The Chumash (Five Books of Moses)
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Joshua’s Name “Change”
Why is Joshua first called Joshua in Exodus 17:9, but then later on in Numbers 13:16, that is when Moses changes Hoshea’s name to Joshua. What am I missing? Isn’t this out of order? Answer: Sharp question. Most of the…
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Was Adam Androgynous?
Is Adam known to have been created androgynous (… male and female He created them), or was Eve literally created ‘out of’ a complete, male Adam ? Correct me if I am wrong, but does the Zohar say Adam was…
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King David’s Census
Why did G-d punish David for taking a census? (2 Samuel 24) Answer: In Exodus 30:12 the Torah commands us not to count Jews without using a device (such as money or sheep). If we isolate each Jew by counting…
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Aaron and the Golden Calf
In the story of the Golden Calf, why did Aaron tell the Israelites that tomorrow they would have a festival unto the Lord with the Golden Calf when in fact it would be an idolatrous worship? Answer: Aaron was trying…
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The Golden Calf: Did they not believe?
After the Israelites saw Moses part an entire sea and have it stay that way while the slaves escaped, how can they possibly doubt G-d and build the idol of the Golden Calf? Wasn’t it obvious that G-d was with…
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Egyptian Neighbors
The Torah states that before departing from Egypt, God instructed that everyone borrow jewelry from their neighbor. How are the Egyptians referred to as ‘neighbors’? Were the Israelites by then mixed with Egyptians in their living arrangements? Answer: You ask…
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Did an idol cross the Red Sea?
Did the Israelites carry idols with them across the Red Sea? What’s the source for that? Answer: Thank you for your excellent question. There is some disagreement. If there was any idol, it was certainly only one. There are several…
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Egyptians Killed at the Splitting of the Sea
Why did god kill the Egyptians when the Israelites were crossing the Red Sea? Answer: Thank you for asking this question. In order to really understand the situation well one really needs to study it with the classic commentators. If…
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Blessing Joseph’s Sons Separately
Why were Joseph’s sons blessed separately from the other tribes? If Joseph’s sons were made equal to the other tribes wouldn’t it make sense to have them blessed together leaving no doubt of their new elevated status? Answer: I don’t…