Question: Are bnei noach metzuveh on Kishuf? I thought they weren’t as it’s not one of the sheva mitzvos bnei noach but the Torah says that the seven nations were… Read more »
Category: Bible study questions – Tanach
“Flavius Josephus”
Question: Dear rabbi, the question was about “Flavius Josephus” – please excuse typos. As I noted meanwhile he’s [allegedly] also known as “Joseph ben Mathitjahu ha Kohen” don’t know if… Read more »
Paraphrasing G-d
Question: Please see Melachim 1 8:16. Why doesn’t Shlomo quote what G-d said to David accurately (Shmuel 2 chapter 7). Is one allowed to paraphrase G-d in this way? Answer:… Read more »
Abraham’s Journey
Question: We know that Abraham crossed the Euphrates but did he cross the Jordan to get to Shechem? Many thanks Irene Bawden Answer: From what I have seen, Abraham entered… Read more »
Parei Hachag
Question: How can we understand the Rashi at the end of Parshas Pinchas which says that the 70 parei hachag represents the Umos Haolam which will be destroyed. How can… Read more »
is conquest of land considered to be like stealing
Question: Is conquest of the land of Israel considered to be theft? Answer: Your question is the topic of the first Rashi in chumash. Rashi says that the reason why… Read more »
Did Josiah pray to God
Question: in Second Kings 22:19 because your heart was softened and you humbled yourself before the LoRD when you heard what I decreed against this place and its inhabitants-that it… Read more »
Was Shlomo really wise
Question: On Makkos 23b, Rabbi Elazar quoting Melachim 1 3:27says that in three places, the Divine spirit made an appearance. Bereishis 38:26, Shmuel 1 12:3-5 and here. It was a… Read more »
Halacha of flags and banners
Question: Dear Rabbi, When King David established his kingdom, does the bible indicate he used a flag to denote its exist. There is only one verse in the bible that… Read more »
Azazel / Yom Kippur
Question: Why is a goat thrown off of Azazel on Yom Kippur to atone for Klal Yisroel’s sins? I.e., why does the Torah deviate from the usual manner of sacrifice… Read more »
Was the “first frog” by makkas tzefardeia big?
Question: Are there any sources that the first frog by makkas tzefardeia (which spat out the other frogs) was very big? Answer: It would make sense that it was indeed… Read more »
Exodus and Archaeology
Question: Israeli archeology teams have combed the Sinai desert for decades and have found no evidence of a mass exodus. Egyptologists say there is no Egyptian records of Hebrew slaves… Read more »
Seor and Devash
Question: Why does the Torah need to tell me that Seor and Devash cannot be placed on the Miz’be’ach. Why would I have thought otherwise? It is not one of… Read more »
If long hair is discouraged, why does a nazir grow his hair?
Question: In the book of Numbers, G-d outlines the necessary steps one must take in order to consecrate oneself to the Lord. One of these steps is to allow the… Read more »
Is going to gym with purpose to improve looks a sin?
Question: Hello in Jeremiah 9:23 it says 23 Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might,… Read more »
Medrash shir hashirim
Question: What does the Shir Hashirim Rabbah 4:11 mean when it says that Har Hamoeiyah is called that because from there arirah and dever to the umos haolam? Answer: The… Read more »
Daniel
Question: Dear Rabbi, I have been davening for past years about the book of Daniel and a curiosity. It appears from traditionally yet may I be wrong that Daniel is… Read more »
Esav’s head entering the Maaras Hamachpela and why not the whole body?
Question: The reason why Esav was found worthy that his head would enter the place known as the Maaras Hamachpela, was due to the fact of his massive respect towards… Read more »
Parshas Toldot – Clarification (Important).
Question: Did עשו have a piece of Yaakov’s good trait transferred into him in the womb of their mother רבקה? (When Yaakov held onto the heel of עשו). And did… Read more »
Shurim on the Parsha in English
Question: Do you know of an online source: shiur or app that goes through the parsha line by line for someone who is visually impaired? Answer: I don’t have anything… Read more »
Bemidbar 3
Question: Shalom, In Bemidmar 3, if we count the numbers of 3 Levite clans (Gershom – 7 500, Kohath – 8 600 and Merari – 6 200) we come up… Read more »
Regarding a question in Parshas – Toldot
Question: Why did יעקב want עשו’s birthright? Is it because – יעקב wanted עשו’s blessing from יצחק, and he had to be the oldest in-order to receive the blessing? If… Read more »
The “Word”
Question: Hello Mr. Rabbi, Sorry to disturb you, so my question is, what is the Jewish View of the “Word”? For example in the Targum it is written… “And they… Read more »
Observable consequences of Miracles in Tenach
Question: The Sun stood still for Yehoshua prolonging the day. Hundreds of years later the day was shortened for Chizkiyahu. Have these miracles caused observable astronomical effects? Are there any… Read more »
Meaning of Leiv
Question: What does the Hebrew word leiv mean? It’s usually translated as heart, but Yoav stabs Avner in the Chomesh (Shmuel 2 3:27)? Answer: The Gemorah Sanhedrin 49a says in… Read more »
Faces
Question: I once read a book which said the following: “Just as our faces are all different, so are their ideas (i.e. ways of thinking) never the same.” It quoted… Read more »
Nevuah Before Sinai
Question: How was anyone who did not receive the nevuah directly, able to authenticate that Hashem indeed gave a Mitzvah – before Sinai? For example -bris milah which became incumbent… Read more »
Tehillim 119:54
Question: Rashi to Shmuel 2 6:3 says that David sinned when he wrote Tehillim 119:54. When people recite Tehillim, they are saying something sinful. Should this verse not have been… Read more »
Translation of Zenus and Ervah
Question: What is the literal translation and definition of the words zenus and ervah according to halacha? Please provide me with all the sources. Answer: Zana means to stray, (See… Read more »
Ezekiel 4
Question: This is non-halachic question, could I ask the following please: Shalom, do you know how the prophecy of 430 years of Ezekiel 4:3–6 got realized? G-d told Ez. That… Read more »
Sifri in Devarim
Question: The Sifri in Devarim says, “Just like the stars are much higher then the sky, that s the people who are someone learn Torah”. “The Highest Level of Gemilus… Read more »
Chizkiyahu’s Rebellion
Question: Is there any record of Chizkiyahu consulting Neviim or the urim vetumim before rebelling against Sancheirev? After all wasn’t the point of the urim vetumim to advise the king… Read more »
Making cheese
Question: Is there anybody I can ask ashkenazi words brought down in commentators of shulhan aruj etc & they are written in Hebrew e.g. The word שווי״ג brought down by… Read more »
Statement in Yerushalmi about Moshiach’s Birthday
Question: The Yerushalmi (Berachos 2, 4) says that Tishah B’Av is the birthday of Mashiach ben David. I looked in Yerushalmi and could not find it. Do you know where… Read more »
devarim 20:11
Question: shalom aleichem Rabbi, What exactly does [למס] mean in [devarim 20:11] ? Does it mean taxes? והיה אם־שלום תענך ופתחה לך והיה כל־העם הנמצא־בה יהיו לך למס ועבדוך׃ thank… Read more »
Jesus
Question: Hi Rabbi, I have a question Christians do believe that the very concept of zechariah 9:9 did happen in jesus’ watch and that it is the sign of his… Read more »
about Oral Torah
Question: PRAISE THE L-RD. I am an R.C. Christian by birth however G-D is kind enough to relieve me from the wrong teachings of the Christianity. Purely by G-D’s grace… Read more »
Korach and the Erev Rav
Question: Was Korach amongst the Erev Rav? Answer: Korach was not part of the Erev Rav. The Erev Rav were gentiles that decided to become part of klal Yisroel when… Read more »
Yehoshua bin Nun
Question: In the past weekly portion, Shelach, the names of the twelve scouts are mentioned by name + the names of their fathers. Only Yehoshua is termed “bin Nun”. Why… Read more »
Moshe Rabbeinu and Humility
Question: In last week’s Parasha, Moshe Rabbeinu is described as “Anav Me’od MeKol HaAdam” (Bamidbar 12:3)–Moshe was very humble, more than any person on the face of the earth. The… Read more »
Tavar magal
Question: Baba basra 121b Why wasn’t there a problem of bal tashchis? Answer: It doesn’t mean they actually broke them. It is just a term that they aren’t needed… Read more »
original Torah vs. counterfeit
Question: Shalom Rabbi, I have questions and concerns about how did the uncircumcised or non-Jew men get scriptures from Torah when making another book calling it, the Holy Bible? In… Read more »
Temple
Question: I hear things about the Third Temple, but because I am in America, I only hear it from the End Time Christian perspective. What is the Jewish perspective of… Read more »
Moshe’s reaction to golden calf
Question: Please see 32:26. How did Moshe have the authority to kill people without witnesses and a trial? Answer: The verse reads, That Moshe said, that he was instructed by… Read more »
Meaning of le-olam
Question: Please see 31:17. Ibn Ezra (short) says le-olam always means forever. What about Bemidbar 5:13 where the root means hidden? When and why did chazal start using it to… Read more »
Why was Aharon chosen to be Kohen Gadol?
Question: Please see 28:1. Why was Aharon chosen as Kohen Gadol? Ibn Ezra here and in Shemos 6:23 seems to say it’s because Moshe’s wife wasn’t jewish whereas Aharon’s wife… Read more »
Who was a greater Tzaddik
Question: Someone told me that Serach the daughter of Asher was more righteous than Moshe as she entered Gan Eden alive. Is the person right? Answer: While Moshe Rabeinu, didn’t… Read more »
Was silver used in the Mishkan
Question: Please see 25:3. Silver was one of the components of the Mishkan. Was it used? Rashi says the silver referred to here was not used. This verse refers to… Read more »
Where it is written in the Torah that Moshe said, “Do not listen to the false prophet!”
Question: Where it is written in the Torah that Moshe said, “Do not listen to the false prophet!” Answer: Deuteronomy 13-4.
Which Kaleiv?
Question: Please see 24:14. Rashi based on Gemoro Sanhedrin 69b says that Chur was the son of Miriam and Kaleiv ben Yefunneh. The Gemoro is based on Divrei Hayamim 1… Read more »