The Prophets and Writings
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Joseph and King David
In Genesis 37 12-20, if Joseph was so important to Jacob, why did he allow him to travel so far alone when he knew there were problems with his brothers? And who was the stranger he meet in the fields,…
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Haftorah Portion
What is the relationship between the Haftarah portion and the Torah portion? How is the Haftarah portion chosen? What parts of the ‘prophets’ are included/ left out? And Why? Answer: The relationship between the Torah and haftorah portion is that…
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[name] the son of [father’s name]
When the bible speaks of a person, often the person is named as the Son of… What is the significance of the phrase. How important is this relationship; Father to the Son or visa vesa As you can see, lineage…
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Translation of the Book of Ruth
Do you know of a translation of the Book of Ruth? My Hebrew is not good enough for me to read along when listening in the synagogue. Thank you I think this should do the trick nicely: The Metsudah Five…
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Zechariah 12, has it happened yet?
And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look upon me whom they have pierced. Yes ,they will mourn for him as one mourns…
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David, BatSheva, and “a clean heart”
Could you please explain psalms 51:10? Tehilla (Psalm) 51 is the lament of Dovid Hamelech (King David) over what transpired with Bathsheva and Uriah. The sins that Dovid is accused of never happened. There was no adultery and there was…
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Plague of the First Born
Why is the Plague of the First Born males referred to as “makas b’choros” (i.e. feminine form) since it was the first born Egyptian MALES who were killed? Everywhere in the Torah and I think in Tanach, the plural of…
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Ezekiel and the Unchanging Torah
Tradition states that the Torah will never be “amended” or changed in the future but how come Ezekiel comes up with a prophecy that dictates new sacrifices that would be brought to the third temple. If the Torah can’t be…
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Hannah and weaning
Hannah asked of her husband if she could not go to worship with him at that time but if she could have time to wean the child. What was the weaning process? How long did it take? We are talking…