One.
רש"י דִיבּוּר הַמַתְחִיל יום אחד
Q: Why does this פסוק end with יום אחד (day 1) instead of יום ראשון (the first day) like all the others do?
Day 2: Hashem made an expanse of sky to separate between the upper waters and the lower waters.
וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹקִים֮ אֶת־הָרָקִיעַ֒
וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֙יִם֙
אֲשֶׁר֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ
וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ
וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן׃
Hashem made the firmament
and it separated the water
which was below the expanse
from the water which was above the expanse.
And it was so.
רש"י דִיבּוּר הַמַתְחִיל מעל לרקיע
Q: Why does the Torah say that the waters were above (מעל) the sky instead of on (על) the sky?
Day 3: Hashem moved the waters into the rivers and oceans, revealing dry land. He then commanded the earth to grow vegetation.
Day 4: Hashem set the Sun, Moon and stars in the sky.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹקִ֗ים
יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה
וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים
וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים׃
Hashem said,
“Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky
to separate day from night;
they shall serve as signs for the set times—the days and the years;
'ד"ה יהי מאורות וגו
Q: Where were all the creations before their special days?
A: They were all created on the first day but were lost in the watery mess until Hashem put them in their designated places on their special days.
ד"ה ולמועדים
Q: Which holidays is the פסוק referring to here?
A: It is talking about the future - when the Jewish people will start scheduling their holidays according to the moon.
Day 5: Hashem created fish and all sea creatures in the sea and birds in the sky.
Day 6: Hashem commanded the earth to give forth all the living things that walk or crawl upon the earth.
Then Hashem created Man.
(26) And Hashem said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. They shall rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the cattle, the whole earth, and all the creeping things that creep on earth.”
ד"ה נעשה אדם
Q: Who is Hashem talking to when He says "נעשה אדם -Let US make man"?
A: This is where you see Hashem's humility - He consulted with angels before creating man, so that the angels should not be jealous. He told them that He needs to create intelligent beings on Earth so that earth should not be jealous, since there are already intelligent beings in heaven.
ד"ה נעשה אדם
Q:Why would Hashem say "Let us make man" if it is going to cause trouble makers to claim that there is more than one god?
A: Hashem does not shy away from teaching an important moral lesson about humility even if some people will interpret the words incorrectly.
As for the heretics: the answer is in the next פסוק - "Hashem created man", Hashem by Himself made man.
(כז) וַיִּבְרָ֨א אֱלֹקִ֤ים ׀ אֶת־הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹקִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א אֹת֑וֹ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בָּרָ֥א אֹתָֽם׃
(27) And Hashem created man in His image, in the image of Hashem He created him; male and female He created them.
ד"ה זכר ונקבה ברא אותם
Q: Why does the תורה say that 'ה created them male and female if חוה was created later?
A: Two possibilities:
- Midrash says אדם was created both male and female and then the two parts were separated.
- The simple meaning is just a list of the things that were created on the sixth day and both male and female were created on the sixth day. The details of that process are explained later.
(31) And Hashem saw all that He had made, and found it very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
ד"ה יום הששי
Q: What does the letter ה which is added to the number ששי tell us?
A: Two possibilities:
- 5 = ה which tells us that the whole creation depends on the Jewish people accepting five books of the Torah!
- הששי mean the special sixth day - the sixth day of חוֹדֶשׁ סִיוָן when 'ה gave the Torah on הר סיני
(ה) וְכֹ֣ל ׀ שִׂ֣יחַ הַשָּׂדֶ֗ה טֶ֚רֶם יִֽהְיֶ֣ה בָאָ֔רֶץ וְכָל־עֵ֥שֶׂב הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה טֶ֣רֶם יִצְמָ֑ח כִּי֩ לֹ֨א הִמְטִ֜יר ה' אֱלֹקִים֙ עַל־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאָדָ֣ם אַ֔יִן לַֽעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
(5) when no shrub of the field was yet on earth and no grasses of the field had yet sprouted, because the Hashem-Elokim had not sent rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the soil,
ד"ה כי לא המטיר
Q: Why had it not rained?
A: There was no one on Earth to know the value of rain. Once אדם would see the need for rain and pray for it 'ה would cause the rain to fall
Although it had not rained yet, Hashem made dew and mist to moisten the earth so He could form the body of אדם from the dust of the earth.
(7) Hashem-Elokim formed man from the dust of the earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.
ד"ה וייצר
Q: Why is this word written with two Yuds by man but with only one Yud by animal?
A: To reveal the secret of the afterlife - that man will be formed twice, once in this world and once in the World to Come. This is not the case for the animals.
ד"ה ויפח באפיו
Q: Why did Hashem create Man in two stages - the body from the earth and the soul from heaven?
A: To be fair. On day one He created Heaven and Earth. On days two and four He created heavenly things. On days three and five He created earthly things. Therefore on day six He needed to create for both heaven and earth or else one of them would have an additional day of creation over the other.
ד"ה לנפש חיה
Q: What is the difference between the souls of men and the souls of animals which are both called נפש חיה?
A: Man's soul is the most alive because it has understanding and speech.
Hashem brought all the animals to Adam that he should give them names.
Adam saw that all the animals have mates and he was alone.
(18) Hashem-Elokim said, “It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a fitting helper for him.”
ד"ה לא טוב היות
Q: Why did 'ה say it was bad for Man to be alone?
A: So people wouldn't think that just 'ה rules alone without a mate in Heaven so does Man rules alone on earth without a mate.
Hasham made Adam fall into a deep faint and removed one of his sides, turned it into a woman, and closed up the site of the surgery with flesh and skin.
ד"ה על כן יעזב איש
Q: What is the commandment here?
A: This statement forbids even non-Jews from behaving immorally.
ד"ה לבשר אחד
Q: How can a man and a woman become one flesh?
A: The child that is the product of their marriage is the one flesh that comes from the two of them.
Tree of Knowledge
Hashem tells Adam and the Woman that they may eat any of the things that grow in Gan Eden, except for the one tree in the middle - the עץ הדעת.
The snake meets the Woman and asks her, "Is it true that you are not allowed to eat any of the fruits in this garden?"
The Woman replies, "Not true, we are allowed to eat from all the fruit...
(3) It is only about fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that Hashem said: ‘You shall not eat of it or touch it, lest you die.’”
ד"ה ולא תגעו בו
Q: Where did חוה get this idea from - that she was not allowed to touch the tree?
A: She added it to 'ה's command and that caused her downfall! Torah therefore says "Don't add anything to the mitzvos!"
(ד) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַנָּחָ֖שׁ אֶל־הָֽאִשָּׁ֑ה
לֹֽא־מ֖וֹת תְּמֻתֽוּן׃
ד"ה לא מות תמתון
Q: How could חוה believe the snake that she wouldn't die, when 'ה said she would?!
A: The snake pushed her until she bumped into the tree and when she didn't die the snake told her that even if she actually ate from the fruit she still would not die!
The Woman is convinced and eats the fruit, giving some to Adam as well, and he eats.
They suddenly realize that they are naked and quickly make something to cover themselves with.
Then they hear the voice of God flowing through the Garden and Adam and the Woman hide among the trees.
Hashem calls to them, "Where are you?"
Adam replies, "I heard the voice of God and was ashamed for I am naked."
Hashem responds, "How do you know what naked is? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
"For this transgression you will have to work so hard to get your food, you will put your efforts into the earth and it will give you thorns so you'll have to eat grass!"
(16) And to the woman He said, “I will make most severe your frustrations, and your pangs in conception; In pain shall you bear children. Yet your urge shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
ד"ה עצבונך
Q: What form do the "frustrations" take?
A: The pains of raising children.
ד"ה והרנך
Q: What is the pang of conception?
A: That is the pains of pregnancy.
ד"ה בעצב תלדי בנים
Q: What is the pain of bearing children?
A: This is the pain of childbirth.
The snake was also punished. It was reduced to the lowest and most despised creature.
Adam named the Woman Chava (from the word Chaya - implying that she is the mother of all life) and Hashem sends them out of the Garden.
***
Kayin and Hevel
Adam and Chava had two children, Kayin the farmer, and Hevel the shepherd. Both brought sacrifices to Hashem, Hevel brought his best animals and Kayin brought his trash. Hashem accepted Hevel's sacrifice and ignored Kayins. This fueled an argument between the brothers and one day Kayin killed Hevel.
Hashem calls to Kayin, "What have you done? Where is your brother?"
Kayin responds famously, "Am I my brother's keeper?"
Hashem scolds Kayin for his crime and Kayin realizes how terrible it was - now he feels that he is the lowest of all creatures. He fears that everyone will feel free to kill him.
(15) Hashem said to him, “I promise, if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be taken on him.” And Hashem put a mark on Kayin, lest anyone who met him should kill him.
ד"ה וישם ה' לקין אות
Q: Why was the sign on Kayin's head necessary?
A: Kayin was afraid that the animals and beasts would no longer fear him and might kill him like any prey, thus Hashem put a letter of HIS name on Kayin's farhead.
Lemech was the seventh generation from Kayin. He was blind and his son had to help him hunt for food.
One day the boy said, "I see a beast in the trees!" Lemech fired and killed the beast, which turned out not to be a beast at all! It was Kayin - finally avenged for taking his brother's life.
Lemech continued to have children and grandchildren. Most famous among his descendants is Noach!
פרשת נח
Parshas Noach
The Great Flood
(9) This is the line of Noach.—Noach was a righteous man; he was blameless in his age; Noach walked with HAshem.—
ד"ה אלה תולדת נח נח איש צדיק
Q: Why does the Torah mention that Noach was righteous in middle of describing his generations?
A: Two possibilities:
- Whenever you mention a Tzaddik you are supposed to compliment his righteousness.
- Here the Torah teaches that the trues fruits of the Tzaddik's life are his good deeds.
(13) God said to Noah, “I have decided to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with theft because of them: I am about to destroy them with the earth.
ד"ה כי מלאה הארץ חמסד
Q: Why did Hashem tell Noach that theft was the reason for the world's destruction when people had become completely corrupt?
A: חמס means theft - that it was only because of theft that the decree to destroy the world was sealed and carried out.
ד"ה עשה לך תבת
Q: Hashem could have saved Noach in many ways - Why did Hashem choose to have Noach build a תבה?
A: Hashem instructed that Noach build a תבה which would take 120 years, so that people would see it and have a chance to do Teshuva!
The Ark was meant to be 300 amos long, 50 amos wide and 30 amos tall.
(16) Make an opening for daylight in the ark, and terminate it within a cubit of the top. Put the entrance to the ark in its side; make it with bottom, second, and third decks.
ד"ה צהר
Q: What is a צהר?
A: Two possibilities:
- A window or skylight to let light into the תבה
- A precious stone that shone sow brightly it lit up the תבה.
ד"ה ואל אמה תכלנה מלמעלה
Q: What does "have it culminate in an amah above" mean - how was Noach meant to build the roof?
A: The roof was to be an "A" frame, slanting from a center beam at the top and spreading across the whole תבה so that the rain should run off and not pool.
ד"ה תחתים שנים ושלשים
Q: What were the three floors for?
A: Top; humans and food. Middle; animal cages. Bottom; trash.
Noach and his wife Naama had three sons, Shem, Chom and Yefes.
(1) Then Hashem said to Noach, “Go into the ark, with all your household, for you alone have I found righteous before Me in this generation.
ד"ה ראיתי צדיק
Q: Why didn't Hashem call Noach "צדיק תמים" as He did in ו:ט?
A: This shows that it is proper to never complement a person completely to their faces.
Hashem commanded Noach to gather one male and one female of each animal in the world and bring them onto the Ark so that they might also survive and repopulate the world.
ד"ה הטהורה
Q: The pure animals would only be pure once the Torah was given - how would Noach know what they were?
A: This shows us that Noach studied Torah before it was given.
ד"ה שבעה שבעה
Q: Why did he need so many more pure animals than the impure ones?
A: So that he could offer sacrifices when he would emerge from the תבה.
Hashem commanded Noach saying, "Enter the Ark, for in seven days I will bring the flood to the world."
(7) Noach, with his sons, his wife, and his sons’ wives, went into the ark because of the waters of the Flood.
ד"ה מפני נמי המבול
Q: Why does Noach enter the תבה to get away from the water - why didn't he go because of Hashem's command?
A: Noach also didn't completely believe that Hashem would bring a flood upon the whole world - so he didn't enter the תבה until the waters really began to flood.
(13) That same day Noach and Noach’s sons, Shem, Cham, and Yaphet, went into the ark, with Noach’s wife and the three wives of his sons—
ד"ה בעצם היום הזה
Q: Why does the Torah emphasize that Noach entered the תבה in the middle of the day.
A: The people threatened that if Noach entered the תבה they would destroy it and kill him. So Hashem led him in before their very eyes (Hashem caused lions and bears to surround the תבה) and they could do nothing!
ד"ה אשר בחרבה
Q: Why does the Torah specify that land animals were killed - which animals do not live on dry land?
A: The fish did not need the תבה since the waters wouldn't harm them.
Timeline of Ark's journey according to Noach's age:
- 17th day of 2nd month of 600th year the flood begins
- Rain falls for forty days and nights
- for 120 days the flood grows in strength
- In the seventh month the Ark came to rest on Mount Ararat
- After a whole year and eleven days the earth was dry
ד"ה בשבעה ועשרים
Q: The rain started falling on the Cheshvan 17 and ceased falling on the Cheshvan 27 of the following year - why did the flood last eleven days longer than a year?
A: Cheshvan is part of the lunar (moon) calendar which is ten days shorter than the solar (sun) calendar. The punishment lasted an entire solar year.
Hashem commmands Noach to leave the Teva and to fill the world with new generations of people and animals.
Noach immediately takes a portion of the pure animals and offers a sacrifice to Hashem.
(כא) וַיָּ֣רַח ה' אֶת־רֵ֣יחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ה' אֶל־לִבּ֗וֹ לֹֽא־אֹ֠סִף לְקַלֵּ֨ל ע֤וֹד אֶת־הָֽאֲדָמָה֙ בַּעֲב֣וּר הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֠י יֵ֣צֶר לֵ֧ב הָאָדָ֛ם רַ֖ע מִנְּעֻרָ֑יו וְלֹֽא־אֹסִ֥ף ע֛וֹד לְהַכּ֥וֹת אֶת־כָּל־חַ֖י כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשִֽׂיתִי׃
(21) Hashem smelled the pleasing odor, and Hashem said to Himself: “Never again will I doom the earth because of man, since the devisings of man’s mind are evil from his youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living being, as I have done.
ד"ה מנעריו
Q: Why is the word not spelled fully - מנעוריו?
A: This spelling allows it to also mean movement - that as soon as the fetus moves itself to be born, the Yetzar Harah enters!
ד"ה וחתכם
Q: חִתְּכֶם means "fear of you", it is just repeating the previous word מוראכם - what new idea is expressed here?
A: This word is also related to the Hebrew word חיות meaning life. The lesson is that animals will fear man as long as he or she is alive, but not when the bodies are dead.
ד"ה ואך את דמכם
Q: The word "אך" means but - to separate and differentiate the coming statement from a previous statement. Which statement is the new Passuk differing from?
A: Torah just gave permission for man to spill the blood of animals for food. Now Torah warns that this permission does not extend to the blood of man!
ד"ה לנפשתיכם
Q: Why is life called "Blood of life"?
A: To teach that suicide or homicide with no spilled blood - poisoning or strangling - are also forbidden.
(ז) וְאַתֶּ֖ם פְּר֣וּ וּרְב֑וּ שִׁרְצ֥וּ בָאָ֖רֶץ וּרְבוּ־בָֽהּ׃
(7) And you should be fertile, then, and increase; abound on the earth and increase on it.”
ד"ה ואתם פרו ורבו
Q: Why is the phrase, "Be fruitful and multiply" repeated here?
A: The first was a blessing and this one is a command.
Q: Why is the command to be fruitful right after the prohibition against murder?
A: The Torah is implying that avoiding having children is tantamount to murder.
The Torah lists the generations of Shem, Cham and Yefes.
We see the names of many famous nations here.
Among the famous names we find the king Nimrod.
(9) He was a mighty hunter before Hashem; hence the saying, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before HAshem.”
ד"ה גבר ציד
Q: What did Nimrod hunt that made his hunting unique?
A: He hunted people's minds to turn them away from Hashem with his arguments.
'ד"ה לפני ה
Q: Why was Nimrod's hunting considered "before Hashem"?
A: Nimrod was challenging Hashem directly - "in His face!"?
ד"ה על כן יאמר
Q: Who deserves to be called a Nimrod?
A: Those who act brazenly against faith in Hashem.
Tower of Bavel
ד"ה שפת אחת
Q: Which language were all the people speaking?
A: Lashon Hakodesh - Hebrew
ד"ה ודברים אחדים
Q: What were the unified plans?
A: 3 Possibilities:
- To conquer heaven from Hashem
- To wage war and rebel against Hashem
- To protect themselves from the great flood, which they figured would come every 1,656 years.
(28) Charan died in the lifetime of his father Terach, in his native land, Ur of the Chaldeans.
ד"ה על פני תרח אביו
Q: Why is Haran's death associated with his father?
A: Two possibilities:
- Haran died during his father's lifetime.
- Terach caused his son's death by turning Avram over to Nimrod. Haran chose to side with Avram when he saw the great miracle that saved Avram from the great furnace.
פרשת לך לך
Parshas Lech Lecha
(1) And Hashem said to Avram, “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
ד״ה לך לך
Q: What is the meaning of "go for you"?
A: It means go for your benefit- there you will have children and achieve fame; here you will have nothing.
(2) I will make of you a great nation, And I will bless you (with wealth); I will make your name great, And you shall be a blessing.
ד"ה ואעשך לגוי גדול
Q: Why does Hashem promise Avraham these things?
A: These three things often suffer when a person travels a lot. Therefore Hashem promised him a large family, fortune, and fame.
(5) Avram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the wealth that they had amassed, and the persons that they had made in Charan; and they set out for the land of Canaan. When they arrived in the land of Canaan,
ד"ה אשר עשו בחרן
Q: How does one "make" souls?
A: 2 possibilities:
- As in, "One who teaches the son of his friend Torah, it is as if he made him." -students
- As in, "making a living" - slaves
(3) And he proceeded by stages from the Negev as far as Beit-el, to the place where his tent had been formerly, between Beit-el and Ai,
ד"ה וילך למסעיו
Q: Why is Avraham's return trip from Egypt called "His Journeys"?
A: He returned along the same route, stopping in the same inns, for two possible reasons:
- To politely give his former patrons the repeat business.
- To repay his debts now that he was a wealthy man.
ד"ה ויהי ריב
Q: What were the details of the argument between the shepherds?
A: Lot's shepherds were letting their flocks graze on private property, because, they argued that it would all eventually belong to Lot (as Avraham's heir). Avraham's shepherd argued that it was not yet theirs and that allowing the animals to graze was theft.
(10) Lot looked about him and saw how well watered was the whole plain of the Yarden, all of it—this was before Hashem had destroyed Sodom and Omorrah—all the way to Tzoar, like the garden of Hashem, like the land of Egypt.
ד"ה כארץ מצרים
Q: What is the meaning of this comparison between Sodom and Egypt?
A: That the land was extremely lush and fertile.
ד"ה באכה צער
Q: Why did Lot choose to live in Sodom?
A: This verse is similar to many others describing moral depravity - implying that Lot was attracted to Sodom for that reason.
(13) A fugitive brought the news to Avram the Hebrew, who was dwelling at the Evergreens of Mamre the Amorite, kinsman of Eshkol and Aner, these being Avram’s allies.
ד"ה ויבא הפליט
Q: Why was Og called "the survivor"?
A: He was a survivor of Great Flood and the war of the Four Kings.
Q: Why did Og bother to inform Avraham about Lot's capture?
A: He hoped Avraham would fall in his attempt to save Lot and then Sarah would be free for the taking.
ד"ה העברי
Q: Why was Avraham called "Ivri"?
A: Because he was from "Ever - across" the river.
(14) When Avram heard that his kinsman had been taken captive, he mustered his retainers, born into his household, numbering three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
ד"ה שמונה עשר וגו
Q: What is the significance of the number 318?
A: It implies that although Avraham did bring 318 soldiers with him, the victory was achieved by Eliezer his servant whose name equals 318.
(23) I will not take so much as a thread or a sandal strap of what is yours; you shall not say, ‘It is I who made Avram rich.’
ד"ה אם מחוט ועד שרוך נעל
Q: What does Avraham intend when he refuses a shoestring from the spoils?
A: That he would not even keep such small things from the spoils of the war.
ד"ה ואם אקח מכל אשר לך
Q: What does Avraham intend by refusing "anything of yours"?
A: That the king of Sodom should not even offer him a monetary reward, for he would not accept it.
ד"ה ולא תאמר וגו
Q: Why would Avraham not take any of his fairly earned spoils or a monetary reward?
A: Avraham did not want the King of Sodom to be able to claim credit for Avraham's wealth, when it was meant to be a blessing from Hashem.
(1) Some time later, the word of Hashem came to Avram in a vision. He said, “Fear not, Avram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
ד"ה אחר הדברים האלה
Q: What is the difference between אַחַר and אַחֲרֵי?
A: אחר denotes closely following, while אחרי implies long afterwards.
Q: Why does the war of the Four Kings need to be followed by Hashem's assurance that He will remain with Avraham?
A: Avraham was worried that he had used up his credit with G-d after having received all the miracles in the war.
ד"ה ויוצא אותו החוצה
Q: Where did Hashem take Avram out of in order to show him the stars?
A: 3 possibility:
- Out of the tent to see the stars
- Out of his astrology - meaning that Hashem tells Avraham not to worry about the stars indications
- He literally was lifted out of the Universe to gaze down at the stars to try and count them
(1) Sarai, Avram’s wife, had borne him no children. She had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
ד"ה שפחה מצרית
Q: Why was הגר, the Egyptian princess, a maidservant in Avraham's house?
A: When Pharaoh saw the miracles that Hashem performed for Avraham he felt it would be better for her to serve him than to be a princess.
(ג) וַתִּקַּ֞ח שָׂרַ֣י אֵֽשֶׁת־אַבְרָ֗ם אֶת־הָגָ֤ר הַמִּצְרִית֙ שִׁפְחָתָ֔הּ מִקֵּץ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר שָׁנִ֔ים לְשֶׁ֥בֶת אַבְרָ֖ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַתִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛הּ לְאַבְרָ֥ם אִישָׁ֖הּ ל֥וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃
(3) So Sarai, Avram’s wife, took her maid, Hagar the Egyptian—after Avram had dwelt in the land of Canaan ten years—and gave her to her husband Avram as concubine.
ד"ה מקץ עשר שנים
Q: Why does the Torah mention that it was "after ten years" that Sarah made Avraham marry Hagar?
A: This is the maximum amount of time a childless couple should remain married - after this length of time a man must seek a fertile wife.
ד"ה לשבת אברם וגו
Q: Why are the ten years only counted from when Avram settled in Israel?
A: Because Avraham was never meant to be blessed with children outside of Israel - so any years spent outside of Israel do not count towards the ten year limit.
ד"ה פֶּרֶא אָדָם
Q: What is the definition of this?
A: A man who loves the wilderness and will not live in cities
ד"ה יָדוֹ בַּכּׁל
Q: Definition?
A: His descendants will be bandits.
ׂד"ה וְיַד כֹּל בּו
Q: Definition?
A: All will hate him and pursue him
ד"ה כִּי אַב הַמוֹן גוֹיִם
Q: Where did the Yud from Sarah's name go?
A: The Yud was later added to Yehoshua's name.
פרשת וירא
Parshas Vayera
(1) Hashem appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot.
ד"ה וירא אליו
Q: Why did Hashem appear to Avraham but not talk to him?
A: It was the third day since his circumcision and Hashem was fulfilling the mitzvah of visiting the sick (ביקור חולים).
ד"ה כחום היום
Q: Why is it important to mention that the day was hot?
A: Hashem initially wanted to prevent travelers from passing by so that Abraham would not exert himself to serve them - when Hashem saw that Abraham was pained by this He sent the three angels.
ד"ה והנה שלשה אנשים
Q: Why was kit necessary to send three angels?
A: ngels can only fulfill one mission. The three missions that were to be completed that day were: salvation and healing for Avraham and Lot, blessing Sarah with a child, and destroying Sodom.
Q2: Is there a hint in the verse that each one had a separate mission?
A2: Yes, all along the men are referred to as a group (plural) except when one of the objectives is being carried out - then each angel is referred to individually.
ד"ה ויאמרו אליו
Q: What do the dots about the letters aleph, yud, and vov indicate?
A: Those letters spell the word ֹאַיו- where is he. This shows that they also asked Sarah about Avraham's welfare. It is proper to ask a person about their families.
Q: Why did they ask Avraham where Sarah was?
A: 2 reasons:
- To endear her to him by mentioning her modesty.
- To bring blessings to her by mentioning her modesty.
ד"ה ארדה נא
Q: What is intended by "I will descend"?
A: 2 possibilities:
- Hashem set an example for all judges throughout time that they must investigate the finest detail of a case before passing judgment.
- Hashem "went down the line of history" checking to make sure that no descendant of the people of Sodom were destined to be righteous.
ד"ה הכצעקתה
Q: Whose screams was Hashem investigating?
A: 2 possibilities:
- The cried of the city of Sodom.
- A young lady who was brutally murdered for feeding hungry people.
ד"ה הבאה אלי עשו
Q: Why is there a separation (פְּסִיק) between the words Asu and Kala (they did - completely)?
A: To indicate that Hashem intended to investigate whether they were going to persist in their wickedness, for if they would turn away from their evil, He would exact punishment for passed evils but would refrain from destroying the city completely.
ד"ה ותהי נציב מלח
Q: Why did Lot's wife turn to salt of all things?
A: She sinned with salted by bringing danger upon the visiting angels by saying to a neighbor, "Can I have some salt for my husband is entertaining guests."
ד"ה ויזכר אלקים את אברהם
Q: Which merit (connected with Avraham) did Lot have that earned him salvation from the destruction of Sodom?
A: When Sarah tried to conceal fact that she was married to Avraham Lot did not inform on her to the Egyptian authorities.
ד"ה רק אין יראת אלקים
Q: How did Avraham know that the people of Phlistia had no fear of heaven?
A: When they arrived in Philistia the people started to inquire about Sarah's relationship status instead of the needs and comfort of the travelers.
ד"ה את קול הנער
Q: Why are we told that Hashem responded specifically to the boy, when he and his mother were both praying?
A: To show that a prayer offered by one in need is answered more swiftly than prayers offered by others on one's behalf.
ד"ה באשר הוא שם
Q: What is the meaning of, "where he is"?
A: It refers to his spiritual station - Hashem would judge him only on his present situation and not take into account his wicked past or his evil descendants.
ד"ה אחר הדברים האלה
Intro: Dvarim means events but also means words.
Q: Whose words preempted the Akeida and why?
A1: Satan argued that Avraham was more devoted to Yitzchak than to Hashem, and Yishmael argued that Yitzchak was less committed than he (for he had been fully aware during his circumcision).
A2: Hashem argued that Avraham would willingly give up Yitzchak for Hashem. Yitzchak argued that he would willingly give his very life to Hashem if it were asked of him.
ד"ה קח נא
Q: Why does Hashem say please during this commandment?
A: Hashem was pleading with Avraham to pass this very difficult test.
ד"ה את בנך
Q:Why does Hashem describe Yitzchak in so many ways?
A: Two possibilities:
- To break the news to Avraham gently.
- Each description is a separate command, thus Avraham would receive even greater rewards.
ד"ה ארץ המוריה
Q: Why is the place of the akeida (Jerusalem) called Moriah?
A: Two possibilities:
- Referring to the teachings (hora'ah) that would emanate from there.
- Referring to the fragrance affecting that would be offered in the Beis Hamikdash.
ד"ה והעלהו
Q: What was the actual command about the Akeida?
A: Simply to bring him up - the plan was never to actually slaughter Yitzchak.
ד"ה את שני נעריו
Q: Why did Avraham take two servants (Eliezer and Yishmael) with him?
A: An esteemed person should never travel with less than two attendants. This way he will always have an escort even if one attendant needs to take a break.
ד"ה יראה לו השה
Q: How did Yitzchak receive the news that he would be the sacrifice if there was no sheep?
A: He still walked with the same commitment as his father.
(12) And he said, “Do not raise your hand against the boy, nor do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your favored one, from Me.”
ד"ה אל תשלח
Q: Why did the angel say two commands - "Don't send your hand" and "Do nothing to him"!
A: When the angel said "don't slaughter the boy" Avraham said, "then I have come here for nothing, allow me to make a small mark on him with the knife." Thus the angel replied, "don't do anything to him."
פרשת חיה שרה
Chayeh Sarah
(1) Sarah’s lifetime—the span of Sarah’s life—came to one hundred and twenty-seven years.
ד"ה ויהיו חיי שרה מאה שנה ועשרים שנה ושבע שנים
Q: Why is each number of the years of Sarah's life followed by the word "שנה" (years)?
A: To show you to interpret each number individually, as follows: at 100 she was innocent like a 20 year old. At 20 she was as pretty as a 7 year old.
ד"ה שני חיי שרה
Q: Why does the verse repeat the fact that these are the years of Sarah's life?
A: To emphasize that all the years were all equally pious, pure and productive.
ד"ה לספוד לשרה ולבכתה
Q: Why are the binding of Isaac and the passing of Sarah recorded next to each other in the Torah?
A: For it was from the news that her son had survived the Akeida that she died.
ד"ה המכפלה
Q: Why is the cave called Machpela (doubled)?
A: Two possibilities:
- Because it had two stories
- Everyone buried there was buried in pairs.
ד"ה וישקל אברהם לעפרן
Q: Why is Ephron's name missing the letter Vov when he sells the cave to Avraham?
A: Because although he promised much, he actually did very little to help Avraham. He first offered the cave a a gift but in the end charged Avraham a very steep price for it.
(יד) וְהָיָ֣ה הַֽנַּעֲרָ֗ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֹמַ֤ר אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ הַטִּי־נָ֤א כַדֵּךְ֙ וְאֶשְׁתֶּ֔ה וְאָמְרָ֣ה שְׁתֵ֔ה וְגַם־גְּמַלֶּ֖יךָ אַשְׁקֶ֑ה אֹתָ֤הּ הֹכַ֙חְתָּ֙ לְעַבְדְּךָ֣ לְיִצְחָ֔ק וּבָ֣הּ אֵדַ֔ע כִּי־עָשִׂ֥יתָ חֶ֖סֶד עִם־אַדוֹנִי
(14) Let the maiden to whom I say, ‘Please, lower your jar that I may drink,’ and who replies, ‘Drink, and I will also water your camels’—let her be the one whom You have decreed for Your servant Isaac. Thereby shall I know that You have dealt graciously with my master.”
ד"ה אתה הכחת
Q: What does Rivkah's kindness prove about her?
A: That she fitting to serve as matriarch of the Jewish People.
(כב) וַיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר כִּלּ֤וּ הַגְּמַלִּים֙ לִשְׁתּ֔וֹת וַיִּקַּ֤ח הָאִישׁ֙ נֶ֣זֶם זָהָ֔ב בֶּ֖קַע מִשְׁקָל֑וֹ וּשְׁנֵ֤י צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדֶ֔יהָ עֲשָׂרָ֥ה זָהָ֖ב מִשְׁקָלָֽם׃
ד"ה בקע
Q: What does the Half Shekel weight of the nose ring symbolize?
A: The half shekel ever Jew would donate to the Mishkan project.
ד"ה שני צמידים
Q: What do the two bracelets symbolize?
A: The two Luchos (Tablets of the Ten Commandments).
ד"ה עשרה זהב משקלם
Q: What does the weight of these bracelets symbolize?
A: The ten commandments that were engraved upon the Tablets.
ד"ה וירץ
Q: Why did Lavan run to greet Eliezer?
A: He saw the gold his sister was wearing and he got excited.
(מב) וָאָבֹ֥א הַיּ֖וֹם אֶל־הָעָ֑יִן וָאֹמַ֗ר ה' אֱלֹקֵי֙ אדוֹנִי אַבְרָהָ֔ם אִם־יֶשְׁךָ־נָּא֙ מַצְלִ֣יחַ דַּרְכִּ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י הֹלֵ֥ךְ עָלֶֽיהָ׃
ד"ה ואבא היום
Q: What did Eliezer mean when he said "I came today" (obviously it was today...)?
A: I left my masters home today and I arrived here today, the earth folded up beneath me.
Q: Why is Eliezer's report of the whole story written - we already know the story?
A: The words of those faithful servants of Avraham's house are very precious.
ד"ה מבוא באר לחי ראי
Q: Where was Yitzchak coming from when Rivkah saw him for the first time?
A: He had gone to bring Hagar back to his Avraham that he might marry her.
ד"ה האהלה שרה אמו
Q: How did Yitzchak know that Rivkah was fitting to be a mother of the Jewish people?
A: When Rivkah entered Sarah's tent the special miracle of the bread and candles staying fresh and lit from Friday to Friday, as well as the cloud of Hashem's glory returned to rest on the tent.
(ו) וְלִבְנֵ֤י הַפִּֽילַגְשִׁם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַבְרָהָ֔ם נָתַ֥ן אַבְרָהָ֖ם מַתָּנֹ֑ת וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֞ם מֵעַ֨ל יִצְחָ֤ק בְּנוֹ֙ בְּעוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חַ֔י קֵ֖דְמָה אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ קֶֽדֶם׃
ד"ה הפילגשם
Q: Why is the word Pilagshim (concubines) missing a Yud (it should be פילגשיים)?
A: To tell us that Hagar and this new lady "Keturah", are the same person.
ד"ה יצחק וישמעאל
Q: How do we know that Yishmael did Teshuvah?
A: He allowed Yitzchak to lead the funeral of Avraham.
פרשת תולדות
Parshas Toldos
ד"ה בת בתואל מפדן ארם אחות לבן
Q:Why are we repeating Rivkah's lineage and homeland?
A To honor her for not been influenced by the wickedness around her.
(כב) וַיִּתְרֹֽצֲצ֤וּ הַבָּנִים֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔הּ וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אִם־כֵּ֔ן לָ֥מָּה זֶּ֖ה אָנֹ֑כִי וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לִדְרֹ֥שׁ אֶת־ה'׃
ד"ה ויתרוצצו
Q: Why were the babies struggling?
A: 2 possibilities:
- Yaakov would fight to go to yeshiva whenever they passed one and Eisav fought to go to temples of idolatry.
- They were struggling over who would inherit the two worlds (physical and spiritual).
ד"ה אדמוני
Q: What is the significance of Esav's being red?
A: It means that he will spill blood.
ד"ה ויקרא שמו יעקב
Q: Who named him and why?
A: Two possibilities:
- Hashem named him Yakov because he considered him like the firstborn,
- Yitzchak named him Yakov because he was holding on to Esav's heels
ד"ה ידע ציד
Q: What kind trapping was Esav good at?
A: He deceived his father, to make him think that he was a Tzaddik.
ד"ה איש שדה
Q: What does the man of the field do?
A: Just walk around the field and hunts.
ד"ה תם
Q: Why is Yaakov called innocent (תם)?
A: A person who is not astute at deceiving is called innocent.
(28) Yitzchak favored Esav because he had a taste for game; but Rivkah favored Yaakov.
ד"ה בפיו
Q: In whose mouth was the Eisav's hunting?
A: Two possibilities:
- Yitzchak's mouth; the food that Esav hunted.
- Esav's mouth; Esav's was tricking his father with his words.
ד"ה מן האדם האדם
Q: Why was Yaakov preparing lentils?
A: Yitzchak was mourning for his father who had passed away that very day, and mourners are traditionally given lentils to eat.
Q: Was Hashem's promise of "Long Life" fulfilled for Avraham? Why?
A: Avraham passed away five years early (Yitzchak lived 180 years - which is considered a full life) in order that he should not see his grandson go bad.
Q: Why do we serve lentils to mourners?
A: The simple round shape of lentils (and eggs) symbolize the circle of life and tha fact that mourners have no words to speak.
ד"ה אל תרד מצרימה
Q: Why was Yitzchak not meant to go to Egypt?
A: Because he was a Korban himself and there for he can't go out of Eretz Yisroel.
ד"ה וישמר משמרתי
Q:What does it mean"guarded my guarding?
A:Things to guard against transgressing .i.e. Secondary prohibitions.
ד"ה מצותי
Q: What is referred to by the term "Commandments"?
A: Commandments are things that Hashem commandments even if it is so logical that you would have found them correct on your own.
ד"ה חקותי
Q: What are "My Statutes"?
A: Irrational (unlogical) commandments.
ד"ה ותורתי
Q: Why does the verse imply that there are multiple Torahs?
A:Because there are the written Torah and the other was the oral Torah tradition.
ד"ה בן ארבעים שנה
Q:Why is it important to know that Esav married at 40 years old?
A:He was pretending to be holy like his father, by marrying at the age of 40, despite him being a Rashah. And that makes him a "pig"!
(35) And they were a source of bitterness to Isaac and Rebekah.
ד"ה מרת רוח
Q: We would assume that the Canaanite daughters-in-law would do certain things that would displease Yitzhak and Rivkah, what is the pasuk telling us?
A: That the girls were rebellious not simply idolatrous. They tried to embittered the lives of Esav's parents.
ד"ה ותכהין
Q: What were the reasons that Yitzchak's eyes went dim.
A: Three possibilities.
- The smoke of Esav's wives' idolatry.
- Another possibly is when Yitzchak was bound on the altar, and his father was about to slaughter him, the heavens opened, and the ministering angels saw and wept, and their tears fell upon Yitzchak's eyes.
- The their possibly is that Yitzchak should be blind so that Yakov can get the blessing.
ד"ה גשה נא ואמשך
Q:What made Yitzchak suspicious that this wasn't Esav?
A: Because Yakov mentioned Hashem, and Yitzchak knew that Esav never mentions Hashem's name.
ד"ה ויחרד
Q: Why was Yitzchak scared was Eisav?
A: Because he saw Gehinnom open beneath him.
ד"ה הכי קרא שמו
Q: According to Esav, why was he named Yaakov?
A: Because he was destined to deceive Esav.
Q: Why did Yitzchak shudder when Esau came in?
A: He was scared the he did an injustice - by blessing the younger son before the older one.
Q: Why does Yitzchak say, "He too shall be blessed"?
A: Yitzchak realized that he was not wrong, and therefor confirmed yaakovs blessings.
פרשת ויצא
Parshas Vayetzei
ד"ה יוצא יעקב
Q: Why does it mention Yaakov's leaving the city?
A: When a Tzaddik leave's his city, it's honor and glory leaves.
ד"ה ויפגע במקום
Q: Which place did Yaakov arrive at?
A: Mount Moriah (הר המוריה). Because it says "and Avraham saw "the place" ", which was Mount Hamoriah. So to here, Yaakov is arriving at "the place".
ד"ה ויפגע
Q: What does ״פגע״ means
A: Two things:
- "he reached"
- "he prayed"
ד"ה וישם מראשתיו
Q: How did Yaakov arrange the stones?
A: He put them around his head so that wild animals wouldn't kill him.
Q: What happened to the stones during the night?
A: They all wished to have the head of the Tzaddik resting on them so they were joined together into one stone (as we see that in the morning Yaakov made a monument out of a single stone).
ד"ה וישכב במקום ההוא
Q: Why does Torah specify that he layed down in that place- as apposed to what?
A: For the entire fourteen years that he was at the academy of Shem and Eiver he never laid himself down to sleep.
ד"ה עלים וירדים
Q: Shouldn't angels descend before they ascend - don't they come from heaven?
A: These are two different groups of angels. The first were Jacob's guardian angels belonging to the holy land. As he was crossing the border, he envisioned his Israeli angels ascending to heaven, and new group descending to protect him outside of Israel.
ד"ה ויבך
Q: Why did Yaakov cry after meeting Rachel?
A: Two possibilities:
- He prophecies that they would not be buried together.
- He was penniless and had nothing to give her.
Q: What happened to Yaakov's wealth?
A: Eisav sent Eliphaz to kill Yaakov. When they met Yaakov convinced Eliphaz that penniless is as good as dead. So Eliphaz took all of Yaakov's possessions instead of his life.
ד"ה רכות
Q: Why would Leah's eyes be "weak"?
A: She wept regularly, thinking that as the older sister of Laban she was destined to be married to the elder son Rivkah - Eisav.
ד"ה ברחל בתך הקטנה
Q: Why does Yaakov need to describe Rachel so precisely to Lavan (Rachel, your daughter, the younger one)?
A: Yaakov knew that Laban was a crook and would try to twist his words and have him marry someone else so he made his intentions as clear as possible leaving no room for misinterpretation. (It didn't help.)
ד"ה ויהי בבקר והנה היא לאה
Q: Why did Yaakov not realize that it was Leah until the morning?
A: Rachel had given Leah their secret code and in the darkness of night Yaakov trusted that code. Only when the sun came up did he realize he had been tricked.
ד"ה הפעם ילוה אישי
Q: Why does Leah feel that only after her third son, Levi, was born would her husband feel attached to her?
A: Since she assumed that each of Yaakov's four wives would bear him three sons - with Levi's birth she had delivered her full portion of sons.
ד"ה וישמע אלקים אל לאה
Q: After her third son, why was Leah still praying for children?
A: She desired very strongly to increase the number of Shvatim (Yaakov's sons who would be leaders of tribes).
ד"ה נחשתי
Q: Which blessing did Lavan attribute to Yaakov's presence in his home?
A: When Yaakov arrived Lavan had no sons (his daughters had to be his shepherds), when Yaakov left Laban was able to pursue Yaakov together with his sons! Lavan attributed his sons' births to Yaakov's presence.
ד"ה ויקרא לרחל וללאה
Q: Yaakov treated Rachel as the foundation of the family - she was the reason Yaakov married Leah, Bilha and Zilpa. How did Leah's children feel about this?
A: They understood and were ok with it - even Boaz of Shevet Yehudah blessed Ruth to become "Like Rachel and Leah" listing Rachel first.
ד"ה ותגנוב רחל את התרפים
Q: Why did Rachel steal from her father?
A: She hoped he would forget about his idolatry.
פרשת וישלח
Parshas Vayishlach
ד"ה וישלח יעקב מלאכים
Q: Why does the pasuk call the messengers "Malachim"?
A: Yaakov sent actual angels to Eisav.
(ה) וַיְצַ֤ו אֹתָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֣ה תֹאמְר֔וּן לַֽאַדוֹנִי לְעֵשָׂ֑ו כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ עַבְדְּךָ֣ יַעֲקֹ֔ב עִם־לָבָ֣ן גַּ֔רְתִּי וָאֵחַ֖ר עַד־עָֽתָּה׃
ד"ה גרתי
Q: Why does Yaakov describe his years with Laban as "גַרְתִּי - I sojourned" and not "lived" or "settled"?
A: He possibly wanted to make two points:
- I have been a stranger in a strange land for all this time - the blessings have not been fulfilled in me, so you have no reason for anger or jealousy.
- גרתי equals 613. Even as I lived with Lavan I never learned from his evil ways.
ד"ה ויירא, ויצר
Q: What was he afraid of; and what caused him pain?
A: He feared that he might be killed, and he was pained by the thought that he might kill others.
ד"ה והיה המחנה הנשאר לפליטה
Q: How did Yaakov prepare himself for his encounter with Eisav?
A: He took three actions:
- He sent a bribe. (Deut. 32:22 "The gift passed before him")
- He prayed for help. (Deut. 32:10 "G-d of my father...")
- He prepared for battle. (Deut. 32:9 "The remaining camp will escape.")
ד"ה קטנתי מכל החסדים
Q: What does it mean "I am too small"?
A: He feels that the miracles used up his merits, and if he sinned and wouldn't deserve Hashem's protection anymore.
ד"ה האמת
Q: What is "all the truth"?
A: You have kept all the promises.
ד"ה כי במקלי
Q: "What is my staff?"
A: Two points:
- He was poor, he had nothing but his staff.
- He put his staff into the Jordan river and it split, allowing him to cross.
ד"ה ואת אחד עשר ילדיו
Q: Where is Dina? There should be twelve children here, not eleven?
A: Yaakov hid Dina in a box, lest Eisav ask to marry her.
Q: How and why was Yaakov punished for withholding Dina from Eisav?
A: She was abducted by Shechem, because it was possible that marrying Dina would make Eisav a better person.
ד"ה ויאבק איש
Q: What is the root and meaning of וַיֵאָבֵק?
A: Two possibilities:
- Hebrew: אבק means dust. Then this means a fight, where two people wrestle with each other and kick up dust.
- Aramaic: אבק means entangled - when two people fight to topple each other they wrap themselves around each other.
Q: Who was the "Man" that wrestled with Yaakov?
A: It was Esau's Arch-angel.
ד"ה למה זה תשאל
Q: What was the angel's response to Yaakov asking his name?
A: He explained that angels don't have set names, their names change depending on their role.
(2) putting the maids and their children first, Leah and her children last, and Rachel and Joseph last.
ד"ה ואת לאה וילדיה אחרונים
Q: Why are both Leah and Rachel's families called "last'?
A: Here the term last means something else; here last means precious.
ד"ה ויחבקהו
Q: Why was Esav moved to embrace and kiss Yaakov?
A: Since Yaakov bowed so many times, it moved Esauv to embrace him.
ד"ה וישקהו
Q1: What do the dots mean?
A1: Sometimes the dotted letters outnumber the plain, and sometimes vice versa. In each case pay special attention to the larger group. When the entire word is dotted it changes the meaning of the word.
Q2: Did Esav truly reconcile with Yaakov?
A2: Some say yes, some say no. There is a principle that "Eisav hates Yaakov".
ד"ה שלם
Q: In which ways was Yaakov "whole" when he arrived in the Shechem ?
A: 3 ways:
- Bodily (healed from his limp)
- Financially (he wasn't lacking even after that huge gift to Eisav)
- Spiritually (he wasn't influenced at all by Lavan).
ד"ה בת לאה
Q: Why is Dina called "Leah's daughter" and not "Yaakov's daughter" when she goes out to visit the city of Shechem?
A: In this instance she demonstrated that she was her mother's daughter, in that she left the privacy of her home and went out (as in (Gen. 30:16), "And Leah went out towards him").
ד"ה וישכב
Q: Reuven did not lay with Bilhah. Why does it say that he did?
A: Since he interfered with his father's private affairs the Torah records it as though he had violated his father's marriage.
ד"ה ויהיו בני יעקב שנים עשר
Q: Why does the Torah declare that Yaakov had twelve sons in the same verse as Reuven's trespass?
A: To indicate that all the sons, including Reuven, were equally righteous (that Reuven's trespass, though egregious for a Tzaddik, is not actually a sin).
פרשת וישב
Parshas Vayeishev
'ד"ה וישב יעקב וגו
Q: Why does the Torah review the descendants of Eisav so briefly?
A: It is similar to a minor who digs quickly through the sand to get to the gems.
Q2: Why are Yaakov's descendants listed immediately after Eisav's?
A2: To demonstrate the power of Yaakov's descendants, that a single spark will emerge from Yaakov that will destroy (burn up) Eisav.
ד"ה את דבתם רעה
Q: What was Yosef reporting to his father about his brothers and how was he punished for each thing?
A: 3 examples:
- They were eating flesh from a living animal
- Punishment: They slaughtered an animal and dipped his coat in the blood
- They were mistreating the sons of the former maidservant
- Punishment: He was sold into servitude
- They were not being modest when dealing with women
- Punishment: He suffered from his master's wife's immodest intentions
ד"ה בן זקונים
Q: What does the phrase "child of his old age" mean?
A: 2 possibilities:
- Yosef was born when Yaakov was at an advanced age (Zaken=Old)
- Yosef was his wisest and most learned son (Zaken=Wise/Elder)
ד"ה וימצאהו איש
Q: Who was this guy who helped Yosef find his brothers?
A: The angel Gavriel.
ד"ה למען הציל אותו
Q: How do we know what Reuven's intentions might have been?
A: Two possibilities:
- Torah testifies that these were his intentions.
- It's logical: He knew that if anything were to happen he, the first born would get the blame.
(24) and they took him and cast him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
ד"ה והבור רק אין בו מים
Q: Once we know that the pit was empty, why does the verse say that it had no water; isn't that obvious?
A: To point out that while it was empty of water it wasn't completely empty. There were poisonous snaces and scorpions in there.
ד"ה חיה רעה אכלתהו
Q: Why did Yaakov conclude that Yosef was devoured by a wild beast?
A: He unknowingly prophecied that Yosef would be attacked by Potiphar's wife.
Q: Why didn't Hashem reveal to Yaakov that Yosef was still alive?
A: The brother sealed a covenant that no one would ever tell Yaakov the truth, and they included Hashem in this pact.
Q: Why didn't Yitzchak tell Yaakov that Yosef was alive?
A: He figured that if Hashem wasn't telling, he shouldn't either.
ד"ה וימאן להתנחם
Q: Why couldn't the family comfort Yaakov after Yosef's supposed death?
A: G-d imprinted on man's nature the unnatural ability to forget a deceased loved one. But this only kicks in if the loved one is actually deceased. Yosef was not.
ד"ה והיא שלחה אל חמיה
Q: Why did Tamar send a secret message to Yehuda instead of proving at the court case that Yehuda was the father?
A: She preferred to be burned at the stake rather than to shame another person.
ד"ה ויוסף הורד
Q: Why are the episodes of Yehuda and Yosef juxtaposed (right next to each other)?
A: It was because of Yosef's sale that Yehuda was demoted among his brothers and had to leave home.
Q: Why are the episodes of Tamar and Potiphar's wife juxtaposed (right next to each other)?
A: Just as Tamar's intentions were pure, Potiphar's wife also intended to fulfill the destiny prepared for her in heaven. Her astronomers told her that she would have descendants from Yosef, in the end, she was to be the grandmother, not the mother.
(5) Both of them—the cup-bearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—dreamed in the same night, each his own dream and each dream with its own meaning.
ד"ה ויחלמו חלום שניהם
Q: What did the baker and the butler dream?
A: A careful reading of the verse reveals that each one dreamed his own dream as well as the interpretations of his fellow's dream.
ד"ה וישכחהו
Q: If the butler didn't remember Yosef, why does the verse repeat that "he forgot him".
A: Since Yosef put his faith in the butler's intervention, instead of relying exclusively on Hashem, he earned the consequence of waiting for this arrogant individual to remember him (that took two an additional years).
פרשת מקץ
Parshas Miketz
Viceroy
Yosef languished for two years after successfully interpreting the baker's and butler's dreams.
One night Pharaoh himself has unsettling dreams of seven healthy cows and kernels of grains at the Nile River's edge being consumed by seven emaciated cows and seven petrified kernels of grain.
Yosef interprets the dreams as referring to seven robust years in Egypt followed by seven years of famine and want. He concluded by transmitting a sublime message from G-d to Pharaoh, that he appoint an overseer for a national food collection project.
Pharaoh appoints Yosef to this position, provides him with a royal appellation, signet ring and bride.
(43) He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command, and they cried before him, “Avrekh!” Thus he placed him over all the land of Egypt.
ד"ה אברך
Q: What were they shouting before Yosef - what is "Avrekh"?
A: 3 Possibilities:
- Adviser to the King (Av = Advisor, Rekh = reigning king, [Onkelos, Oxford Dictionary: 'Rex']).
- Wise beyond his years (Av = wise, Rach = young)
- "Kneel!" (Vayivrakh= and he caused to kneel [Gen. 24:11])
Yosef established a very successful system so that by the time the seven years of plenty passed Egypt had enough grain to supply the entire region!
(נד) וַתְּחִלֶּ֜ינָה שֶׁ֣בַע שְׁנֵ֤י הָרָעָב֙ לָב֔וֹא כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָמַ֣ר יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְהִ֤י רָעָב֙ בְּכָל־הָ֣אֲרָצ֔וֹת וּבְכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם הָ֥יָה לָֽחֶם׃
(נה) וַתִּרְעַב֙ כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם וַיִּצְעַ֥ק הָעָ֛ם אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֖ה לַלָּ֑חֶם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֤ה לְכָל־מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ לְכ֣וּ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֲשֶׁר־יֹאמַ֥ר לָכֶ֖ם תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃
(54) And the seven years of famine set in, just as Joseph had foretold. There was famine in all lands, but throughout the land of Egypt there was bread.
(55) And when all the land of Egypt felt the hunger, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he tells you, you shall do.”
ד"ה ותרעב כל ארץ מצרים
Q: In the previous verse, Torah testifies that each Egyptian had bread - why are they hungry now?
A: Their private stashes rotted, only Yosef had non-rotting food.
ד"ה אשר יאמר לכם תעשו
Q: What was Yosef telling them, that they didn't want to do?
A: Circumcision in exchange for bread.
In the meantime, the famine had struck Canaan as well and it became necessary for Yaakov's family to travel to Egypt and purchase food. For security reasons, Yaakov elected to send ten sons together.
ד"ה וירדו אחי יוסף
Q: Why are they called "Brother's of Yosef" as they go down to Egypt?
A: They regretted selling Yosef and they were committed to keeping their eyes open for him, to try and bring him home at any cost.
ד"ה פן יקראנו אסון
Q: Why does Yaakov worry about Benyamin traveling, can't tragedy strike even at home?
A: The satan accuses a person particularly in a time of danger, and travel (especially in those days) dangerous.
ד"ה בתוך הבאים
Q: Isn't it obvious that the brothers were among the visitors to Egypt - what is the message here?
A: Yaakov instructed them to split up and blend in so the Eiyan Hara wouldn't be upon them.
'ד"ה ויכר יוסף וגו
Q: Why did they not recognize Yosef?
A: When he left the brothers he was baby-faced when he was sold and now was fully grown and bearded.
ד"ה והם לא הכרהו
Q: What is the difference between Yosef sense of brotherhood and that of his brothers?
A: When he saw them and recognized them as his brothers he naturally had mercy on them. Whereas, when they were selling him and he was begging them for mercy, they disregarded any such brotherly instinct.
Yosef accuses his brothers of being spies and imprisoned all of them for three days. Yosef then gives the brothers one chance to prove their innocence: Shimon would sit in prison and the others should go to bring the missing brother to Egypt. He allows them to purchase food and sends the nine on their way.
Along the road, they stopped at an inn to feed their animals and found that their money had been returned to them.
(כד) וַיִּסֹּ֥ב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וַיָּ֤שָׁב אֲלֵקֶם֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶם וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתָּם֙ אֶת־שִׁמְע֔וֹן וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃
ד"ה את שמעון
Q: Why, of all the brothers, did Yosef take Shimon as hostage?
A: Two possibilities:
- Because he was instigated the fight against Yosef, saying to Levi, "Look, here comes the dreamer etc."
- To separate Shimon and Levi from each other, so they wouldn't destroy the city.
ד"ה ויאסור אותו לעיניהם
Q: Why are we told that Yosef arrested Shimon up for the brothers to see?
A: Because that is all he did - as soon as the brothers left Shimon was released and housed comfortably to await his brothers' return.
ד"ה כי נכמרו רחמיו
Q: What about his meeting with Benjamin moved Yosef to the point of crying?
A: Each of Benyamin's sons were named after the sufferings of Yosef.
1. בֶּלַע- he was "נבלע", dissapeared
2. בֶכֶר- he was the "בכר", firstborn to Rachel
3. אַשְׁבֵּל- G-d "א-ל" caused him to be captured "שבאו"
4. גֵרָא- he was a stranger "Ger" in a strange land
5. נַעֲמָן- he was beautiful "Na'im"
6. אֵחִי- he was my brother "Achi"
7. ׁרֹאש- he was my superior "Rosh"
8. מוּפִּים- he received teaching from fathers mouth "Mipi"
9. חוּפִּים- I was not at his wedding "חופה"
10. ְאָרְד- he descended "ירד" among the nations
ד"ה כי תועבה הוא
Q: Why did the Egyptians, Yosef and the brothers all eat separately.
A: Egyptians are loathed to eat with Hebrews because they see eating meat as an abomination.
ד"ה הן כסף אשר מצאנו
Q: What was Yehuda's argument about why Yosef should believe that they didn't steal the goblet?
A: If we are so scrupulous in returning money (Kal), surely we wouldn't have stolen your goblet (Chomer).
NOTE: Yehuda's argument here is one of the ten 'a fortiori' (קַל וָחוֹמֵר - see Appendix) arguments in the Torah. (full list of Torah's a fortiori arguments - see Appendix)
(טז) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֗ה מַה־נֹּאמַר֙ לַֽאַדׂני מַה־נְּדַבֵּ֖ר וּמַה־נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק הָאֱלֹקִ֗ים מָצָא֙ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הִנֶּנּ֤וּ עֲבָדִים֙ לַֽאדושם גַּם־אֲנַ֕חְנוּ גַּ֛ם אֲשֶׁר־נִמְצָ֥א הַגָּבִ֖יעַ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
ד"ה האלקים מצא
Q: What sin might Hashem have been looking for that He found now?
A: An opportunity to punish the brothers for having sold Yosef. (Though they had not sinned against the ruler of Egypt, the brothers saw Hashem's justices in this event).
פרשת ויגש
Parshas Vayigash
ד"ה כי כמוך כפרעה
Q: How is Yosef like Pharaoh?
A: Four possibilities:
- He is as important in my eyes as Pharaoh himself.
- Just as Pharaoh was smitten when he took Sarah, so to you will be smitten with leprosy, if you take Benyamin.
- Just as Pharaoh makes promises that he does not fulfill, so do you - for you said you simply wanted to "lay eyes upon the lad" and now you are threatening to enslave him.
- If you provoke me, I will kill you with your Pharaoh.
ד"ה גשו נא אלי
Q: Why does Yosef invite his brothers to come closer to him?
A: Two reasons:
- He saw them back away out of shame.
- He proved his identity by showing that he was circumcised
ד"ה ועלו אל אבי
Q: Why does Yosef say "go up to my father?"
A: The Land of Israel is higher than all other lands.
ד"ה ועיני אחי בנימין
Q: Why did Yosef single out Benyamin?
A: Just as he harbors no hatred for Benyamin - who didn't partake in the selling, so too, he feels only love for the rest of the brothers.
ד"ה ויפל על צוארי בנימין אחיו ויבך
Q: Why did Yosef cry on Binyamin's shoulder?
A: For the two Batei Mikdash (Holy Temples) that would be destroyed in Jerusalem, Benyamin's territory.
ד"ה ובנימין בכה על צואריו
Q: Why did Benyamin cry on Yosef's shoulder?
A: For the Mishkan (in the city of Shiloh) that would be destroyed in Yosef's territory.
(כד) וַיְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֵּלֵ֑כוּ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם אַֽל־תִּרְגְּז֖וּ בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃
ד"ה אל תרגזו בדרך
Q: What might cause an argument between the brothers?
A: Two possibilities:
- Learned Torah discussions.
- Over who had the most blame.
ד"ה את כל דברי יוסף
Q: How did the brothers prove to Yaakov that Yosef was alive?
A: They showed him wagons (עַגָלוֹׁת), which sounds similar to calves (עֶגְלות)- which happened to be the last subject that Yaakov and Yosef were learning (עֶגְלָה עֲרוּפָה - See Appendix).
ד"ה שלשים ושלש
Q: The Torah has only listed thirty two names - who is the thirty-third descendant of Leah going down to Egypt.
A: Yocheved - she was conceived in Canaan but born as the family entered the gates of Egypt.
ד"ה וירא אליו
Q: Who is the subject of this statement, i.e. who appeared to whom?
A: It must be referring to Yosef, since he is the subject of the entire sentences.
ד"ה ויבך על צואריו עוד
Q: Why does it say that Yosef cried a long time, but not Yaakov?
A: Yaakov was reciting the Shema at that time (and it is forbidden to interrupt in any way).
ד"ה ומקצה אחיו
Q: קְצֵה means "the edge", what does it mean that Yosef presented the "edge" of his brothers to Pharaoh?
A: Yosef presented his weakest looking brothers so that Pharaoh wouldn't draft the whole family to the military.
Q: Which brothers fit this discription?
A: There are two possibilities:
- 1. Jerusalem Talmud: Those whose names Moshe did not repeat when blessing the tribe at the end of his life. (Reuven, Shimon, Levi, Yissachar and Binyamin)
- 2. Babylonian Talmud: Those whose names Moshe did repeated, and he repeated them because they were weak and needed the extra blessing. (Zevulun, Dan, Naftali, Gad and Asher)
- [NOTE1: The Midrash Sifra supports the Babylonian view.]
- [NOTE2: Yehudah's name was repeated but for a different reason.]
(10) Then Jacob bade Pharaoh farewell, and left Pharaoh’s presence.
ד"ה ויברך יעקב
Q: What was the blessing Yaakov bestowed on Pharaoh?
A: That the waters of the Nile will rise to Pharaoh's feet.
פרשת ויחי
Parshas Vayechi
(28) Jacob lived seventeen years in the land of Egypt, so that the span of Jacob’s life came to one hundred and forty-seven years.
ד"ה ויחי יעקב
Q: Why is there no space between parshas Vayigash and parshas Vayechi - why is the symbolism in the fact that Vayechi a closed parsha?
A: Two possibilities:
- The hearts and souls of his descendants were closed when Yaakov passed away.
- Yaakov wanted to reveal the coming of Moshiach, but that was closed off.
ד"ה אל נא תקברני
Q: Why does Yaakov not want to be buried in Egypt.
A: Three possibilities:
- The dust of Egypt turns into lice.
- Bodies outside of Israel will have to roll to Eretz Yisroel to be resurrected.
- He doesn't want to be turned into an idol.
ד"ה ואגידה לכם
Q: What did Yaakov intend to tell his sons?
A: He wanted to reveal the time of Moshiach's coming , but it was withheld from him.
ד"ה שמעון ולוי אחים
Q: Why are Shimon and Levi called brothers (they are all brothers)!
A: They instigated the attack on Shechem and the plot against Yosef.
(יג) זְבוּלֻ֕ן לְח֥וֹף יַמִּ֖ים יִשְׁכֹּ֑ן וְהוּא֙ לְח֣וֹף אֳנִיּ֔וֹת וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ עַל־צִידֹֽן׃ (ס)
ד"ה לחוף ימים
Q: What was the spiritual gain in Yaakov's blessing to Zevulan?
A: By always living at the port, they would succeed in business. Then they supported Yissachar - who would always be learning.
ד"ה ויבכו אתו מצרים ארבעים יום
Q: Why did Egypt mourn Yaakov's passing?
A: Because he brought blessing to Egypt; when he arrived the Nile river's water was blessed and the famine ended.
!חזק חזק ונתחזק
CHAZAK CHAZAK VENISCHAZEK!
Appendices:
Now, let’s see how a kal v’chomer works in Biblical exegesis.
The Torah tells us that Yom Tov is just like Shabbos except that food preparation is permitted. In other words, the laws of Shabbos are known to be more stringent than those of Yom Tov. If something is known to be permitted on Shabbos, kal v’chomer it must be permitted on Yom Tov. Conversely, if something is known to be prohibited on Yom Tov, kal v’chomer it must be prohibited on Shabbos.
The Torah itself gives us a perfect example of a kal v’chomer. In Numbers 22:14, after reprimanding Miriam, God sent her out of the camp for a week. Moshe asked for clemency for his sister but God replied, “If her father had spit in her face, wouldn’t she hide her face in shame for seven days?” If she would hide for a week after being chastised by her father, kal v’chomer she should leave the camp for a week after being chastised by God. (Logically, she should have had to go out for two weeks or more but remember, you can’t get more out of a kal v’chomer than you put into it!)
Since a kal v’chomer is a strictly logical process, anyone can argue a case a fortiori.
(ז) הן כסף וגו' - תני, רבי ישמעאל, זה אחד מעשרה קלים וחמורין, שכתובים בתורה. הן כסף וגו' השיבנו אליך, ק"ו ואיך נגנב! (שמות ו) הן בני ישראל לא שמעו אלי, וק"ו ואיך ישמעני פרעה! (במדבר יב) ויאמר ה' אל משה ואביה ירוק ירק בפניה, ק"ו לשכינה י"ד יום! (דברים לא) הן בעודני חי עמכם היום ממרים הייתם, ק"ו ואף כי אחרי מותי! (ירמיה יב) כי את רגלים רצתה וילאוך, ק"ו ואיך תתחרה את הסוסים! (שם) ובארץ שלום אתה בוטח, וק"ו ואיך תעשה בגאון הירדן! (שמואל א כג) הנה אנחנו פה ביהודה יראים, וק"ו ואף כי נלך קעילה! (משלי יא) הן צדיק בארץ ישולם, ק"ו ואף כי רשע וחוטא! (אסתר ט) ויאמר המלך לאסתר המלכה בשושן הבירה וגו', וק"ו בשאר מדינות המלך מה עשו!
"Here, the money etc." - Rabi Yishmael taught, this is one of the ten a fortiori arguments written in the Torah.
1. Judah argues that they could not have stolen the goblet: "Indeed we returned the silver, obviously we wouldn't steal!"
2. Moses Argues that he should not speak to Pharaoh (Exodus 6): "The Children of Israel did not listen to me, certainly it is doubtful that Pharaoh would!"
3. Hashem argues that Miriam must be punished for slander (Numbers 12): "And G-d said to Moses, 'If her father would spit in her face [she would hide from sight for seven days] surely then if the Shekhina rebukes her [she should hide for] fourteen days!"
4. Moshe warns the Jewish people about their proclivity for rebelling against Hashem (Deuteronomy 31): "Indeed while I still live among you, you were rebellious, how much more so after my my death!"
5. Hashem shows Jeremiah that he is incapable of understanding G-d's ways: (Jeremiah 12) "If you race with the foot-runners and they exhaust you, surely then, you cannot compete with horses!"
6. Hashem shows Jeremiah why he should not wish for divine judgement against the sinners in Israel (ibid): "If you are secure only in a tranquil land, you will surely not fare well in the jungle of the Jordan!" (How will you be secure when enemies control the land, when you are not even safe among your own people.)
7. The soldier protest being sent into battle at Keilah (Samuel I 23): "Behold we are afraid even here in Judah, surely [we will fear them] if we go to Keilah!";
8. King Shlomo argues that the wicked should not expect to be spared judgement (Proverbs 11): "If the righteous pay [for sin] while on earth, certainly the wicked should expect to!"
9. The King makes illustrates the success of the Jews around the world (Esther 9): "And the king said to Esther, 'In the capitol city the [Jews destroyed so many] imagine what they have done in my other provinces!"
[NOTE: The Midrash does not list the tenth a fortiori argument, however the tenth seems to be:
10. Hashem is arging the Jews are not producing mitzvos, they are doomed to the flames of exile (Ezekiel 15): "If the wood of a grapevine has little use when it is whole, it obviously has no value when it is charred!"]
() לערוף את העגלה כמצותה, שנאמר: "וערפו שם את העגלה, בנחל" (דברים כא,ד).
Mitzvah 181: To ax the neck of the calf as according to the commandment as it says, “And you shall ax the neck of the calf in the valley” (Devarim at 21:4) [if a dead body of a person is found between two cities and it cannot be determined who killed the corpse, the elders of the city closer to the corpse must perform this ritual – as an atonement for the city.]
(א) וְזֹ֣את הַבְּרָכָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בֵּרַ֥ךְ מֹשֶׁ֛ה אִ֥ישׁ הָאֱלֹקִ֖ים אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לִפְנֵ֖י מוֹתֽוֹ׃ ...
(ו) יְחִ֥י רְאוּבֵ֖ן וְאַל־יָמֹ֑ת וִיהִ֥י מְתָ֖יו מִסְפָּֽר׃
(ז) וְזֹ֣את לִֽיהוּדָה֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ שְׁמַ֤ע ה' ק֣וֹל יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֶל־עַמּ֖וֹ תְּבִיאֶ֑נּוּ יָדָיו֙ רָ֣ב ל֔וֹ וְעֵ֥זֶר מִצָּרָ֖יו תִּהְיֶֽה׃
(ח) וּלְלֵוִ֣י אָמַ֔ר תֻּמֶּ֥יךָ וְאוּרֶ֖יךָ לְאִ֣ישׁ חֲסִידֶ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִסִּיתוֹ֙ בְּמַסָּ֔ה תְּרִיבֵ֖הוּ עַל־מֵ֥י מְרִיבָֽה׃ (ט) הָאֹמֵ֞ר לְאָבִ֤יו וּלְאִמּוֹ֙ לֹ֣א רְאִיתִ֔יו וְאֶת־אֶחָיו֙ לֹ֣א הִכִּ֔יר וְאֶת־בנו [בָּנָ֖יו] לֹ֣א יָדָ֑ע כִּ֤י שָֽׁמְרוּ֙ אִמְרָתֶ֔ךָ וּבְרִֽיתְךָ֖ יִנְצֹֽרוּ׃ (י) יוֹר֤וּ מִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙ לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב וְתוֹרָתְךָ֖ לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יָשִׂ֤ימוּ קְטוֹרָה֙ בְּאַפֶּ֔ךָ וְכָלִ֖יל עַֽל־מִזְבְּחֶֽךָ׃ (יא) בָּרֵ֤ךְ ה' חֵיל֔וֹ וּפֹ֥עַל יָדָ֖יו תִּרְצֶ֑ה מְחַ֨ץ מָתְנַ֧יִם קָמָ֛יו וּמְשַׂנְאָ֖יו מִן־יְקוּמֽוּן׃
(יב) לְבִנְיָמִ֣ן אָמַ֔ר יְדִ֣יד ה' יִשְׁכֹּ֥ן לָבֶ֖טַח עָלָ֑יו חֹפֵ֤ף עָלָיו֙ כָּל־הַיּ֔וֹם וּבֵ֥ין כְּתֵיפָ֖יו שָׁכֵֽן׃
(יג) וּלְיוֹסֵ֣ף אָמַ֔ר מְבֹרֶ֥כֶת ה' אַרְצ֑וֹ מִמֶּ֤גֶד שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִטָּ֔ל וּמִתְּה֖וֹם רֹבֶ֥צֶת תָּֽחַת׃ (יד) וּמִמֶּ֖גֶד תְּבוּאֹ֣ת שָׁ֑מֶשׁ וּמִמֶּ֖גֶד גֶּ֥רֶשׁ יְרָחִֽים׃ (טו) וּמֵרֹ֖אשׁ הַרְרֵי־קֶ֑דֶם וּמִמֶּ֖גֶד גִּבְע֥וֹת עוֹלָֽם׃ (טז) וּמִמֶּ֗גֶד אֶ֚רֶץ וּמְלֹאָ֔הּ וּרְצ֥וֹן שֹׁכְנִ֖י סְנֶ֑ה תָּב֙וֹאתָה֙ לְרֹ֣אשׁ יוֹסֵ֔ף וּלְקָדְקֹ֖ד נְזִ֥יר אֶחָֽיו׃ (יז) בְּכ֨וֹר שׁוֹר֜וֹ הָדָ֣ר ל֗וֹ וְקַרְנֵ֤י רְאֵם֙ קַרְנָ֔יו בָּהֶ֗ם עַמִּ֛ים יְנַגַּ֥ח יַחְדָּ֖ו אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְהֵם֙ רִבְב֣וֹת אֶפְרַ֔יִם וְהֵ֖ם אַלְפֵ֥י מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃
(יח) וְלִזְבוּלֻ֣ן אָמַ֔ר שְׂמַ֥ח זְבוּלֻ֖ן בְּצֵאתֶ֑ךָ וְיִשָּׂשכָ֖ר בְּאֹהָלֶֽיךָ׃ (יט) עַמִּים֙ הַר־יִקְרָ֔אוּ שָׁ֖ם יִזְבְּח֣וּ זִבְחֵי־צֶ֑דֶק כִּ֣י שֶׁ֤פַע יַמִּים֙ יִינָ֔קוּ וּשְׂפוּנֵ֖י טְמ֥וּנֵי חֽוֹל׃
(כ) וּלְגָ֣ד אָמַ֔ר בָּר֖וּךְ מַרְחִ֣יב גָּ֑ד כְּלָבִ֣יא שָׁכֵ֔ן וְטָרַ֥ף זְר֖וֹעַ אַף־קָדְקֹֽד׃ (כא) וַיַּ֤רְא רֵאשִׁית֙ ל֔וֹ כִּי־שָׁ֛ם חֶלְקַ֥ת מְחֹקֵ֖ק סָפ֑וּן וַיֵּתֵא֙ רָ֣אשֵׁי עָ֔ם צִדְקַ֤ת ה' עָשָׂ֔ה וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו עִם־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
(כב) וּלְדָ֣ן אָמַ֔ר דָּ֖ן גּ֣וּר אַרְיֵ֑ה יְזַנֵּ֖ק מִן־הַבָּשָֽׁן׃
(כג) וּלְנַפְתָּלִ֣י אָמַ֔ר נַפְתָּלִי֙ שְׂבַ֣ע רָצ֔וֹן וּמָלֵ֖א בִּרְכַּ֣ת ה' יָ֥ם וְדָר֖וֹם יְרָֽשָׁה׃
(כד) וּלְאָשֵׁ֣ר אָמַ֔ר בָּר֥וּךְ מִבָּנִ֖ים אָשֵׁ֑ר יְהִ֤י רְצוּי֙ אֶחָ֔יו וְטֹבֵ֥ל בַּשֶּׁ֖מֶן רַגְלֽוֹ׃ (כה) בַּרְזֶ֥ל וּנְחֹ֖שֶׁת מִנְעָלֶ֑יךָ וּכְיָמֶ֖יךָ דָּבְאֶֽךָ׃ ....
(1) This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, bade the Israelites farewell before he died. ...
(6) May Reuben live and not die, Though few be his numbers.
(7) And this he said of Judah: Hear, O Hashem the voice of Judah And restore him to his people. Though his own hands strive for him, Help him against his foes.
(8) And of Levi he said: Let Your Tummim and Urim Be with Your faithful one, Whom You tested at Massah, Challenged at the waters of Meribah; (9) Who said of his father and mother, “I consider them not.” His brothers he disregarded, Ignored his own children. Your precepts alone they observed, And kept Your covenant. (10) They shall teach Your laws to Jacob And Your instructions to Israel. They shall offer You incense to savor And whole-offerings on Your altar. (11) Bless, O Hashem, his substance, And favor his undertakings. Smite the loins of his foes; Let his enemies rise no more.
(12) Of Benjamin he said: Beloved of the Hashem, He rests securely beside Him; Ever does He protect him, As he rests between His shoulders.
(13) And of Joseph he said: Blessed of the Hashem be his land With the bounty of dew from heaven, And of the deep that couches below; (14) With the bounteous yield of the sun, And the bounteous crop of the moons; (15) With the best from the ancient mountains, And the bounty of hills immemorial; (16) With the bounty of earth and its fullness, And the favor of the Presence in the Bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph, On the crown of the elect of his brothers. (17) Like a firstling bull in his majesty, He has horns like the horns of the wild-ox; With them he gores the peoples, The ends of the earth one and all. These are the myriads of Ephraim, Those are the thousands of Manasseh.
(18) And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, O Zebulun, on your journeys, And Issachar, in your tents. (19) They invite their kin to the mountain, Where they offer sacrifices of success. For they draw from the riches of the sea And the hidden hoards of the sand.
(20) And of Gad he said: Blessed be He who enlarges Gad! Poised is he like a lion To tear off arm and scalp. (21) He chose for himself the best, For there is the portion of the revered chieftain, Where the heads of the people come. He executed the Hashem’s judgments And His decisions for Israel.
(22) And of Dan he said: Dan is a lion’s whelp That leaps forth from Bashan.
(23) And of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, sated with favor And full of Hashem’s blessing, Take possession on the west and south.
(24) And of Asher he said: Most blessed of sons be Asher; May he be the favorite of his brothers, May he dip his foot in oil. (25) May your doorbolts be iron and copper, And your security last all your days. ...