Parshas Va'eira - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת וארא

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

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. (6:25) Rashi writes that one of Yisro’s names came from the fact that he used to prepare Avoda Zarrah. How could we make fun of who Yisro was before he became a geir?

5. (Rashi 7:12) Why did Aharon’s stick have to turn back from snake to stick before swallowing the magicians’ staffs?

6. 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?

7. 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?

8. (7:17) Rashi 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?

9. (7:19) What is the chidush in saying that even the water in wooden and stone vessels turned to blood? (Rashi)

10. What is the difference between ma'aseh keshafim and ma'aseh sheidim?

11. 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 the חרטומים get their water?

12. 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.)

13. 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!!??

14. 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?

15. Why did Pharoah ask that Moshe daven today for the צפרדעים  to be removed tomorrow?

16. The Torah (8:24) states Moshe's concern of shechting the karbon. If they would have Pharoah's permission, why be concerned?

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

18. When is 2 not greater than 1 ?

19. 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

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת שמות

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

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. (1:8) 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. (2:1) Miriam reasoned to her father that he was worse than Pharoah because by separating 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. (2:3) Rashi writes that there was only tar on the outside of Moshe’s basket so that the tzaddik would not have to smell the foul smell. What made Moshe a tzaddik at this point? He was a baby?!

6. How could it have been a maidservant of Batya's who went to get Moshe if Rashi explained that malach Gavriel killed them all?

7. Rashi tells us that Batya unknowingly prophesized 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”?

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

9. 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?

10.  (2:13) 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?

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

12. 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?

13. 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?

14. 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?

15. Why must one take of his shoes by a place of kedusha?

16. 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)

17. 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?

18. By the Shevatim, their mothers seemed to have given them their names. By Moshe's children though, it seems that Moshe did. Why the difference?

19. 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?

20. 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?

21. 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)?

22. 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

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת ויחי

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1.    (47:28-29) Why in the Torah is Yaakov sometimes referred to as Yaakov and sometimes as Yisroel?

2.    (47:28) What purpose was there in Yaakov trying to tell the B’nei Yisroel when mashiach would arrive?

3.    (47:29) Rashi lists a few reasons that Yaakov gave Yosef why he wanted to be buried in Eretz Yisroel. Why did he need these reasons? Why not just tell Yosef he wanted to be buried in ma’aras ha’machpeilah with his wife and ancestors?

4.    (47:31) Why did Yaakov make Yosef swear that he would bury him in Eretz Yisroel?

5.    (48:2) 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?

6.    (48:5) Why did Ephraim and Menashe receive special status to be lieke shevatim and get their own portions In Eretz Yisroel like shevatim?

7.    (48:6) Rashi writes that Yaakov told Yosef 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?

8.    (48:7) Why was Yaakov concerned that Yosef would “take revenge” for his mother and not bury his father inb Eretz Yisroel?

a.    Yosef loved Yaakov and would have wanted to bury him properly anyway?

b.   Yaakov loved Rachel and that was something that was clear to everyone, especially Yosef/ So what need was there for an explanation?

c.   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?

9.    (48:8) Why did the shechinah leave just because of their descendants? What about their own greatness? And what about their good descendants? Also, who said that they will in fact have evil descendants - what about bechira?

10. (48:9) When Yaakov asked Yosef regarded his children, “Who are these (unfit of receiving a beracha), Rashi writes that Yosef first showed Yaakov his sh’tar eirusin  and sh’tar kesubah. And then, afterwards, davened for Yaakov to get ruach hakodesh back.

a.    Why did Yosef have his wife's kesuba and shtar eirusin?

b.   Who were the eidim (witnesses) on these documemts?

c.   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?

d.   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?

11.  (48:10) What was the reason Yaakov became blind? When Yitzchak became blind Rashi offered three explanations. What was the reason here?

12.  (49:1) Why did the Shechina leave Yaakov when he wanted to tell the shevatim what would happen באחרית הימים?

13.  (49:5) 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?

14.  (49:31) Why not mention Adam too?

                                                                     

15.  (49:33) Why did Yosef kiss Yaakov after he died?

16.  (50:1) Rashi mentions from the gemara (Taanis) that “Yaakov never died”  - what does this mean?

17. (50:6) Why did Pharaoh add in, “like you swore”? What if Yosef hadn’t swore? What difference was it to Pharaoh?

18. (50:10) Why did they sit shivah starting after the 40 days?

19.  (50:13) 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?

20. (50:15) The brothers noticed that Yosef had started acting differently towards them once Yaakov had died, so they called him out on it. Yosef however denied having any animosity or wanting for revenge. If that was true, then why indeed did Yosef behave differently towards them once Yaakov had died?

21.  (50:19) At the end of the Parsha, Yosef told his brothers “HaTachas Elokim Ani?” (Am I in place of Hashem?) -

a.    Who else in the Torah used this expression? When?

b.   Is there a connection in how to understand the passuk in both places?

22. (50:21) 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?

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

24. 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?