Winter Break post #6

A personal redemption!

Hey! I have a Parsha/Chanukah question.... can you answer it??? Email your thoughts to pepperav@mjbha.org.

Chodesh Tov, Chanukah Same'ach and Shabbat Shalom!

Winter Post #5

Our Father, please inspire us!

Winter Break Post #4

Wait... I don't understand?!

Winter Break Learning Post #3

How in the world can we declare that Hashem is holy??!

Winter Break Learning post #2

Dear King, I think you have a funny looking nose!

פרשת מקץ

See the daily Winter Break Videos!

1)  The פרשה begins by telling us ויהי מקץ שנתים ימים. What were these two years after? 

2) What were פרעה’s dreams? (בראשית מא:א-ז)

3) How did פרעה’s recollection of his dream differ from נבוכדנצר’s recollection of his dream? (רש"י בראשית מא:א-ז) [See ספר דניאל]

4) Who couldn’t tell פרעה a satisfactory meaning of the dreams? (בראשית מא:ח)

5) What was their interpretation of פרעה's dreams of ? (רש"י בראשית מא:ח)

6) When the שר המשקים said את חטאי אני מזכיר היום, what did he mean? (בראשית מא:ט)

7) Which three words tell us that the chief butler did not want יוסף to get a high position? Explain. (רש"י בראשית מא:יב)

8) Who did יוסף credit for being able to interpret פרעה's the dreams? (בראשית מא:טז)

9) What were יוסף’s interpretations of פרעה’s dreams? Explain all points. (בראשית מא:כה-לב)

10) What extra advice did יוסף dispense? (בראשית מא:לג-לו)

11) What did פרעה remove from his hand and give to Yosef?  (בראשית מא:מב)

12) What was this symbolic of? (רש"י בראשית מא:מב)

13) What name did פרעה give to יוסף?  Why this name? (רש"י בראשית מא:מב)

14) Whom did יוסף marry? (בראשית מא:מב)

15) Who was she? (מדרש)

16) What were their children names? Why? (בראשית מא:נ-נב)

17)  Once the hunger began, why did פרעה need to tell the Egyptians that if they wanted food they would need to do whatever יוסף said? (רש"י בראשית מא:נה)

18) How did יעקב know that there was grain in Egypt? (רש"י בראשית מב:א)

19) Did יעקב not save grain too? Why did they need to go to Egypt for food? (רש"י בראשית מב:א)

20) Why does the פסוק say יוסף’s brothers” went down to מצרים (and not יעקב’s sons)?
(רש"י בראשית מב:ג)

21) Who was not send to get grain? Explain why? (רש"י בראשית מב:ד)

22) If יוסף could recognize his brothers, why could they not recognize him? (רש"י בראשית מב:ח)

23) What was יוסף reminded of when he saw his brothers before him? (רש"י בראשית מב:ט)

24) What did יוסף accuse his brothers of? (בראשית מב:ט)

25) Who was the interpreter? (רש"י בראשית מב:כג)

26) Why did יוסף specifically choose שמעון to put in prison? (רש"י בראשית מב:כד)

27) Who ultimately took responsibility to return בנימין back home? (רש"י בראשית מג:ח-י)

28) What did the brothers bring back with them to Egypt? List all. (רש"י בראשית מג:יא-טו)

29) After meeting בנימין, what made יוסף become full of mercy? (רש"י בראשית מג:ל)

30) Was to happen to the one that the cup was found in their saddle bag? Both parts.
(בראשית מד:ט-י)

31) In who’s saddle bag was the “magic” cup found? (בראשית מד:יב)

32) Why do you think everyone returned to Egypt? (Think)

Winter Break Learning Post #1

Three parts of the Amidah?!?!

פרשת וישב

1) How old was יוסף when he was sold by his brothers? (בראשית לז:ב)

2) והוא נער, what did יוסף do that made him like a child? (רש"י בראשית לז:ב)

3) Explain כי־בן־זקנים הוא לו referring to Yosef. (רש"י בראשית לז:ג)

4) Was it good or bad that the brothers could not speak peacefully with יוסף? Explain why or why not. (רש"י בראשית לז:ד)

5) What were in יוסף‘s dreams? Describe and compare. (בראשית לז:ה-ט)

6) How did יעקב react and feel about the dreams that יוסף had and shared?  (רש"י בראשית לז:יא)

7) Who found יוסף near שכם wandering around the fields? (רש"י בראשית לז:טו)

8) Who suggested that יוסף be killed when he came into view of his brothers in דותן?
(מוסף רש"י בראשית לז:יט)

9) How does the פסוק tell us what was in the pit? What was in the pit? (רש"י בראשית לז:כד)

10) Who refused to be consoled over the “death” of יוסף, his son?  (רש"י בראשית לז:לג)

11) What were the names of יהודה's three sons? (בראשית לח:ג-ה)

12) What was the name of יהודה‘s daughter-in-law? (בראשית לח:ו)

13) Whom did she marry? Explain? (בראשית לח:ו-ט)

14) What were the names of the children of יהודה and תמר had? (בראשית לח:כט)

15) Which מצרי bought יוסף? What did this מצרי do in Egypt? (בראשית לח:א)

16) כי ה' אתו. What does it mean that Hashem was with him? (רש"י בראשית לט:ג)

17) Why was the מצרי‘s house blessed? (בראשית לט:ה)

18) Why did יוסף tell אשת פוטיפר that being with her would be sin against Hashem?
(רש"י בראשית לט:ט)

19) What was done with יוסף after אשת פוטיפר accessed him? (בראשית לט:כ)

20) Who sinned against פרעה the king of Egypt?  (בראשית מ:א)

22) What did they do? (רש"י בראשית מ:א)

23) What was so unique about their dreams? (רש"י בראשית מ:ה)

24) What was the explanation of the dream of the chief butler? (בראשית מ:יב-יג)

25) What was the explanation of the dream of the chief baker? (בראשית מ:יח-יט)

26) How did the butler manage to forget about יוסף? Explain. (רש"י בראשית מ:כג)

פרשת וישלח

1) Whom did יעקב send ahead of himself to his brother? Where did they come from?
(see רש"י  בראשית לב:ד and  בראשית ל:א-ג)

2) In his message to עשו,  Yaakov said אם לבן גרתי. Why was he telling his brother where he had been?
(see רש"י  בראשית לב:ה)

3) Why did יעקב tell עשו that he had sheep and cattle (see רש"י  בראשית לב:ו)

4) What report did the messengers bring back to יעקב? (see בראשית לב:ז)

5) Why was יעקב both “afraid” and “distressed”? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:ח)

6) How did יעקב prepare his camp and family against the potential attack of עשו?
(see בראשית לב:ח-יז)

7) Why did יעקב think he was very “small”? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:יא)

8) Why does it say he took eleven children when he also had דינה? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:כג)

9) Did יעקב do the correct thing with דינה? Please explain. (see רש"י  בראשית לב:כג)

10) Why did יעקב go back across the river alone? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:כה)

11) Whom did he meet there? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:כה)

12) What does the פסוק mean by “the sun came up for him”? (see רש"י  בראשית לב:לב)

13) How do later generations remember this incident? (see בראשית לב:לג)

14) Why did עשו both hug and kiss יעקב? (see רש"י  בראשית לג:ד)

15) Why did יוסף go before his mother to meet עשו? How was he rewarded for this act?
(see רש"י  בראשית לג:ז)

16) Why did יעקב camp outside the city of שכם and not enter it? (see מוסף רש"י  בראשית לג:יח)

17) How did שכם convince his entire city to agree to make a ברית מילה on themselves?
(see רש"י  בראשית לד:כ-כג)

18) What did יעקב do with all the treasures that were captured from שכם?
(see רש"י  בראשית לה:ב-ד)

19) Why does the פסוק tell us that ,דבורה the nurse of ,רבקה died? (see רש"י  בראשית לה:ח)

20) What did רחל name her youngest son? Why? (see   בראשית לה:טז-יחand רש"י יח)

21) What did יעקב call this child? Why? (see רש"י בראשית לה: יח)

22) Where did יעקב finally arrive? (see בראשית לה:כז)

23) How old was יצחק when he was נפטר? (see בראשית לה:כח)

24) Who buried יצחק? (see בראשית לה:כט)

25) Why do you think the תורה tells us all about  עשו‘s family? (Thinking question)

פרשת ויצא

1) From where did יעקב leave? To where did he go? (see בראשית כח:י)

2)  When יעקב traveled to חרן, the תורה stresses that he departed from באר שבע. Why?
(see רש"י בראשית כח:י)

3) When יעקב was traveling he stopped to rest. Where did he lie down? (see רש"י בראשית כח:יא)

4) What made יעקב need to stop there? (see רש"י בראשית כח:יאא)

5) What did יעקב see in his dream? What was he told? (see בראשית כח:יב-טו)

6) When יעקב awoke and realized where he was, he says אין זה כי אם־בית אלקים וזה שער השמים. Explain what is meant by וזה שער השמים. (see רש"י בראשית כח:יז)

7) What did יעקב promise to Hashem? Why? (see בראשית כח:כ-כב)

8) When יעקב arrived at the well, what did he see that he did not approve of? (see בראשית כט:ז)

9) What explanation did the shepherds give to יעקב? (see רש"י בראשית כט:ח)

10)  While יעקב was speaking with the shepherds who came to the well? Why? (see בראשית כט:ט)

11) What was יעקב able to do when he saw רחל? (see בראשית כט:י)

12) Why did יעקב cry when he met רחל? (see רש"י בראשית כט:יא)

13) Why did רחל tell her father that she met יעקב? (see רש"י בראשית כט:יב)

14) Why did לבן run to greet יעקב? (see רש"י בראשית כט:יג)

15) For whom did יעקב work (to marry) originally? (see בראשית כט:כ)

16) What was his attitude toward this work? (see רש"י בראשית כט:כ)

17) If יעקב planned to marry רחל how did he end up marrying לאה? (see רש"י בראשית כט:כה)

18) Who felt hated? Did יעקב really “hate” her? What words in the פסוק show us this?
(see בראשית כט:ל-לא)

19) What did Hashem do to make לאה feel more loved? (see בראשית כט:לא)

20) List all the children of לאה and why she gave them each name? (Explain each name)
(see בראשית כט:לב-ל:כא)

22) Seeing that she had no children, what did רחל do? (see בראשית ל:ג)

23) List all the children of בלהה and why she gave them each name? (Explain each name)
(see בראשית ל:ו-ז)

24) Why did לאה give זלפה to יעקב to marry? (see בראשית ל:ט)

25) List all the children of זלפה and why she gave them each name? (Explain each name)
(see בראשית ל:י-יג)

26) What did Hashem remembered about רחל that allowed her to have a child?
(see רש"י בראשית ל:כב)

27) What did רחל name her son? Why this name? (see בראשית ל:כב-כד)

28) Why after יוסף was born was יעקב now able to go home? (see רש"י בראשית ל:כה)

29) What did לבן accuse יעקב of taking form his house when he left? (see בראשית לא:כו-ל)

30) After his meeting with לבן, what מלאכים met יעקב? (see רש"י בראשית לב:ב)

פרשת תולדות

1) Explain the redundancy of ואלה תולדת יצחק בן־אברהם אברהם הוליד את־יצחק?
(see רש"י בראשית כה:יט)

2) Why does the  פסוקsay again that רבקה was בתואל’s daughter and לבן’s sister?
(see רש"י בראשית כה:כ)

3) How did רבקה and יצחק pray to Hashem? (see בראשית כה:כא andרש"י )

4) Whom did רבקה consult about her children? Why? (see רש"י בראשית כה:כב)

5) What answer did she get? All parts. (see בראשית כה:כג)

6) Why did they name the older son עשו? (see בראשית כה:כה)

7) Why did they name the younger son יעקב? (see בראשית כה:כו)

8) Why did יצחק love עשו? (see רש"י בראשית כה:כח)

9) Why did יעקב cook lentils? (see רש"י בראשית כה:כט)

10) What was the birthright that יעקב bought from עשו? (see רש"י בראשית כה:לא-לב)

11) Where did יצחק go during this hunger? (see רש"י בראשית כו:א)

12) What did Hashem promise יצחק about the land of ארץ  כנען? (see בראשית כו:ג-ה)

13) What blessing was bestowed on the crops of יצחק that year? (see בראשית כו:יב)

14) Why was this? (see רש"י בראשית כו:יב)

15) Why did אבימלך tell יצחק to leave his land? (see בראשית כו:טז)

16) By what names did יצחק call the wells that he re-dug? (see בראשית כו:יח)

17) What מידה do we see from this? (Think about it!)

18) What did  יצחק and the פלשתים fight about? (see בראשית כו:כ)

19) Why didn’t רבקה and יצחק likeעשו ’s wives? (see רש"י בראשית כו:לה)

20) Why couldn’t יצחק see well? (see רש"י בראשית כז:א)

21) What plan did רבקה have to procure the ברכות for יעקב? (see בראשית כז:ה-יג)

22) Did יעקב lie when he said אנכי עשו בכרך? Explain. (see רש"י בראשית כז:יט)

23) Why did יצחק say הקל קול יעקב והידים ידי עשו? (see רש"י בראשית כז:כב)

24) How did יצחק show that he didn’t regret blessing יעקב? (seeבראשית כז:ל-לג  and רש"י פסוק לג)

25) Where did רבקה and יצחק send יעקב? Why? (see בראשית כז:מב-מו)

פרשת חיי שרה

1) How old was שרה when she died? (בראשית כג:א)

2) Why does the תורה write her age in a peculiar way? (see רש"י בראשית כג:א)

3) What can we see from the small כ in the word ולבכתה? (see  בראשית כג:בalso see R’ Hirsch and the בעל הטורים)

4) What did אברהם ask from the בני חת? (see בראשית כג:ד)

5) Why did אברהם present himself to the בני חת as גר ותשב? (see רש"י בראשית כג:ד)

6) Ultimately, how much money did עפרון want from אברהם? (see בראשית כג:טז)

7) What contrast of מידות can we see from אברהם and עפרון? (see רש"י בראשית כג:טז)

8) In what city is the מערת המכפלה? (see בראשית כג:יט)

9) What did אברהם ask of his עבד זקן ביתו? (see בראשית כד:ב-ד)

10) Why was יצחק not allowed to leave ארץ ישראל? (see רש"י בראשית כו:ב)

11)  To which land did אברהם ‘s chief servant go? (see בראשית כד:ד)

12) How were אברהם’s camels distinguished? (see רש"י בראשית כד:י)

13) Where did אברהם ‘s chief servant stop his journey? (see בראשית כד:יא)

14) What special character trait did אליעזר seek when choosing a wife for יצחק?
(see בראשית כד:יב-יד)

15) Who was רבקה? (see בראשית כד:טו)

16) What was the first thing thatאברהם ‘s chief servant ask רבקה? (see בראשית כד:יז)

17) How did she reply to this request? (see בראשית כד:יח-כ)

18) What did אברהם ‘s chief servant give to רבקה? (see בראשית כד:כב)

19) What did these each represent? (see רש"י בראשית כד:כב)

20) Why didאברהם ‘s chief servant giveרבקה  these things before asking her who she was?
(see רש"י בראשית כד:כג)

21) לבן answered אליעזר before his father, בתואל, had a chance. What does this indicate about לבן’s character? (see רש"י בראשית כד:נ)

22) Why is בתואל not mentioned again in the story? (see רש"י בראשית כד:נה)

23) What special ברכה did רבקה’s family give to רבקה? (see רש"י בראשית כד:ס)

24) Explain ויצא יצחק לשוח בשדה. (see רש"י בראשית כד:סג)

25) Where did יצחק bring רבקה? Why does the תורה tell us where she was brought?
(see רש"י בראשית כד:סז)

26) How old was אברהם when he died? (see רש"י בראשית כה:ז)

27) Who buried אברהם? Where? (see רש"י בראשית כה:ט)