Parshas Va'eira - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת וארא

Parsha Stumpers and Something to Think About

1. This week's Parsha contains one of the ten Kal V'chomers found throughout Tanach. The Kal V'chomer seems to be that Moshe said to Hashem, “If B'nei Yisroel won't listen to me, then certainly Phroah will refuse to listen!” The question is that the Torah told us earlier that the reason B'nei Yisroel didn't listen was because they were under stress and hard work. Certainly these concerns did not apply to Pharoah. So what was the Kal V'chomer?
2. Rashi (6:13) writes that because Moshe said “I am of blocked lips”, Hashem required that Aharon be just as vital as the mouthpiece of Moshe. How could that have been the cause if Aharon had already taken this role in last week's parsha?

3. Where is there a proof from this week's parsha to techiyas ha'meisim?

4. Rashi says that Moshe didn't bring the מכה of דם or צפרדעים because since the Nile had protected him, it would not be proper for Moshe to hit the Nile. How did the river protect him? If anything, didn't the basket protect him from the river?

5. How far does Hakaras Hatov go? Aharon too benefited from the water and land – for bathing and walking on? Must one even have hakaras hatov for the ground for producing food?
6. Rashi (7:17) writes that Hashem struck the Nile first before the Egyptians because they worshiped the Nile. Why even give any chashivus to the Nile? Just strike the Egyptians and they will realize on their own that the Nile has no power?
7. What is the chidush in saying that even the water in wooden and stone vessels turned to blood? (Rashi 7:19)
8. What is the difference between ma'aseh keshafim and ma'aseh sheidim?

9. A “Riddle on the Parsha”:

In פרק ז Hashem commands,

“Tell Aharon to take his staff in his hand.

כל מקוה מימיהם shall turn to blood so red

Maybe then Pharoah will get the message through his head.”

However, Pharoah, so foolish and stubborn

Refused to listen to Moshe and Aharon

Instead, he just laughed in their face

thinking, 'Ha! I will put them in their place.'

“Turn water into blood!” He commanded his חרטומים

Who did just that right in front of 'em

So, Pharoah's heart continued to grow harder and harder

The question, though, remains: From where did theחרטומים get their water?

10. Rashi stresses the fact that the frogs were croaking. What is so significant about the croak of the frog? (I mean the sound that it makes, not that when the frogs “croaked” they were left on the land as opposed to the ערב which were removed so that the Egyptians wouldn't benefit from the hides.)

11. Rashi brings the Medrash which describes that initially only one frog came out of the river, but every time they hit it, more frogs would burst forth. Didn't the Mitzryim start to realize after a few times that they were only causing a bigger disaster? Why didn't they just stop hitting the frogs!!??

12. The Passuk says that after Moshe and Aharon brought the frogs, the Egyptian Magicians were able to make frogs come as well. How was everyone able to tell that those frogs were created by the magicians? Was there a difference in the type of frogs from Moshe and Aharon, and that of the magicians?

13. Why did Pharoah ask that Moshe daven today for theצפרדעים to be removed tomorrow?
14. The Torah (8:24) states Moshe's concern of shechting the karbon. If they would have Pharoah's permission, why be concerned?

15. Why only by the frogs does it say that Moshe screamed out to Hashem to daven?

16. When is 2 not greater than 1 ?
17. Rashi (9:10) writes that the animals of those who feared Hashem died during the makka (plague) of shechin (boils). Who were the “ones who feared Hashem” and why did the animals deserve to die during the boils if they were saved during the other makkaos?

Parshas Shemos - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת שמות

Parsha Stumpers and Something to Think About

1. Where is there a רמז in the Parsha that one who does Shnayim Mikrah V'echad Targum nicely will merit to be able to do many more shnayim mikrah v'echad targums?

2. Why isn't Yosef listed among the other shevatim in the beginning of the parsha?

3. Onkoles explains that when the Torah mentions that there was a new Pharoah who “didn't know Yosef” that it means that this new Pharoah did not keep Yosef's decrees. Which decrees did Yosef make that this could be referring to?
4. Miriam reasoned to her father that he was worse than Pharoah because by seperating completely from his wife, he was preventing even girls from being born whereas Pharoah was at least letting the girls live. Was she really right in her argument? Wouldn't taking that chance of having children be considered a safeik sakanas nefashos?

5. How could it have been a maidservant of Batya's who went to get Moshe if Rashi explained that malach Gavriel killed them all?
6. Rashi tells us that Batya unknowingly prophecised by saying to Yocheved and Miriam, “Here is what is yours” - referring to Moshe. Why is this important? What is so significant about this “prophecy”?

7. Why was it necessary for Moshe to grow up in the house of Pharoah?

8. Rashi explains that before Moshe killed the Mitzri, he looked into the Mitzri's future to see if any geirim would come out of his descendents...
   1. What did the Mitzri do to that made him Chayav Meesah? If he only hit the Jew, then how could Moshe kill him; and if he killed him, then why did Moshe have to first look into the Mitzri's future?
   2. How is it possible for Moshe to know what would be in the future? What about bechira?

9. When Rashi tells us who the two Jews were that were hitting each other, he writes “They were Dasan and Aviram; the same ones who left over the manna (in the desert). Why is it necessary for Rashi to add in this piece of information? What does it have to do with here?

10. Yisro had seven names and seven daughters...what is significant about Yisro and the number seven?

11. Moshe is the third one to find himself by a well in a distant land right before finding a wife.

a. Who were the first two?

b. How are each of their stories as to how they found themselves by the well very different?

c. Why does there seem to be a pattern of the experience by the well getting progressively worse and worse?

d. What is the significance of the well?

12. Besides for the fact that they both went to a well after running away from home, there are many similarities between Moshe and Yaakov. How many can you find?
13. Hashem saw that Moshe turned to see the burning bush...was this some sort of test? What was so special about the fact that Moshe turned to look at the miracle?
14. Why must one take of his shoes by a place of kedusha?
15. What was Hashem's hava amina to tell B'nei Yisroel about both troubles, that Moshe had to argue and say that He should not tell B''nei Yisroel about the one in the future while they were still suffering now? (See Rashi 3:14)

16. The mind and mouth work together to bring ruchniyus into this world. If so, isn't it weird that Moshe who was the one who would bring the Torah from Har Sinai had a speech impediment?
17. Why did Moshe run away from the snake? Doesn't the mishna say that if one is davening shemoneh esrei (I.e – talking to Hashem) one cannot interrupt for a snake even wrapped around his leg?
18. Hashem gave Moshe three simanim to show, each one in case the one before does not convince them....
    1. Who witnessed these signs? Who were they meant for?
    2. Why not just show the third sign?

19. Hashem told Moshe (4:19) to return to Mitzrayim and that Moshe should not worry because those who had wanted to kill him were dead. Rashi learns that “those people” were Dasan and Aviram and they were actually still alive. Rashi explains that they are called “dead” because they became poor...

a. Who cares if they are “called dead”, why should that make Moshe feel better?

b. How does Rashi know that they became poor as opposed to one of the other things for which a person is titled dead (such as: Having tzaraas, being blind, not having children)?

20. How could Tziporah give Bris Milah to her son if the Gemara Kiddushin (29a) says that Bris Milah is a Mitzva which is optimally done by the father (on 8^th day)?

Parshas Vayechi - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת ויחי

Parsha Stumper / Something to Think About

1. Why in the Torah, and specifically in this week's parsha is Yaakov sometimes referred to as Yaakov and sometimes as Yisroel?
2. Why did Yaakov get up in bed when Yosef entered the room? Forget the fact that Yosef was King, still Yaakov was not feeling well and he should have stayed in bed sick so Yosef would realize and spread the word to have everyone daven for him?

3. Why did Yaakov make Yosef swear that he would bury him in Eretz Yisroel?

4. Yaakov told Yosef that Ephraim and Menashe would get portions In Eretz Yisroel like shevatim. However, Yaakov said that if Yosef would have more sons then they would be included in Ephraim and Menashe. Did Yosef have more sons? And if so whose portion would they be included in?

5. When Yaakov asked Yosef regarded his children, “Who are these (unfit of receiving a beracha), Rashi writes that Yosef first showed Yaakov his shtar eirusin and shtar kesubah. And then, afterwards, davened for Yaakov to get ruach hakodesh back.
   1. Why did Yosef have his wife's kesuba and shtar eirusin?
   2. Why did he assume that Yaakov would think that he married illegally? He should have just started off by davening that Yaakov get his ruach hakodesh back?
   3. Why did it help if the real reason Yaakov lost his ruach ha'kodesh was because of the descendants of Ephraim and Menashe? The shechina already knew that they were not mamzeirim, so what did it do to get Yaakov's ruach ha'kodesh back?

6. Why did the Shechina leave Yaakov when he wanted to tell the shevatim what would happen באחרית הימים?

7. Where do you see in this week's parsha that, sometimes, having in mind to have done something is considered as if you did it?

8. Yaakov refers to Shimon and levi as having “stolen tools” because murder was a 'gift' given to Eisav. If so, how did they get it? And if it was a different type of murder because all l'shem shamayim, then what did they do wrong to get the mussar from Yaakov?
9. Why was Yaakov concerned that Yosef would “take revenge” for his mother and not bury his father inb Eretz Yisroel?
   1. Yosef loved Yaakov and would have wanted to bury him properly anyway?
   2. Yaakov loved Rachel and that was something that was clear to everyone, especially Yosef/ So what need was there for an explanation?
   3. Also, why did Yaakov say to Yosef not to rationalize and give his own reasons why Yaakov didn't bury Rachel in a better place (such as it being the rainy season or that there were a lot of pits in the road) ? If he thought Yosef would do that anyway and that it would make him happy, why not just let it play out?

10. The Gemara in Sotah relates that an interesting episode with Eisav occurred when the shevatim tried to bury Yaakov in ma'aras hamachpeilah. Chushim ben Dan was the one who ultimately beheaded Eisav to allow Yaakov to be buried. Why didn't any of the shevatim or other spectators have the sense to remove the obstacle (Eisav) which was stopping them from burying the tzaddik Yaakov?
11. The passuk (50:15) and Rashi write that the brothers sensed that Yosef stopped acting nice to them after Yaakov died, yet Yosef claimed that nothing changed. What did he stop doing that made him seem not as nice? And why did he stop inviting them over to his palace for meals?
12. At the end of the Parsha, Yosef told his brothers “HaTachas Elokim Ani?” (Am I in place of Hashem?) -
    1. Who else in the Torah used this expression? When?
    2. Is there a connection in how to understand the passuk in both places?

13. What argument did Yosef say to finally convince the brothers that he would not kill them? What argument did he try to originally use and why didn't it work?

14. What is the connection between this week's parsha and its haftorah?

Parshas Vayigash - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת ויגש

Parsha Stumpers and Something to Think About

1. In the first passuk of this week's parsha there are two times where it says that Yehuda was the one who approached Yosef. One is straight out (b'feirush) in the passuk and the other is a remez. Where is the remez?
2. Why wasn't Reuvain the one to approach Yosef and stand up for Binyamin? Regardless of the deal Yehuda made with Yaakov, still Reuvain was the eldest of the brothers so why not be the one to confront Yosef?

3. In one of the pshatim that Rashi (44:18) says that Yehuda was telling Yosef when he said “You are like Pharaoh” is: Just like Pharoah makes decrees and doesn't keep them so too you”. The sifsei chochomim brings the mahar'shal who explains that Yehuda was saying the following, “You Yosef put all your reliance on Pharoah. However, Pharoah is a liar! Pharoah had a decree that no slave should ever rule over mitzrayim or wear royal clothing. Yet he appointed you...!” What type of argument is this, though? Yosef could easily respond that indeed Pharaoh is amazing! After all, he made an exception to the rule for his sake. So what message was Yehuda trying to convey to Yosef?

4. Rashi (44:19) says that Yehuda challenged Yosef asking, “Why did you ask us so many questions? Were we looking to marry your daughter or were you looking to marry our sister?”
   1. What was wrong with Yosef asking questions? He thought they were spies?
   2. Why did Yehuda give the example of Yosef wanting to marry their daughter or sister? Being that the brothers were older it would make more sense for Yehuda to have asked “Were you looking to marry our daughter...”

5. What was different between the reason Yaakov said he didn't want to send Binyamin down to mitzrayim, and the reason that Yehuda told Yosef? Why the difference?

6. In 45:4 Yosef told his brothers “Come close to me, if you please”. Rashi explains that Yosef showed them his Bris Millah. What would this prove to the brothers, though? Rashi earlier explained in last wee's parsha (41:55) that Pharaoh commanded everyone to listen to Yosef – who told them all to get bris millah. If so, EVERYONE in mitzrayim had a bris?
7. Yosef cried on Binyamin's neck. Rashi tells us that he was crying because of the betai mikdashim which would be destroyed on his land. What is significant about the neck that it should represent the beis ha'mikadash? Also, why was he crying about the beis ha'mikdash at this particular point?
8. How could Yosef favor Binyamin and give him a bigger present than the other brothers, when it was exactly that type of favoritism which had instigated the brothers teaming up against Yosef in the first place?
9. Why did Hashem stop the famine when Yaakov came down to mitzrayim? Shouldn't there have been a concern that people would then call Yosef a liar since he said that the famine would last seven years?
10. Chazal tell us that when Yosef reunited with Yaakov, Yaakov was saying kriyas shema. Why wasn't Yosef doing the same?

Parsha Miketz - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת מקץ

Parsha Stumpers and Something to Think About

1. Rashi (41:2,4) writes what the simanim in Pharoah's dreams meant. Why is Rashi telling us this here and not by Yosef's interpretations?
2. Rashi (41:8) differentiates between the dreams of Pharoah and those of Nevuchadnetzer. Nevuchadnetzer not only did not understand the meaning of his dreams, but also did not even remember his dreams. Why the difference?
3. Both Yosef and Pharoah had double dreams. Why?
4. The mefarshim explain that Yosef knew that the years of plenty and famine would happen very soon because Pharoah dreamed them one right after another. But what about Yosef's own dreams? He also had two dreams (seemingly one right after another) but his dreams did not come to reality until many years later?
5. Rashi (41:55) comments that Yosef made everyone in Mitzrayim get bris millah and move from their houses in order for the brothers to feel comfortable when they came down to Mitzrayim – a land where everyone had bris millah and everyone felt like a stranger after recently moving. Why would Yosef want to do this? As nice as it is to feel comfortable, is there not also a benefit to keeping distance when it comes to mingling among goyim?
6. The brothers exclaimed out of frustration, “What is this that Hashem is doing to us?” when they found that their money had been returned to them. Yet, we do not find such an expression when Shimon was taken to jail or when Yosef demanded them bring Binyamin to them, etc. Why only by this event?
7. When the brothers were trying to convince Yaakov to send Binyamin down with them, Reuvain spoke up and said that he could be trusted with Binyamin and if he does not take good care of him, then Yaakov could kill his two sons. What in the world was Reuvain thinking? Did he really believe that such talk would make Yaakov feel safe sending Binyamin with him?
8. When the brothers returned from Mitzrayim and realized that they were given back their money, they told Yaakov. However, Yaakov never seems to have reacted or responded with what they should do. Why?
9. The passuk (44:8) records that after Yosef accused the brothers of stealing his magic goblet, the brothers responded that if they were even willing to return the money that was given back to them “accidentally” when they could have gotten away with it, then certainly they would not actively steal something from Yosef. Rashi comments that this is actually one of ten kal v'chomeir's found in the Torah. What exactly is the kal v'chomeir though? Perhaps a magic goblet is something that would be worth taking since it seemingly gave Yosef power to know things about the shevatim that perhaps they would not want him to know. For example, we know that despite Yaakov avinu and his family not stealing anything from Lavan's house, Rachel stole his teraphim because she knew that Lavan would be able to use them to see where they ran to if she left them there (according to one explanation in Rashi there). So, what is the kal v'chomeir here?

Parshas Vayeishev - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת וישב

Parsha Stumpers

1. The Torah and Rashi describe that Yosef would to tell Yaakov about things he saw the shevatim do. He claimed to have eye-witnessed his brothers eating eiver min ha'chai, degrading the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, and doing gilui arayos. If these claims were true, how could we understand that the shevatim did such things and why was Yosef punished? And if not true, then how could Yosef say such things about them?

2. Yaakov grew up in a house of brother rivalry between him and Eisav. So, why does he anyway do so many things to single out Yosef over his brothers?

3. As we know, the Torah is written on many levels. When Yosef is telling Yaakov his dreams, Yaakov responds, “What is this dream that you dreamt? Are we to come – I and your mother and your brothers – and bow down to the ground to you?” Rashi explains that Yaakov was essentially saying that Rachel was dead and was not coming back to bow down to Yosef. Where is this hinted to in the passuk itself in what Yaakov said?

4. Who sold Yosef? (Read the passukim carefully).

5. Where in the parsha is there a hint to the concept we say in lecha dodi of “sof ma'aseh b'mach'shava techillah”?

6. Who cares that the caravan was selling nice smelling spices? Yosef was just thrown into a pit and is now being sold as a slave. Does he really care what it smells like in the caravan? Why is this so significant?

7. The meforshim explain that Yosef was “taken away” from Yaakov for 22 years just as Yaakov was away from his house. Why should Yaakov be punished this way? His parents told him to leave home?

8. Yosef told the Sar HaMashkim and Sar HaOfim that, “Do not interpretations belong to Hashem?” Doesn't the Gemara in Brachos (56a) say that “Dreams go after the mouth (I.e-the interpreter)”?

9. Who was the first one in the Torah to have a birthday party?

10. The last few passukim and Rashi describe that Yosef was punished for asking the sar hamashkim to “remember him to Paroah”. What was wrong about this? Yosef was just doing his hishtadlus?

Parshas Vayishlach - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת וישלח

Parsha Stumpers

1. Many know the famous Rashi in our parsha which says “with Lavan I have sojourned...and yet I have kept the 613 mitzvos”. However, many do not realize that that is the second explanation Rashi gives. The first is, “I did not become a dignitary or a notable, but rather a mere sojourner. It therefore does not befit you (Eisav) to hate me over the blessings of your father who blessed me, 'Be a lord to your brothers', for it has not yet been fulfilled in me.” Aren't these two explanations in a couple of ways contradictory to each other?

2. The passuk says (32:8), “And Yaakov became very frightened, and it distressed him....” Why was Yaakov afraid? Certainly a yarei shamayim like Yaakov avinu had complete bitachon in Hashem that his encounter with Eisav would be fine. After all, Hashem had promised to be with Yaakov. So, why was Yaakov afraid?

3. What is the difference between the way that Yaakov prepared to go to battle with Eisav and with the malach of Eisav? Why the differences?

4. Rashi explains that from the fact that Yaakov went back to retrieve the pachim k'tanim we see that tzadikkim stay away from stealing. What does going back for pachim k'tanim have to do with stopping from stealing?

5. Yaakov told the malach of Eisav to bless him, and in return the malach asked, “What is your name?” How was this a valid response to the question?

6. The Gemara in Berachos says that after Avraham and Sarah's names were changed, it is assur to call them by their original names. What is different about the name changing of Avraham and Sarah and the name change of Yaakov to Yisroel?

7. The Torah tells us that Yaakov heard what had happened to Dinah, but kept quiet until his children came back from the field. Why?

8. Despite the fact that now-a-days people name kids after deceased relatives all the time, it is pretty rare that you find names repeated in Torah. Why is that? And what are a few names in these week's parsha which are repeated elsewhere in Tanach?

9. Rashi again in this week's parsha says, “I do not know what this is coming to teach us”. Why does Rashi bother telling us that he doesn't know? Just write nothing!
   
   

Parshas Vayeitzei - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת ויצא

Parsha Stumpers

1. Where is there a ראיה in this week's parsha that one should wear a shtreimel? :)

2. Three types of people are called “dead” even while they are alive. All three appear in this week's parsha. What are they and where do they come up in the parsha?

3. How could Yaakov avinu come into a foreign land and start bossing around the shepherds and telling them that, as Rashi writes, “If you are hired workers, you have not yet completed the day's work. And if the animals are yours, there is still time in the day...”?

4. Eliphaz was sent by Eisav to kill Yaakov.

            a. Why is this included in kibud av?

            b. What did Yaakov do to get out of the situation?

            c. Why did this satisfy Eliphaz?

5. Why did Lavan not make a huge wedding for Rachel as he did for Leah?
   
   
   
   
6. There are two times other then the episode with the shepherds by the well that Yaakov seems to go on a rant, so to speak, and “lose his cool”. What is the connection between these three times?

7. Who named the shevatim?

8. Why did Leah only name her fourth son Yehuda? Was she not thankful for the first three?
   
   
   
   
9. How could Lavan continue going to Yaakov after Hashem told him explicitly not to? Who else did a similar thing?
   
   
   
   
10. Rashi (31:39) tells us that Yakkov told Lavan that he was very careful when watching his sheep and whether things were stolen during the day or night, Yaakov paid for it all. What would have been the hava amina to differentiate between things stolen during the day and things stolen at night?

11. Why did Yaakov curse the one who took Lavan's idols?

12. What is the significance of eating in this week's parsha? (continuing the theme from last week)

13. Where do you see in this week's parsha that “stealing” could be said in reference to intangible things which “can't be paid back”?

14. What was the difference between the way Lavan and Yaakov each named the גל? Clearly Lavan and Yaakov shared a language in common because they spoke (or at least argued) often, so shouldn't it have been that at the time of a peace treaty that they agree on what to call the mound - especially since what they ended up doing pretty much mean the same thing anyway? Why couldn't they just agree on a language?

Parshas Toldos - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת תולדות

Parsha Stumpers and Something to Think About

1. Rashi (25:20) writes that the Torah praised Rivkah that despite being a daughter of a wicked person, and the sister of a wicked person, still she did not learn from their deeds and instead was righteous. Yet, Rashi (25:21) comments that Hashem only answered the tefillos of Yitzchak – because the prayer of a tzadik ben rasha (a righteous person who is the son of a wicked person) is not comparable to a tzadik ben tzadik (a righteous person who is the son of a righteous person). Why is this so? Shouldn't the tefillos of someone who, despite their background, is a tzadik, be more dear to Hashem than someone who simply “grew up that way”?

2. The Torah relates that Eisav said to Yaakov, “Pour into me , now, some of that very red stuff for I am exhausted”. Did Eisav not know what the food was called that he had to say “that red stuff”?

3. What is the significance of eating in this week's parsha?

4. Hashem promises again in this week's parsha (26:4) that B'nei Yisroel will increase as many as the stars. Now with the help of science we indeed know that there are billions of stars across the galaxies, etc. However, the Torah generally speaks in the lashon of people and in the way we perceive things from earth. Looking up on even the most starry night in the clearest sky, one could still put a relatively low estimate on the number of stars that the eye could see – whether it be 100,000 or perhaps a million or two million, the promise comparing us to the stars seems different in nature from the comparison to the sand – where even the amount of grains in a single sandbox seems infinite. How could we understand the promise of us being like the stars?

5. In Toldos 26:5, Hashem tells Yitzchak that Avraham kept “My safeguards, My commandments, My edicts, and My Torahs”. Rashi explains them, respectively, as follows: “Rabbinic decrees, common-sense mitzvos, decrees, and Torah shel baal peh” Why is this the order that the Torah lists them in? Shouldn't the order be: mishpatim, chukim, torah shel baal peh, and then the rabbinic decrees?

6. Why was Yaakov suddenly worried that he was going to die in פרק כז : פסוק ז ?

7. What was special about Eisav's garment? Where did he get it from? Why wasn't he wearing it?

8. The Torah tells us that Yitzchakl became visually impaired. Rashi offers three possible causes of/reasons for this. The first is that he was affected by the smoke of avodah zarrah incense of Eisav's wives. If so, why wasn't Rivkah affected in the same way?

9. In פרק כז : פסוק יט Yaakov tells Yitzchak, “ אנכי עשו בכורך". How could he say this, isn't it lying? And even according to Rashi that Yaakov stuck in punctuation to make it truthful, still wasn't Yaakov really the bechor – he bought it from Eisav?

10. In פרק כח : פסוק ה Rashi writes, “I do not know what it teaches us”. Why does Rashi tell us this? Just say nothing?

11. There are four times throughout the parsha (in Rashi) where the Beis Medrash of Shem and Aver is mentioned. Two of these times it is refereed to as “Shem and Aver”. Another time, though, it is referred to only as “Shem”, whereas another time only by “Aver.” Why the differences?

Parshas Vayeira - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת וירא

Parsha Stumpers

1. The Torah tells us that Avraham was visited by three men who looked like Arabs. How could they have looked like Arabs if Arabs are descendents of Yishmael?
   
   

2. The passuk relates that the malachim “ate” the food which Avraham prepared for them. Rashi explains that the reason they pretended to eat is because it is proper not to deviate from the minhag of the place. Obviously this concept is important enough for the malachim to proactively eat, as opposed to passively just say that they are not hungry. What is so important about not deviating from the minhagei ha'makom? Where in halacha do we see this concept as well?
   
   

3. After Avraham's bris, Rashi (18:1) tells us that Hashem made it extremely hot and sunny in order not to trouble Avraham with guests. When Hashem saw Avraham upset that no guests were coming, Hashem sent three malachim. Why didn't Hashem just make it not as hot and sunny and have the normal traffic of visitors?
   
   
   
   
4. Rashi tealls us that one malach cannot perform two missions. Yet we know that the same malach that came to heal Avraham was the one who went to save Lot from Sodom (see rashi 19:1). How could that malach perform multiple missions?
   
   
   
   
5. The Ba'al Ha'Turim (18:2) writes that because of Avraham's humility of referring to himself as dust and ash, he merited the mitzvos of Parah Adumah and Sotah. What is the connection between these mitzvos and the expressions of Avraham, beyond the words themselves?
   
   
   
   
6. The Torah testifies (20:14) that Avraham accepted a gift from Avimelech of flocks, cattle, servants, and maid servants. Similarly we see that Avraham accepted gifts from Pharoah in last week's parsha. Why was Avraham willing to take these, yet by the war of the four and five kings, Avraham refused to accept even a shoe lace?

Parshas Lech Lecha - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת לך-לך

Parsha Stumpers and Something to Think About

1. The Gemara says that because Avraham turned the spoils of the war in this week's parsha from the king of sodom, he merited the mitzva if tzitzis. However, in parshas Noach, Rashi said that because Shem covered Noach with a garment, Hashem rewarded him that his children merit the mitzva of tzitzis. How can we answer this contradiction?
   
   
2. The passuk (15:6) says that Avraham trusted in Hashem, and that Hashem considered it as righteous of him. Shouldn't have this been expected of Avraham?
   
   
3. There are many examples throughout this week's parsha which demonstrate the importance of putting oneself with the right people and surroundings. What are some of these examples?

4. When Hagar ran away from Sarah, a Malach came over and asked “Where have you come from...” Certainly the malach knew where Hagar had come from, and, as Rashi tells us, was only asking as a means to start a conversation. There are a couple of other places in the Torah where Hashem did a similar thing. When were these other times and how was each times' response different?

5. How could Hagar have received ruach hakodesh outside of eretz yisroel (between kadeish and barad – as the mishna in Gittin says)?

6. The passuk says that Avraham performed bris millah in the middle of the day. There are several other times in the Torah that this expression is used. When were these other times?

7. There are seven times in the Torah where it mentions a bracha to Hashem. One is in this week's parsha. Where is it in this week's parsha and where are the other six?

8. In this week's parsha Avram's name was changed to Avraham. The gemara in Berachos says that we could no longer refer to him as Avram. Where in davening everyday do we still call him Avram? And how can we do so?

Parshas Noach - Parsha Stumpers

פרשת נח

Parsha Stumpers and Something to Think About

A Riddle:

סוף סוף ראשי 1.

תחילת סוף סופי

ויבא נח...אל התבה

מי אני?ג

2. 2.  Where do we see from this week's parsha that the day starts at night? Why is it that there is a concept of miktzas hayom k'kulo only if the night is part of the “miktzas”, yet if have even the full day without the preceding night, this concept is not applicable?
   
   3. Rashi (6:13) says that despite all the things that the dor ha'mabbul were doing, the gezairah was sealed because of robbery. Why robbery more than avodah zarrah or giluy arayos?
   
   4. Where is there a remez in the beginning of the parsha that Noach was not involved in any of these three things?
   
   5. Rashi both in 6:18 and 7:7 writes that it was forbidden to have marital relations in the teivah. However, Rashi in 7:7 adds that the reason for this was because the world was in a state of distress...

(a) Why does Rashi repeat himself?

(b) Why does Rashi in 7:7 add the reason?

(c ) Why is this a valid reason? Clearly the people dying in the mabbul deserved it. Shouldn't it have been considered a “joyous” time for the world?

6. The Torah uses the phrase “בעצם היום הזה” in this week's parsha as well as three other times in chumash in the same way. Where are these four times and what is the connection between them?

7. Why did Hashem punish the world through means of a mabbul of water?

8. There is a machlokes when the mabbul started. The same machlokes exists regarding the creation of the world. What is this machlokes and what is the connection?

9. The passukim (Noach 8:10-11) describe that the second time Noach sent out the dove, it came back with an olive branch in its mouth. Rashi comments that the dove was trying to tell Noach the following: “Better let my food be bitter as an olive and provided by the hand of Hashem, and not sweet as honey but provided by the hand of man.”...

(a) The dove should have had hakaras hatov to Noach and his family. Why at the first opportunity does the dove say such a remark?

(b ) The dove's statement makes absolutely no sense! The entire time Noach and the animals were in the teivah they experienced open miracles. The whole teivah was something which opposed teva. Wasn't it pretty apparent that Hashem was present every step of the way?

10. Why did Hashem (9:1) need to give Noach a beracha that the animals would fear him? Wasn't this already built into the world from the sheishes y'mei beraishis?

11. What are some of the similarities between Noach and Moshe found in this week's parsha?

11. How did Noach know it was Cham who dishonored him?

12. One of the reasons Rashi (11:1) gives as the reason behind why the dor haflaga began to build the tower is because they thought that the world was on a cycle that every 1656 years Hashem wold bring another flood. They therefore wanted to be prepared with supports for the skies. According to this why was Hashem so upset? Why not just let the people think this incorrectly and waste their own time as long as they are not bothering anyone?

13. If the dor haflaga wanted to 'wage war' with Hashem, why did they buildמגדל בבל in a valley? They should have built it on top of a mountain!?

14. Rashi (11:28) brings down the story from the famous medrash how Haran (Avraham's brother) stood and observed the episode of Avraham being thrown into the fiery furnace. Haran decided that Avraham's fate would determine his own faith in Hashem. The medrash continues that indeed when Avraham emerged unscathed, Haran joined his side and was consequentially thrown into the fire – and burned to death. What did Haran do wrong?