Parshas Lech Lecha - Something to Think About

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת לך-לך

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

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. (12:13) Why did Avraham mention getting gifts before mentioning having his life spared?

3. (12:13) Why was Avraham willing to take the gifts of Mitzrayim sand not the gifts after winning the war between the 4 and 5 kings?

4. (13:5) Why did Avraham take Lot with him?

5. (14:10) Rashi writes that it was only after seeing miracles for themselves that the kings believed that Avraham was right. This is similar to Haran who also only listened to Avraham after seeing him survive from the furnace. So why was Haran killed in the fire? Why was more expected of Haran than of the kings?

6. (15:1) Rashi explains that Avraham was afraid that he had used up his reward in Olam Habbah as zechusim on Earth to be able to win the war. Hashem reassured Avraham, “Don’t worry…your reward is very great.” How did this reassure Avraham? Perhaps true that his reward was very great but maybe it was significantly less than it was? Was Avraham only concerned of losing all his Olam Habbah?

7. (15:5) Rashi writes that the changing of Avraham’s name changed his zodiac – however Rashi seems to imply that Avraham was still bound to astrological calculations (just not the same ones) even after the name change. Was he?

8. (15:6) The passuk says that Avraham trusted in Hashem, and that Hashem considered it as righteous of him. Shouldn't this have been expected of Avraham?

9. 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?

10. (16:4) If Avraham was able to have children, why did Hashem have to change his mazal?

11. (16:5) Rashi writes that Sarah accused Avraham of not davening for her earlier and for not saying anything despite hearing Hagar’s comments to Sarah. The only response that the Torah records to this was Avraham saying, ‘Hagar is your maidservant and you may do with her as you see fit.” Did Avraham in fact only daven for himself and not Sarah? Did he in fact stay silent and not back up his wife when Hagar made comments? If so, why?

12. (16:7) 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?

13. (16:8) The angel asked Hagar, “Where did you come from and where are you going?” Hagar answered, “I am running away from Sarah.” Where was she going?

14. (16:9) Rashi writes that every line of conversation was with another malach. Why a new angel to reply to each sentence?

15. (16:9) How could Hagar have received ruach hakodesh outside of Eretz Yisroel (between Kadeish and Barad – as the mishna in Gittin says)? Why did she merit seeing angels outside the house of Avraham?

16. (17:5) Rashi writes that Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah and that the letter “yud” complained and was added to Yehoshua’s name later. If letter’s need a place to go, where did the two “hey’s” – put into Avraham and Sarah’s names – come from?

17. (17:23)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?

18. 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?

19. 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 / why do we do so?