TTriddles

TTRIDDLES…
are Torah Tidbits-style riddles on Parshat HaShavua (sometimes on the calendar). They are found in the hard-copy of TT scattered throughout, usually at the bottom of different columns. In the electronic versions of TT, they are found all together at the end of the ParshaPix-TTriddles section. The best solution set submitted each week (there isn’t always a best) wins a double prize a CD from Noam Productions and/or a gift (game, puzzle, book, etc.) from Big Deal

Parsha Pix

Upper-left: 400 silver pieces that Avraham handed over to…

Divrei Menachem

Parshat Chayei Sarah is perhaps not the most aptly named parsha. For the opening narrative tells us something about Sarah’s age when she died and Avraham’s strenuous efforts to pay for her burial plot in the field of Efron the Hittite - but essentially relates nothing about Sarah’s life!
Why does the Torah put so much stress on Avraham’s insistence on purchasing that parcel of land rather than accepting the gift offered to him? Moreover, why did Avraham dally over the acquisition of a burial ground, only to take care of that matter urgently after Sarah’s death?

Uterine Transplants - A Historical View

Uterine Transplants - A Historical View

Hashem Blessed Avraham with Everything

Hashem Blessed Avraham with Everything

Parsha Points to Ponder

1) Why does the Torah, when describing Sarah’s age at her death, switch from singular to plural - first saying SHANA for 100, then SHANA for 20, and then SHANIM for seven (23:1)?
2) Why does the Torah state AND AFTER THIS (V’ACHAREI CHEIN) Avraham buried Sarah, referring to after he paid for the field and cave (23:19)? Isn’t it obvious from the flow of the story that he buried her after making payment which was described previously (23:16)?
3) Why does Avraham tell Eliezer he will be clean from THIS oath (ZOT) if the girl he meets does not want to return with him to Israel (24:8)? What other oath is there which required Avraham to specify THIS oath?

Parsha Points to Ponder by Rabbi Dov Lipman
Rabbi Lipman is an educator, author, and community activist in Bet Shemesh - http://www.rabbilipman.com

Ponder the questions first, then see further

CHIZUK and IDUD for Olim not yet Olim respectively

In this week’s parsha a seemingly inordinate number of words are used to describe the negotiations for the purchase of Me’arat HaMachpela, Sarah’s ultimate burial place. According to Ibn Ezra this is intended to stress the elevated value the Torah attributes to Eretz Yisrael in death as well as in life.

Vebbe Rebbe

The Orthodox Union - via its website - fields questions of all types in areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of them are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, headed by Rav Yosef Carmel and Rav Moshe Ehrenreich, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli zt"l, to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious community in Israel and abroad. Ask the Rabbi is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah… and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah…

Word of the Month

A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of haChodesh HaZeh Lachem…

Word of the Month

A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of haChodesh HaZeh Lachem…