The Chumash (Five Books of Moses)
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Azazel
What is Azazel? Answer: Thank you for your excellent question. There are two opinions about the identity of Azazel. One is that it is simply the name of the cliff that the scapegoat sacrifice was tossed from on Yom Kippur.…
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Isaac and the Revival of the Dead
I read an article that referred to the revival of the Patriarch Isaac from the dead during the Akeida (The Binding of Isaac). The Torah states that the angel of G-d stopped Abraham before he touched Isaac and implored Abraham…
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Number of Words and Roots in the Torah
How many distinct words (different root words) are there in the Torah? Answer: This is a complicated question. Let me give you some basic stats: * There are 80,000 words (all numbers are rounded) in the Torah * There are…
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Balaam
When I was reading Numbers 22 – 24 I had a hard time understanding Balaam’s position. Was he a son of G-d or a False prophet? What is Balaam’s history and how can I understand his position? Answer: Balaam was…
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Abraham: First Jew? Convert?
Was Abraham the first Jew? Was he a Convert? Answer: You are asking a great question. In Jewish tradition, Abraham is indeed considered the very first Jew. This title is bestowed on him for he was the first person in…
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Refugee Slaves
Deuteronomy 23:15-16. verse 15: Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: verse:16 He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of…
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Hebrew Grammer: Paraoh vs. Pharaoh
I’ve been reading the book of Exodus in Hebrew, and I have noticed that the word Pharaoh is spelled alternatively with a “pey” [the “p” sound] and a “fey” [the “f” sound]. I would like to know what the significance…
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Adam’s Garments
What were the heavenly garments that G-d made for Adam (Genesis 3:21)? Answer: That is a great question that several of our Sages have addressed, and I will share with you some of their answers. Indeed, according to our understanding…
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Death of Animals and Children in the Flood
My daughter, who is in first grade, has a difficult time understanding why all the animals died in the flood during the time of Noah., as well as the children. Can you give me an answer for her? Answer: The…