Stop Pushing!

Toldot: "Stop Pushing" - Genesis 25:19-28

19. This is the legacy of Isaac the son of Abraham; Abraham fathered Isaac.		יט. וְאֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת יִצְחָק בֶּן אַבְרָהָם אַבְרָהָם הוֹלִיד אֶת יִצְחָק:
20. And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebecca the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to himself for a wife.		כ. וַיְהִי יִצְחָק בֶּן אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה בְּקַחְתּוֹ אֶת רִבְקָה בַּת בְּתוּאֵל הָאֲרַמִּי מִפַּדַּן אֲרָם אֲחוֹת לָבָן הָאֲרַמִּי לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה:
21. And Isaac prayed to the Eternal facing his wife because she was barren, and the Eternal accepted his prayer, and Rebecca his wife conceived.		כא. וַיֶּעְתַּר יִצְחָק לַיהֹוָה לְנֹכַח אִשְׁתּוֹ כִּי עֲקָרָה הִוא וַיֵּעָתֶר לוֹ יְהֹוָה וַתַּהַר רִבְקָה אִשְׁתּוֹ:
22. And the children struggled within her, and she said, "If [it be] so, why am I [like] this?" And she went to inquire of the Eternal.		כב. וַיִּתְרֹצֲצוּ הַבָּנִים בְּקִרְבָּהּ וַתֹּאמֶר אִם כֵּן לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי וַתֵּלֶךְ לִדְרשׁ אֶת יְהֹוָה:
23. And the Eternal said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two kingdoms will separate from your inside, and one kingdom will become mightier than the other kingdom, and the elder will serve the younger.		כג. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה לָהּ שְׁנֵי גוֹיִם בְּבִטְנֵךְ וּשְׁנֵי לְאֻמִּים מִמֵּעַיִךְ יִפָּרֵדוּ וּלְאֹם מִלְאֹם יֶאֱמָץ וְרַב יַעֲבֹד צָעִיר:
24. And her days to give birth were completed, and there were twins in her womb!		כד. וַיִּמְלְאוּ יָמֶיהָ לָלֶדֶת וְהִנֵּה תוֹמִם בְּבִטְנָהּ:
25. And the first one emerged ruddy; he was completely like a coat of hair, and they named him Esau.		כה. וַיֵּצֵא הָרִאשׁוֹן אַדְמוֹנִי כֻּלּוֹ כְּאַדֶּרֶת שֵׂעָר וַיִּקְרְאוּ שְׁמוֹ עֵשָׂו:
26. And afterwards, his brother emerged, and his hand was grasping Esau's heel, and he named him Jacob. Now Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them.		כו. וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן יָצָא אָחִיו וְיָדוֹ אֹחֶזֶת בַּעֲקֵב עֵשָׂו וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ יַעֲקֹב וְיִצְחָק בֶּן שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה בְּלֶדֶת אֹתָם:
27. And the youths grew up, and Esau was a man who understood hunting, a man of the field, but Jacob was a simple man, dwelling in tents.		כז. וַיִּגְדְּלוּ הַנְּעָרִים וַיְהִי עֵשָׂו אִישׁ יֹדֵעַ צַיִד אִישׁ שָׂדֶה וְיַעֲקֹב אִישׁ תָּם ישֵׁב אֹהָלִים:
28. And Isaac loved Esau because [his] hunting was in his mouth, but Rebecca loved Jacob.		כח. וַיֶּאֱהַב יִצְחָק אֶת עֵשָׂו כִּי צַיִד בְּפִיו וְרִבְקָה אֹהֶבֶת אֶת יַעֲקֹב:

Guide Questions:

1. According to the midrash in the Stone Chumash (p. 125, or see Rashi on "opposite his wife"), how did Isaac and Rebecca stand when they prayed for a child? What do you think this symbolizes about how married people should face difficulties?

2. According to the midrash in the Stone Chumash (p. 125), what does it mean that the children "struggled" or were "agitated" within her? What did Jacob want to "run" to, even from the womb? What did Esau? Do you think people are born with natural urges or desires to do certain things, good or bad?

3. According to the midrash in the Stone Chumash (p. 126), what did Esau having red hair symbolize? How was this different from King David? What is the lesson this midrash is trying to teach?

4. According to Rashi on verse 27, what does it mean that "Esau was a man who understood hunting"? What does it mean that Jacob was a "simple" or "innocent" man?

5. Read "The Most Serious Thing That Ever Happened to Me," by Esau Isaacson in Text Messages (p. 24, Rabbi Mordecai Finley). What emotions did Esau experience? What was the most serious thing that happened to him?

6. According to The Women's Torah Commentary (p. 136), under "Adonai said to her," how does God reply to Rebecca? What two other mothers are mentioned in the Tanach that pray about their children? What does this imply about God talking to men and/or women?

7. In Rabbi Nachman's Torah commentary (p. 206), on "two nations are in your womb," what does he mean that "a person cannot have it both ways"? Do you agree?

Love at First Sight

Love at First Sight: Chayei Sarah, Genesis 24:61-67

61. Rebecca and her maidens arose and rode on the camels, and they followed the man; and the servant took Rebecca and left.		סא. וַתָּקָם רִבְקָה וְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ וַתִּרְכַּבְנָה עַל הַגְּמַלִּים וַתֵּלַכְנָה אַחֲרֵי הָאִישׁ וַיִּקַּח הָעֶבֶד אֶת רִבְקָה וַיֵּלַךְ:
62. Now Isaac was on his way, coming from Be'er Lachai Ro'i, and he dwelt in the land of the south.		סב. וְיִצְחָק בָּא מִבּוֹא בְּאֵר לַחַי רֹאִי וְהוּא יוֹשֵׁב בְּאֶרֶץ הַנֶּגֶב:
63. And Isaac was walking in the field towards evening, and he lifted his eyes and saw, and camels were approaching!		סג. וַיֵּצֵא יִצְחָק לָשׂוּחַ בַּשָּׂדֶה לִפְנוֹת עָרֶב וַיִּשָּׂא עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה גְמַלִּים בָּאִים:
64. And Rebecca lifted her eyes and saw Isaac, and she fell from the camel.		סד. וַתִּשָּׂא רִבְקָה אֶת עֵינֶיהָ וַתֵּרֶא אֶת יִצְחָק וַתִּפֹּל מֵעַל הַגָּמָל:
65. She said to the servant, "Who is that man walking in the field towards us?" And the servant said, "He is my master." And she took the veil and covered herself.		סה. וַתֹּאמֶר אֶל הָעֶבֶד מִי הָאִישׁ הַלָּזֶה הַהֹלֵךְ בַּשָּׂדֶה לִקְרָאתֵנוּ וַיֹּאמֶר הָעֶבֶד הוּא אֲדֹנִי וַתִּקַּח הַצָּעִיף וַתִּתְכָּס:
66. And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.		סו. וַיְסַפֵּר הָעֶבֶד לְיִצְחָק אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה:
67. Isaac brought her to the tent of Sarah his mother, and he took Rebecca, and she became his wife, and he loved her. And Isaac was comforted after his mother.		סז. וַיְבִאֶהָ יִצְחָק הָאֹהֱלָה שָׂרָה אִמּוֹ וַיִּקַּח אֶת רִבְקָה וַתְּהִי לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה וַיֶּאֱהָבֶהָ וַיִּנָּחֵם יִצְחָק אַחֲרֵי אִמּוֹ:

Guide Questions

1. According to the Etz Hayim commentary, what is the meaning of the verb לָשׂוּחַ? (See verse 63. Be sure to look at both commentaries on p. 138.) What does this have to do with Judaism today? 

2. According to the Plaut Modern Commentary, what is the meaning of Rebecca's veil, and what does this have to do with Judaism today? (p. 166) 

3. Read the poem in the Women's Torah Commentary on p. 131 by Amy Blank. How is Rebecca feeling, according to this poem? Rebecca was most likely about 13 years old as most girls were married at that age at that time. How do you feel about that?

4. In the Stone Edition Chumash, What is the meaning of "she fell off her camel"? (verse 64, p. 120.) 

5. What does Rashi teach us about Rebecca living in Sarah's tent? What miracles did Sarah have that Rebecca brought back?

6. According to Rabbi Elie Kaunfer in Text Messages (pp. 20-21), how is Isaac feeling and what is Isaac praying for? 

7. According to Sparks Beneath the Surface (p. 26), who is the other woman besides Rebecca who wears a veil? One woman's set of twins is at war, and another woman's set of twins is at peace. What is the mystical meaning of the veil?

Get Out of Town! Genesis 12:1-4

1. The Eternal said to Abram, "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.		א. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל אַבְרָם לֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ:
2. And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, and be a blessing.		ב. וְאֶעֶשְׂךָ לְגוֹי גָּדוֹל וַאֲבָרֶכְךָ וַאֲגַדְּלָה שְׁמֶךָ וֶהְיֵה בְּרָכָה:
3. And I will bless those who bless you, and curse those that curse you, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you."		ג. וַאֲבָרְכָה מְבָרֲכֶיךָ וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ אָאֹר וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה:
4. And Abram went, as the Eternal had spoken to him, and Lot went with him, and Abram was seventy five years old when he left Haran.		ד. וַיֵּלֶךְ אַבְרָם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר אֵלָיו יְהֹוָה וַיֵּלֶךְ אִתּוֹ לוֹט וְאַבְרָם בֶּן חָמֵשׁ שָׁנִים וְשִׁבְעִים שָׁנָה בְּצֵאתוֹ מֵחָרָן:

Guide Questions:

1. According to Rashi, why does the Hebrew say "לְךָ" in "לֶךְ לְךָ"? The word לֶךְ means "Go forth"? What does לְךָ mean?

2. According to the midrash (see Plaut's Modern Commentary pp. 94 or The Torah Anthology Yalkut Me'am Loez Genesis II pp.4-5), why does Abram have to specifically leave "his father's house"? What are the things you would like to do the same as your parent(s)? What would you like to do differently?

3. What does it mean that "all the families of the earth hall be blessed in you" or more literally, "they shall bless themselves by you"? (See Plaut's Modern Commentary p. 91 or Rashi.)

4. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov understands לֶךְ לְךָ to mean "Go to yourself." What does he mean by that? (Rebbe Nachman's Torah Genesis, p. 153)

5. According to a poem by Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss in the Women's Torah commentary (p. 82), what are the three meanings of לֶךְ לְךָ? Explain each.

6. According to the commentary in the Stone Chumash,  (p. 54), why did Abraham have to leave his land?

7. According to Rabbi Rami Shapiro in Text Messages (pp. 14-15), how does the commandment to Abram relate to each one of us?

Row, Row, Row Your Boat: Genesis 6:9-18

9. This is the legacy of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, he was pure in his generation; Noah walked with God.		ט. אֵלֶּה תּוֹלְדֹת נֹחַ נֹחַ אִישׁ צַדִּיק תָּמִים הָיָה בְּדֹרֹתָיו אֶת הָאֱלֹהִים הִתְהַלֶּךְ נֹחַ:
10. And Noah had three sons: Shem, Cham, and Japhet.		י. וַיּוֹלֶד נֹחַ שְׁלשָׁה בָנִים אֶת שֵׁם אֶת חָם וְאֶת יָפֶת:
11. Now the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth became full of violence.		יא. וַתִּשָּׁחֵת הָאָרֶץ לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וַתִּמָּלֵא הָאָרֶץ חָמָס:
12. God saw the earth, and behold it had become corrupted, for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth.		יב. וַיַּרְא אֱלֹהִים אֶת הָאָרֶץ וְהִנֵּה נִשְׁחָתָה כִּי הִשְׁחִית כָּל בָּשָׂר אֶת דַּרְכּוֹ עַל הָאָרֶץ:
13. And God said to Noah, "The end of all things that live on the land has come before Me, for the earth has become full of robbery because of them, and behold I am destroying them from the earth.		יג. וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים לְנֹחַ קֵץ כָּל בָּשָׂר בָּא לְפָנַי כִּי מָלְאָה הָאָרֶץ חָמָס מִפְּנֵיהֶם וְהִנְנִי מַשְׁחִיתָם אֶת הָאָרֶץ:
14. Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with compartments, and you shall seal it both inside and outside with pitch.		יד. עֲשֵׂה לְךָ תֵּבַת עֲצֵי גֹפֶר קִנִּים תַּעֲשֶׂה אֶת הַתֵּבָה וְכָפַרְתָּ אֹתָהּ מִבַּיִת וּמִחוּץ בַּכֹּפֶר:
15. And this [is the size] you shall make it: three hundred cubits the length of the ark, fifty cubits its breadth, and thirty cubits its height.		טו. וְזֶה אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתָהּ שְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת אַמָּה אֹרֶךְ הַתֵּבָה חֲמִשִּׁים אַמָּה רָחְבָּהּ וּשְׁלשִׁים אַמָּה קוֹמָתָהּ:
16. You shall make a light for the ark, and to a cubit you shall finish it to the top, and the entrance of the ark you shall place in its side; you shall make it with bottom [compartments], second story [compartments], and third story [compartments].		טז. צֹהַר | תַּעֲשֶׂה לַתֵּבָה וְאֶל אַמָּה תְּכַלֶּנָּה מִלְמַעְלָה וּפֶתַח הַתֵּבָה בְּצִדָּהּ תָּשִׂים תַּחְתִּיִּם שְׁנִיִּם וּשְׁלִשִׁים תַּעֲשֶׂהָ:
17. And I, I am bringing the flood, water upon the earth, to destroy all living things on the land in which there is the spirit of life, from beneath the heavens; all that is upon the earth will perish.		יז. וַאֲנִי הִנְנִי מֵבִיא אֶת הַמַּבּוּל מַיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ לְשַׁחֵת כָּל בָּשָׂר אֲשֶׁר בּוֹ רוּחַ חַיִּים מִתַּחַת הַשָּׁמָיִם כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בָּאָרֶץ יִגְוָע:
18. And I will set up My covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you and your sons, and your wife and your sons' wives with you.		יח. וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת בְּרִיתִי אִתָּךְ וּבָאתָ אֶל הַתֵּבָה אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ וְאִשְׁתְּךָ וּנְשֵׁי בָנֶיךָ אִתָּךְ:

Guide Questions:

1. According to Rashi/the Stone Chumash/the Torah Revealed, what are the two ways that we can understand that Noah was pure "in his generation"?

2. According to Rashi on the words "Make yourself an ark," why did God give Noah the burden of building an ark, which took a long time?

3. According to Rashi, what kind of light (verse 16) was Noah to make in the ark, and what might it symbolize?

4. According to Nahum Sarna in Etz Hayim (41-42), how many times is the Hebrew root for "corrupt" appear in this story? Also, how many times does the root for "make" appear? What might this mean?

5. What are different meanings of the words tzadik and tamim? (Check different translations.) How might they describe Noah?

6. A cubit is about 18 inches, which would make the ark 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Draw a model of what the ark would have looked like. What kind of ship was it?

7. In verse 18, what Hebrew word is used for the first time in the Torah? Why is this important?

8. According to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (131-132), "Make yourself an ark," what does the Hebrew word for "ark" also mean? How does he understand this story as a metaphor? Also, who else does Rabbi Nachman point out is rescued in an "ark"? What is the significance of this?

9. According to Rabbi Aaron Bisno in Text Messages, what is the message for us today that Noah was a tzadik?

10. According to The Women's Commentary, what might have been the name of Noah's wife? (bottom 53-54). What does the name mean? Why isn't she given a name in the text of the actual Torah?

Brotherly Love: B'reisheet 4:1-12

1. Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a man with Adonai."		א. וְהָאָדָם יָדַע אֶת חַוָּה אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתַּהַר וַתֵּלֶד אֶת קַיִן וַתֹּאמֶר קָנִיתִי אִישׁ אֶת יְהֹוָה:
2. And she continued to give birth to his brother Abel, and Abel was a shepherd of flocks, and Cain was a farmer of the soil.		ב. וַתֹּסֶף לָלֶדֶת אֶת אָחִיו אֶת הָבֶל וַיְהִי הֶבֶל רֹעֵה צֹאן וְקַיִן הָיָה עֹבֵד אֲדָמָה:
3. Now it came to pass after some days, that Cain brought from the fruit of the soil a gift to Adonai.		ג. וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ יָמִים וַיָּבֵא קַיִן מִפְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה מִנְחָה לַיהֹוָה:
4. And Abel he also brought of the first of his flocks and of their best, and Adonai favored Abel and his offering.		ד. וְהֶבֶל הֵבִיא גַם הוּא מִבְּכֹרוֹת צֹאנוֹ וּמֵחֶלְבֵהֶן וַיִּשַׁע יְהֹוָה אֶל הֶבֶל וְאֶל מִנְחָתוֹ:
5. But to Cain and to his offering God did not show favor, and it upset Cain a great deal, and his face fell.		ה. וְאֶל קַיִן וְאֶל מִנְחָתוֹ לֹא שָׁעָה וַיִּחַר לְקַיִן מְאֹד וַיִּפְּלוּ פָּנָיו:
6. But Adonai said to Cain, "Why are you upset, and why has your face fallen?		ו. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל קָיִן לָמָּה חָרָה לָךְ וְלָמָּה נָפְלוּ פָנֶיךָ:
7. Isn't it true so that if you want to do better, you can raise yourself up? If you do not want to do better, however, sin crouches at the door, and you will crave it. But you can rule over it."		ז. הֲלוֹא אִם תֵּיטִיב שְׂאֵת וְאִם לֹא תֵיטִיב לַפֶּתַח חַטָּאת רֹבֵץ וְאֵלֶיךָ תְּשׁוּקָתוֹ וְאַתָּה תִּמְשָׁל בּוֹ:
8. Cain spoke to Abel his brother.... Then it came to pass when they were in the field, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.		ח. וַיֹּאמֶר קַיִן אֶל הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיְהִי בִּהְיוֹתָם בַּשָּׂדֶה וַיָּקָם קַיִן אֶל הֶבֶל אָחִיו וַיַּהַרְגֵהוּ:
9. Adonai said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" 10. And God said, "What have you done? Your brother's bloods cry out to Me from the earth. 11. And now, you are cursed even more than the ground, which opened its mouth to take your brother's blood from your hand. 12. When you till the soil, it will not continue to give its strength to you; you shall be a wanderer and an exile in the land."		ט. וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל קַיִן אֵי הֶבֶל אָחִיךָ וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא יָדַעְתִּי הֲשֹׁמֵר אָחִי אָנֹכִי: י. וַיֹּאמֶר מֶה עָשִׂיתָ קוֹל דְּמֵי אָחִיךָ צֹעֲקִים אֵלַי מִן הָאֲדָמָה: יא. וְעַתָּה אָרוּר אָתָּה מִן הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר פָּצְתָה אֶת פִּיהָ לָקַחַת אֶת דְּמֵי אָחִיךָ מִיָּדֶךָ: יב. כִּי תַעֲבֹד אֶת הָאֲדָמָה לֹא תֹסֵף תֵּת כֹּחָהּ לָךְ נָע וָנָד תִּהְיֶה בָאָרֶץ:

Guide Questions:
1. According to Rashi, why did Abel become a shepherd?

2. According to Rashi, what was the difference between Cain and Abel's offerings? What in the Torah suggests this?

3. In verse 7, it says that "sin crouches at the door." At the door of what? Find at least two answers among different commentators. (For instance, contrast Rashi with Rabbi Nachman of Breslov p. 119.)

4. In verse 8, it says that Cain spoke to Abel his brother, but it does not say what he said. Find in different midrashim (such as in Etz Hayim, pp 23-24) what the Rabbis imagined Cain might have said. What do you think?

5. Imagine if the text had said, "Cain spoke to Abel his brother.... and they resolved their differences." In your own opinion, what do you think it would have taken for this to happen?

6. According to Rashi, why did God ask Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" if God obviously knew where Abel was?

7. According to the Women's Torah Commentary (p. 19), how many times is the word "brother" used in this story, and what is the message behind this symbolism?

8. According to Rabbi Sherre Z. Hirsch in Text Messages, who might be your "brother"?

9. According to the Plaut commentary (p. 44), what are the meanings of Cain and Abel's Hebrew names? How do these fit the story?

10. Why does the Hebrew say "your brother's bloods"? (This is found in many commentaries, including Etz Hayim, Plaut, and the Stone Chumash based upon Mishnah Sandhedrin 4:5.)

13 is a Lucky Number: Exodus 34:4-7

4. So he [Moses] carved two stone tablets like the first ones, and Moses got up early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai as Adonai had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand.		ד. וַיִּפְסֹל שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים כָּרִאשֹׁנִים וַיַּשְׁכֵּם משֶׁה בַבֹּקֶר וַיַּעַל אֶל הַר סִינַי כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהֹוָה אֹתוֹ וַיִּקַּח בְּיָדוֹ שְׁנֵי לֻחֹת אֲבָנִים:
5. And Adonai came down in the cloud and stood with him there, and he called out in the name of Adonai.		ה. וַיֵּרֶד יְהֹוָה בֶּעָנָן וַיִּתְיַצֵּב עִמּוֹ שָׁם וַיִּקְרָא בְשֵׁם יְהֹוָה:
6. And God passed before him and called out: (1) Adonai, (2) Adonai, (3) El, Who is (4) compassionate and (5) gracious, (6) slow to anger and (7) abundant in loving kindness and (8) truth,		ו. וַיַּעֲבֹר יְהֹוָה | עַל פָּנָיו וַיִּקְרָא יְהֹוָה | יְהֹוָה אֵל רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם וְרַב חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת:
7. (9) making loving kindness last for thousands, (10) forgiving wrong-doing and (11) rebellion and (12) sin; and (13) clearing but not completely clearing, visiting the wrongs of parents on children and children's children, to the third and fourth generations."		ז. נצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים נֹשֵׂא עָוֹן וָפֶשַׁע וְחַטָּאָה וְנַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה פֹּקֵד | עֲוֹן אָבוֹת עַל בָּנִים וְעַל בְּנֵי בָנִים עַל שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל רִבֵּעִים:

GUIDING QUESTIONS

1. How do the "thirteen attributes (characteristics) of God" appear in the siddur? Check out the beginning of the Torah service on holidays. What is different about how they appear in the siddur than in the Torah? Why? 
2. According to Rashi, on what day were the second set of tablets given? What is the meaning of this? 
3. According to Rebbe Nachman's Torah, why are there two tablets and not one? 
4. Why does Rashi say that the name "Adonai" is repeated at the beginning of the list? 
5. According to the midrash, what kind of stone were the tablets carved out of? What color is this stone usually? What significance is this color in Judaism? 
6. Who calls out God's attributes? Why? 
7. How do commentators explain that children and grandchildren feel the consequences of the actions of their parents and grandparents?

Hunger Games: Vayikra 16:30-34

30. For on this day God shall make atonement for you to cleanse you. Before Adonai you shall be cleansed from all your sins.		ל. כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה תִּטְהָרוּ:
31. It is a Shabbat of rest for you, and you shall afflict yourselves. It is an eternal law.		לא. שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן הִיא לָכֶם וְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם חֻקַּת עוֹלָם:
32. And the Kohen who is anointed - or who is appointed to serve instead of his father - shall make this atonement, and he shall wear the cotton garments, the holy garments;		לב. וְכִפֶּר הַכֹּהֵן אֲשֶׁר יִמְשַׁח אֹתוֹ וַאֲשֶׁר יְמַלֵּא אֶת יָדוֹ לְכַהֵן תַּחַת אָבִיו וְלָבַשׁ אֶת בִּגְדֵי הַבָּד בִּגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ:
33. And he shall make atonement upon the Holy of Holies, and he shall make atonement upon the Tent of Meeting and upon the altar, and he shall make atonement upon the kohanim and upon all the people of the congregation.		לג. וְכִפֶּר אֶת מִקְדַּשׁ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאֶת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְאֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ יְכַפֵּר וְעַל הַכֹּהֲנִים וְעַל כָּל עַם הַקָּהָל יְכַפֵּר:
34. All this shall be as an eternal statute for you, to make atonement upon the children of Israel, for all their sins, once each year. And he did as Adonai had commanded Moses.		לד. וְהָיְתָה זֹּאת לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְכַפֵּר עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכָּל חַטֹּאתָם אַחַת בַּשָּׁנָה וַיַּעַשׂ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָֹה אֶת משֶׁה: