Miketz - Genesis 41:15-25 - Dreaming of ... Cows and Corn?

15. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it, but I have heard it said of you [that] you listen to a dream and can interpret it."		טו. וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה אֶל יוֹסֵף חֲלוֹם חָלַמְתִּי וּפֹתֵר אֵין אֹתוֹ וַאֲנִי שָׁמַעְתִּי עָלֶיךָ לֵאמֹר תִּשְׁמַע חֲלוֹם לִפְתֹּר אֹתוֹ:
16. Joseph replied to Pharaoh, saying, "Not I; God will give an answer [that will bring] peace to Pharaoh."		טז. וַיַּעַן יוֹסֵף אֶת פַּרְעֹה לֵאמֹר בִּלְעָדָי אֱלֹהִים יַעֲנֶה אֶת שְׁלוֹם פַּרְעֹה:
17. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream, look here, I was standing on the bank of the Nile.		יז. וַיְדַבֵּר פַּרְעֹה אֶל יוֹסֵף בַּחֲלֹמִי הִנְנִי עֹמֵד עַל שְׂפַת הַיְאֹר:
18. And look here, seven cows of muscular flesh and good form were coming up from the Nile, and they pastured in the marshland.		יח. וְהִנֵּה מִן הַיְאֹר עֹלֹת שֶׁבַע פָּרוֹת בְּרִיאוֹת בָּשָׂר וִיפֹת תֹּאַר וַתִּרְעֶינָה בָּאָחוּ:
19. And look here, seven other cows were coming up after them, emaciated and of very ugly form and with scrawny flesh; I have not seen such ugly ones throughout the entire land of Egypt.		יט. וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע פָּרוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת עֹלוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶן דַּלּוֹת וְרָעוֹת תֹּאַר מְאֹד וְרַקּוֹת בָּשָׂר לֹא רָאִיתִי כָהֵנָּה בְּכָל אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לָרֹעַ:
20. And the scrawny and ugly cows devoured the first seven healthy cows.		כ. וַתֹּאכַלְנָה הַפָּרוֹת הָרַקּוֹת וְהָרָעוֹת אֵת שֶׁבַע הַפָּרוֹת הָרִאשֹׁנוֹת הַבְּרִיאֹת:
21. And they devoured them, but you would never know that they had eaten them, for their appearance was as ugly as in the beginning; then I awoke.		כא. וַתָּבֹאנָה אֶל קִרְבֶּנָה וְלֹא נוֹדַע כִּי בָאוּ אֶל קִרְבֶּנָה וּמַרְאֵיהֶן רַע כַּאֲשֶׁר בַּתְּחִלָּה וָאִיקָץ:
22. Then I saw in my dream, and look here, seven stalks of grain were growing from one stalk, full and good.		כב. וָאֵרֶא בַּחֲלֹמִי וְהִנֵּה | שֶׁבַע שִׁבֳּלִים עֹלֹת בְּקָנֶה אֶחָד מְלֵאֹת וְטֹבוֹת:
23. And look here, seven stalks of grain, hardened, thin, and beaten by the east wind, were growing up after them.		כג. וְהִנֵּה שֶׁבַע שִׁבֳּלִים צְנֻמוֹת דַּקּוֹת שְׁדֻפוֹת קָדִים צֹמְחוֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶם:
24. And the thin stalks of grain swallowed up the seven good stalks of grain; I told the magicians, but no one can tell me [its meaning]."		כד. וַתִּבְלַעְןָ הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַדַּקֹּת אֵת שֶׁבַע הַשִּׁבֳּלִים הַטֹּבוֹת וָאֹמַר אֶל הַחַרְטֻמִּים וְאֵין מַגִּיד לִי:
25. And Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dream is one; what God has told Pharaoh what is happening.		כה. וַיֹּאמֶר יוֹסֵף אֶל פַּרְעֹה חֲלוֹם פַּרְעֹה אֶחָד הוּא אֵת אֲשֶׁר הָאֱלֹהִים עֹשֶׂה הִגִּיד לְפַרְעֹה:

Guiding Questions:

1. According to Rashi, what is the meaning of Joseph "תִּשְׁמַע" (verse 15) to Pharaoh's dream? How do you think Joseph listened to/understood Pharaoh? What are the different ways we listen? What other "listening" or "hearing" happens in Judaism (think of Jewish prayers)?

2. According to the Stone Chumash (p. 225), what does it mean that Joseph answers Pharaoh in verse 16, בִּלְעָדָי? What lesson might this have for us?

3. Compare Pharaoh's retelling of his dream here to the verses when they happen (41:1-7). What does Pharaoh change in his retelling? Why? See Stone Chumash (p. 225)

4. According to Rebbe Nachman's Torah (p. 294), what does Pharaoh dreaming of the cows represent? What does Joseph advising him to "tax his wealth" symbolize? How do you know you have enough wealth?

5. According to Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox in Text Messages (p. 43), why does Pharaoh trust Joseph? How do we know what is true?

6. According to Sparks Beneath the Surface (p. 51), Pharaoh's dreams represent a challenge to tell the difference between prophetic vision of truth and self-delusion. According to this commentary, how should we think of our power of imagination?

7. According to the midrash in The Midrash Says (vol. 1, p. 383-384), on what day does Pharaoh have his dream? Why is this significant?

Vayeshev - Genesis 37:1-11 - What Do You Do With an Obnoxious Brother?

1. Jacob settled in the land of his father's wanderings, in the land of Canaan.		א. וַיֵּשֶׁב יַעֲקֹב בְּאֶרֶץ מְגוּרֵי אָבִיו בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן:
2. This is the legacy of Jacob: when Joseph was seventeen years old, being a shepherd, he was with his brothers with the flocks, and he was a boy, [and was] with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought evil tales about them to their father.		ב. אֵלֶּה | תֹּלְדוֹת יַעֲקֹב יוֹסֵף בֶּן שְׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה הָיָה רֹעֶה אֶת אֶחָיו בַּצֹּאן וְהוּא נַעַר אֶת בְּנֵי בִלְהָה וְאֶת בְּנֵי זִלְפָּה נְשֵׁי אָבִיו וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת דִּבָּתָם רָעָה אֶל אֲבִיהֶם:
3. Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because he was a son of his old age; and he made him a colorful coat.		ג. וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָהַב אֶת יוֹסֵף מִכָּל בָּנָיו כִּי בֶן זְקֻנִים הוּא לוֹ וְעָשָׂה לוֹ כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים:
4. His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, so they hated him, and they could not speak with him peacefully.		ד. וַיִּרְאוּ אֶחָיו כִּי אֹתוֹ אָהַב אֲבִיהֶם מִכָּל אֶחָיו וַיִּשְׂנְאוּ אֹתוֹ וְלֹא יָכְלוּ דַּבְּרוֹ לְשָׁלֹם:
5. Joseph dreamed a dream and told his brothers, and they continued to hate him.		ה. וַיַּחֲלֹם יוֹסֵף חֲלוֹם וַיַּגֵּד לְאֶחָיו וַיּוֹסִפוּ עוֹד שְׂנֹא אֹתוֹ:
6. And he said to them, "Listen now to this dream, which I have dreamed:		ו. וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם שִׁמְעוּ נָא הַחֲלוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר חָלָמְתִּי:
7. Look here, we were binding stalks in the midst of the field, and look here, my sheaf rose and stood up, and look here, your sheaves made a circle and bowed down to my sheaf."		ז. וְהִנֵּה אֲנַחְנוּ מְאַלְּמִים אֲלֻמִּים בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׂדֶה וְהִנֵּה קָמָה אֲלֻמָּתִי וְגַם נִצָּבָה וְהִנֵּה תְסֻבֶּינָה אֲלֻמֹּתֵיכֶם וַתִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶיןָ לַאֲלֻמָּתִי:
8. So his brothers said to him, "Will you rule over us, or will you govern us?" And they continued further to hate him because of his dreams and his words.		ח. וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ אֶחָיו הֲמָלֹךְ תִּמְלֹךְ עָלֵינוּ אִם מָשׁוֹל תִּמְשֹׁל בָּנוּ וַיּוֹסִפוּ עוֹד שְׂנֹא אֹתוֹ עַל חֲלֹמֹתָיו וְעַל דְּבָרָיו:
9. And he again dreamed another dream, and he told it to his brothers, and he said, "Look here, I have dreamed another dream, and look here, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me."		ט. וַיַּחֲלֹם עוֹד חֲלוֹם אַחֵר וַיְסַפֵּר אֹתוֹ לְאֶחָיו וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה חָלַמְתִּי חֲלוֹם עוֹד וְהִנֵּה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵחַ וְאַחַד עָשָׂר כּוֹכָבִים מִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לִי:
10. And he told [it] to his father and to his brothers, and his father scolded him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will we come I, your mother, and your brothers to bow ourselves down to you to the ground?"		י. וַיְסַפֵּר אֶל אָבִיו וְאֶל אֶחָיו וַיִּגְעַר בּוֹ אָבִיו וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ מָה הַחֲלוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר חָלָמְתָּ הֲבוֹא נָבוֹא אֲנִי וְאִמְּךָ וְאַחֶיךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לְךָ אָרְצָה:
11. So his brothers were jealous of him, but his father hesitated on the matter.		יא. וַיְקַנְאוּ בוֹ אֶחָיו וְאָבִיו שָׁמַר אֶת הַדָּבָר:

Guiding Questions:

1. According to the Etz Hayim chumash (p. 226), what is irony of the phrase "Jacob settled"? (Irony is when the text says one thing but actually the opposite is true.) What is the lesson for all of us about "settling" when we should be paying attention or trying harder?

2. According to Rashi, what is the meaning of the phrase in verse 1, "he was a boy" when he was actually  seventeen years old? In your opinion, what is the difference between being a boy and being a man, or being a girl and being a woman?

3. According to the Etz Hayim chumash (p. 227), why does Joseph tell his brothers his dreams instead of keeping them to himself? Have you ever shared something you knew you shouldn't because you couldn't hold it in? What happened?

4. According to the Plaut Modern Torah commentary (p. 244), what are a few of the different translations of כְּתֹנֶת פַּסִּים? What is the possible meaning of the coat for Jacob and Joseph?

5. According to the Stone Chumash (p. 199), what was wrong about Joseph's "evil reports" about his brothers? What is the lesson for us?

6. According to the Women's Torah Commentary (p. 212), what does Jacob's behavior in this story have in common with the story of Dinah?

7. According to Rashi (verse 10), why did Jacob scold or rebuke Joseph? Do you think this was enough? What do you think Jacob should have done?

Vayeitzei - Genesis 28:10-22 - Buying a Stairway to Heaven

10. Jacob left Beer Sheva, and he went toward Haran.		י. וַיֵּצֵא יַעֲקֹב מִבְּאֵר שָׁבַע וַיֵּלֶךְ חָרָנָה:
11. He arrived at the place and got ready to sleep there because the sun had set, and he took some of the stones of the place and placed them at his head, and he lay down in that place.		יא. וַיִּפְגַּע בַּמָּקוֹם וַיָּלֶן שָׁם כִּי בָא הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ וַיִּקַּח מֵאַבְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם וַיָּשֶׂם מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו וַיִּשְׁכַּב בַּמָּקוֹם הַהוּא:
12. And he dreamed, and look: a ladder was set up on the ground and its top reached to heaven; and look: angels of God were going up and going down on it.		יב. וַיַּחֲלֹם וְהִנֵּה סֻלָּם מֻצָּב אַרְצָה וְרֹאשׁוֹ מַגִּיעַ הַשָּׁמָיְמָה וְהִנֵּה מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים עֹלִים וְיֹרְדִים בּוֹ:
13. And look: the Eternal was standing over him, and God said, "I am the Eternal, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac; the land upon which you are lying I will give it to you and to your descendants.		יג. וְהִנֵּה יְהֹוָה נִצָּב עָלָיו וַיֹּאמַר אֲנִי יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵי אַבְרָהָם אָבִיךָ וֵאלֹהֵי יִצְחָק הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה שֹׁכֵב עָלֶיהָ לְךָ אֶתְּנֶנָּה וּלְזַרְעֶךָ:
14. And your descendants shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall strongly go westward [lit. "toward the sea"] and eastward and northward and southward [lit. "toward the Negev"]; and through you and your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.		יד. וְהָיָה זַרְעֲךָ כַּעֲפַר הָאָרֶץ וּפָרַצְתָּ יָמָּה וָקֵדְמָה וְצָפֹנָה וָנֶגְבָּה וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כָּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה וּבְזַרְעֶךָ:
15. And look: I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go, and I will return you to this land, for I will not abandon you until I have done what I have promised you."		טו. וְהִנֵּה אָנֹכִי עִמָּךְ וּשְׁמַרְתִּיךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר תֵּלֵךְ וַהֲשִׁבֹתִיךָ אֶל הָאֲדָמָה הַזֹּאת כִּי לֹא אֶעֱזָבְךָ עַד אֲשֶׁר אִם עָשִׂיתִי אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי לָךְ:
16. Jacob woke up from his sleep, and he said, "Wow! The Eternal is in this place, and I did not know."		טז. וַיִּיקַץ יַעֲקֹב מִשְּׁנָתוֹ וַיֹּאמֶר אָכֵן יֵשׁ יְהֹוָה בַּמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה וְאָנֹכִי לֹא יָדָעְתִּי:
17. And he was overwhelmed, and he said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."		יז. וַיִּירָא וַיֹּאמַר מַה נּוֹרָא הַמָּקוֹם הַזֶּה אֵין זֶה כִּי אִם בֵּית אֱלֹהִים וְזֶה שַׁעַר הַשָּׁמָיִם:
18. So Jacob arose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had placed at his head, and he set it up as a monument, and he poured oil on top of it.		יח. וַיַּשְׁכֵּם יַעֲקֹב בַּבֹּקֶר וַיִּקַּח אֶת הָאֶבֶן אֲשֶׁר שָׂם מְרַאֲשֹׁתָיו וַיָּשֶׂם אֹתָהּ מַצֵּבָה וַיִּצֹק שֶׁמֶן עַל רֹאשָׁהּ:
19. And he named the place Beth El, but Luz was orignally the name of the city.		יט. וַיִּקְרָא אֶת שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא בֵּית אֵל וְאוּלָם לוּז שֵׁם הָעִיר לָרִאשֹׁנָה:
20. And Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and God will guard me on this way, upon which I am going, and God will give me bread to eat and clothes to wear;		כ. וַיִּדַּר יַעֲקֹב נֶדֶר לֵאמֹר אִם יִהְיֶה אֱלֹהִים עִמָּדִי וּשְׁמָרַנִי בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי הוֹלֵךְ וְנָתַן לִי לֶחֶם לֶאֱכֹל וּבֶגֶד לִלְבֹּשׁ:
21. And if I return in peace to my father's house, and the Eternal will be my God;		כא. וְשַׁבְתִּי בְשָׁלוֹם אֶל בֵּית אָבִי וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה לִי לֵאלֹהִים:
22. Then this stone, which I have placed as a monument, shall be a house of God, and everything that You give me, I will surely pay back to You.		כב. וְהָאֶבֶן הַזֹּאת אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתִּי מַצֵּבָה יִהְיֶה בֵּית אֱלֹהִים וְכֹל אֲשֶׁר תִּתֶּן לִי עַשֵּׂר אֲעַשְּׂרֶנּוּ לָךְ:

Guide Questions:

1. In verse 11,  how many times does the word מָּקוֹם occur in this verse? Why do you think this word is repeated? According to Rashi, what is "the place"? Why is this significant? One of God's names is The Place (of the universe). How can God be like a "place"? What are some places in your life that you would consider special or holy?

2. According to Rashi, what is the meaning of verse 16? In what other ways are we "asleep" or not aware of special or holy things that are happening right in front of us? Give an example from your life.

3. According to the Sfas Emes in Sparks Beneath the Surface (p. 38, look under "Perush"), what kind of feelings accompany discovering truth? What kind of feelings do not? Do you agree?

4. According to the Stone Chumash (p. 145), there is great symbolism in Jacob's dream. What are some of the things the ladder might represent? The angels? Jacob's standing with God above him?

5. According to Rebbe Nachman's Torah (p. 231), what does the Hebrew verb וַיִּפְגַּע mean? What prayer did Jacob establish? It also says that Jacob at first did not pray, but then he did. Why is it hard to pray in the "dark"?

6. According to Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso in Text Messages (pp. 29-30), what question do the Rabbis ask, and what is the meaning of their answer? How does Rabbi Sasso say this applies to you today?

7. According to Plaut's Modern Torah Commentary (p. 195), what is the history of the place Beth El? In the "Gleanings" section of that same commentary under "The Gate of Heaven" (p. 197), what does it mean that Beth El is the "gate of heaven"? Do you agree?

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?