Torah Parallels

~ Something to Think About ~ פרשת חיי שרה Parsha Stumpers By: Daniel Listhaus (23:2) Rashi writes that Sarah’s death was a result of hearing the news that Avraham had gone to offer Yitzchak as a karbon . Why was Sarah’s reaction so different from Avraham’s? (23:3) The Gemara Berachos [3b] brings an opinion that one it is assur to speak in front of a dead body. Bring a proof from this week’s parsha ? (23:4) Avraham challenged Efron and the B’nei Cheis that he was willing to act as a foreigner and pay for the Cave of Machpeilah, but that if they were not willing to sell it then he would force them to since he had a right to Eretz Yisroel. How was this attitude any different from Lot’s in last week’s parsha when his shepherds would allow their flock to graze on others’ property since it would one day belong to Avraham anyway? (23:17) The passuk says “And Ephron’s field, that was in Machpeilah, that was facing Mamrei, stood…...

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Chayei Sarah Thanksgiving: Out of the Foxhole and into the Parking Spot                                                                     By: Daniel Listhaus   “And the man bowed low and prostrated himself to Hashem. He said, ‘Blessed is Hashem, G-d of my master Avraham, Who has not withheld His kindness and truth from my master; as for me, Hashem has guided me in the way to the house of my master’s brothers.”  - Chayei Sarah 24:26-27             Avraham sent his servant, Eliezer, to find a wife for Yitzchak. If we stop to think about it, Eliezer truly had a gre...

~ Something to Think About ~ פרשת לך-לך Parsha Stumpers By: Daniel Listhaus 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? (12:13) Why did Avraham mention getting gifts before mentioning having his life spared? (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? (13:5) Why did Avraham take Lot with him? (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? ...

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Lech Lecha Mind Your Surroundings By: Daniel Listhaus וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל אַבְרָם לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶלהָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ: וְאֶעֶשְׂ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ וֶהְיֵה בְּרָכָה “Hashem said to Avram, 'Go for yourself from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation; I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.'” -Lech Lecha 12:1-2             The mishna [1] mentions that there were ten tests that Avraham avinu was given and he passed all of them, demonstrating the incredible amount of love Avraham must have had for Hashem. One of these ten tests is the opening passuk (verse) of this week's parsha . [2] Hashem commanded Avraham to leave his birthplace and his father's house and to keep traveling until Hashem would...

~ Something to Think About ~ פרשת נח Parsha Stumpers By: Daniel Listhaus                                               A Riddle:     סוף סוף ראשי      1.   תחילת סוף סופי           ויבא נח ... אל התבה                    מי אני ? ג     (6:9) Where is there a remez in the beginning of the parsha that Noach was not involved in any of these three things? (6:9) Rashi brings down an opinion that Noach was only great compared to those who lived in his generation, but had he lived in Avraham’s generation he wouldn’t have been anything remarkable. Why would we compare an individual to o...

~ Thoughts on the Parsha ~ Parshas Noach Choose The One to Hear Your Voicemail: Listen to Your Messages By: Daniel Listhaus וַיְהִי כָל הָאָרֶץ שָׂפָה אֶחָת וּדְבָרִים אֲחָדִים “Now the entire earth was of one language and uniform word” -Noach 11:1             As we head towards the peak of a tense election time with such a strong split regarding policies which have been or should be implemented, it is hard to imagine a world which works together. [1] Try to picture a peaceful world where seldom is heard a discouraging word; a world with a United Nations which sits down for months thinking together to make the world a better a place with no ulterior motives to benefit certain individuals, parties, or nations. As impossible as this situation is to fathom, it indeed occurred in the history of this world.             The people who were living during the generation known as the dor...