Jewish Texts
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The Spies and Korach
How much time lapsed between the story of the spies and that of Korach? Answer: Hi! Very good question. Though there are commentaries (such the Ibn Ezra) who place the story of Korach much earlier chronologically, the Ramban (Nachmanides) says…
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Age of Isaac and Rebecca
How old were Isaac and Rebekah when Jacob and Esau were born – 63 and 23 years? Answer: The verse (Gen. 25:26) explicitly records Isaac’s age at the birth of his two sons to be 60 years old. In Gen.25:20…
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Reading the Torah With Your Own Assumptions
The story of how Hagar was sent out is terrible. With only one thing of water, in the desert, with a child? If that happened today, it would be considered abusive, right? Also, the story of the sacrifice of Isaac. That…
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How Could the Generation of Moses Sin?
In the book of Exodus great miracles were performed against Egypt, and when the nation of Israel was in the wilderness again God did great miracles, ie…manna…Why did the nation of Israel keep falling back on sinful ways, ie..the golden…
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What is Manna?
What is manna? Is it spiritual food? A metaphor for HaShem (G-d), the provider? Is it physical sustenance? If so, were its characteristics the same for every man, woman, child, animal? In texture? Taste? Quantity? Answer: Before we get to…
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How did Jewish Slaves have animals?
The iconic image of the Exodus is of enslaved Jews, taskmasters, building pyramids, etc. When Pharoh finally tells Moses to leave with his people, he also tells Moses to take their flocks and herds with them. How is it that the…
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Eating Sacrifices in the Time of Abel
If eating animals was not allowed at the time of Abel, how could he make an animal sacrifice? Answer: Animal sacrifice isn’t similar to eating animals. Animal sacrifice is a way of coming close to G-d (sacrifice in Hebrew is…
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Moshe and the Hot Coal
Where in the Torah does it describe Moshe putting a hot coal in his mouth so that he had a speech defect and where does it state that Aaron was sent with Moshe to Egypt to speak for the Jews?…
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Jacob’s Ladder
What is the Rabbinical interpretation of the procession of angels ascending Jacob’s Ladder and other angels then descending the ladder in Jacob’s dream? Answer: The commentary of Rashi explains that the angels going up were the angels of the land…