The Chumash (Five Books of Moses)

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

A few questions about Genesis, Chapter 31:19 and 31:34: Why did Rachel keep her father’s idols? Why didn’t she throw them away before or after Laban caught up with her family? Was her early death related to this, and the…

I just finished reading the Torah portion of Vayera, and I am left with a question about it. We learn that Abraham pleaded for the town of Sodom to great lengths; however, in regards to his own son Isaac, he…

Why was Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt? Why salt of all things? Answer: The classical Midrash commentary teaches that when Lot insisted on serving the visiting angels, his wife did not want to go along with it. She even…