G-D SAID TO AVRAM, GO YOURSELF FROM YOUR LAND, BIRTHPLACE AND FATHER'S HOUSE TO A LAND I WILL SHOW YOU. I WILL MAKE YOU A GREAT NATION, BLESS YOU, MAGNIFY YOUR NAME, AND YOU WILL BE A BLESSING...
AVRAM WENT AS G-D SPOKE TO HIM (Bereshis 12: 1-2,4).
Avraham passed ten tests in his lifetime (Pirke Avos 5:4). According to commentaries leaving home was one of the tests. How can this be a test when G-d is promising children, wealth and fame?
The text says Avram went "as G-d told him." His motivation was to establish a nation devoted to G-d. The blessings G-d promised were means to this end (Or Hachaim).
I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU, AND THOSE WHO CURSE YOU I WILL CURSE (12:3)
THOSE WHO curse (Hebrew root K-L-L) YOU
I WILL curse (Hebrew root A-R-R)
Why are two completely different words for "cursed" used in these two phrases?
K-L-L refers to material reduction whereas A-R-R refers to the devitalization of the inner life. The Jewish nation cannot be devitalized by the nations. Their inner vitality is based on their connection to G-d. But those nations that physically deprive the Jewish nation end up devitalized (Rav SR Hirsch).
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Noach
THESE ARE THE OFFSPRING OF NOACH; NOACH WAS A PURE RIGHTEOUS MAN IN HIS GENERATION. NOACH WALKED WITH G-D (6:9)
RASHI- In his generation: some Sages explain this to his credit- all the more so had he lived in a righteous generation he would have been even more righteous. Other Sages explain it to his discredit- according to his generation he was righteous but had he lived in Avraham's generation he would have been insignificant.
Why would some Sages explain the verse to Noach's discredit?
Noach failed to improve anyone else in his generation, though according to our Sages he did offer rebuke. This was a failing on his part. Successful rebuke requires making the effort to understand the root of the problem and mending it accordingly. Noach did not understand what made his generation tick, and his words fell on deaf ears. To improve society one needs to work hard to understand it well (Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky).
RASHI- In his generation: some Sages explain this to his credit- all the more so had he lived in a righteous generation he would have been even more righteous. Other Sages explain it to his discredit- according to his generation he was righteous but had he lived in Avraham's generation he would have been insignificant.
Why would some Sages explain the verse to Noach's discredit?
Noach failed to improve anyone else in his generation, though according to our Sages he did offer rebuke. This was a failing on his part. Successful rebuke requires making the effort to understand the root of the problem and mending it accordingly. Noach did not understand what made his generation tick, and his words fell on deaf ears. To improve society one needs to work hard to understand it well (Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky).
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Bereshis
THE MAN CALLED HIS WIFE'S NAME CHAVA FOR SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF ALL LIVING (Bereshis 3:20).
Why did he call her the "mother of all living" after she brought death into the world?*
Individuals die but mankind lives through Woman. He could have railed at his wife; instead he calls her by the loveliest calling. Both man and woman were cursed with affliction, but her affliction is for a high purpose- the dispenser of life (Rav SR Hirsch).
*This is unlike Rashi who explains this event as happening before Adam and Chava sinned.
AND FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND BAD DO NOT EAT, FOR ON THE DAY YOU EAT FROM IT YOU WILL SURELY DIE (2:17).
What is wrong with knowledge of good and bad?
According to commentators this is not True Knoweldge but a lower form of knowledge that is not necessary. Adam already possessed great intelligence. He was made in G-d's image (1:26) and named the animals (2:19).
Sforno says says "good and bad" refers to subjective good and bad i.e. sweet and bitter.This is course may contradict objective truth. Since he ate from the tree humanity has been often misled by subjective impressions.
Ramban, based on Scriptural and Rabbinic sources, explains "knowledge" (Daas) to mean will. By eating from the tree he incoporporated conflicting wills (good and bad) into himself. Humanity has been conflicted ever since.
Why did he call her the "mother of all living" after she brought death into the world?*
Individuals die but mankind lives through Woman. He could have railed at his wife; instead he calls her by the loveliest calling. Both man and woman were cursed with affliction, but her affliction is for a high purpose- the dispenser of life (Rav SR Hirsch).
*This is unlike Rashi who explains this event as happening before Adam and Chava sinned.
AND FROM THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND BAD DO NOT EAT, FOR ON THE DAY YOU EAT FROM IT YOU WILL SURELY DIE (2:17).
What is wrong with knowledge of good and bad?
According to commentators this is not True Knoweldge but a lower form of knowledge that is not necessary. Adam already possessed great intelligence. He was made in G-d's image (1:26) and named the animals (2:19).
Sforno says says "good and bad" refers to subjective good and bad i.e. sweet and bitter.This is course may contradict objective truth. Since he ate from the tree humanity has been often misled by subjective impressions.
Ramban, based on Scriptural and Rabbinic sources, explains "knowledge" (Daas) to mean will. By eating from the tree he incoporporated conflicting wills (good and bad) into himself. Humanity has been conflicted ever since.
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