Biblical History
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Seven-Armed Menorah
When is the seven-armed Menorah used? Answer: The Menorah that G-d commanded Moses to construct for the Tabernacle had 7 arms. This was used in Temple as well. The menorah that we use to commemorate the Chanukah miracle has 8 arms to commemorate…
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Pinchas and the Priesthood
In Parshas Pinchas it states that Pinchas was the grandson of Aharon the Kohen. It further states that because of his courageous deeds espoused in the Parsha, he was to be rewarded with everlasting ‘hereditary priesthood’ to include his descendants. In…
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Rachel and the Teraphim
Why did Rachel take her father’s Teraphim, his idols? Answer: According to the Midrash, Rachel took them because she objected to her father’s use of them for idolatrous purposes. Laban wasn’t a Jew; the Jews are descended from Abraham, whereas…
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Historical Pharoah of the Exodus
Who was the historical Pharoah at the time of the Exodus? Was it possibly Tutankhamen? Answer: There are 2 schools of though regarding the Egyptian Pharaoh at the time. Some, based on the reference to the cities of Pithom and…
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Name of Lot’s Wife
In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, what is Lot’s wife’s name? I could not find it mentioned in the Torah portion. Answer: The name of Lot’s wife was Eidis (possibly related to the secular name Edith). Her name is…
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Babylonian Exile
I am a little confused as to when the Babylonian exile began and ended. Did the seventy years prophesised by Jeremiah begin whith the destruction of the Temple? What were the years of the exile (from when to when)? When…
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Joseph’s Bones in the Nile
When the Jews left Egypt for the promised land how did Moses know that Joseph was buried in the Nile? What prayer did he say that brought up the coffin up after about 400 years? Answer: Serach, the righteous daughter…
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What Happened to Orpah?
What happened to Orpah after she departed from Naomi and Ruth? Answer: The Talmud (Sotah 42b) says that she suffered such a spiritual let-down after leaving her mother-in-law that she was intimate with many men and from there became pregnant…
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King David’s Mother
Where can I find out who King David’s mother was? Answer: The Talmud Bava Basra 91 records her name as Nitzevet the daughter of Adael. All the Best, Rabbi Meir Goldberg, Rutgers Jewish Xperience