Parsha discussion

Question:  Twice in the parsha (once before and once after the מבול), we find reference to Hashem making a ברית with Noach. From other such occasions, we find that the “other side” also needs to do or commit to doing something, yet we find no such thing in either of these two cases. What does this mean? Approach: there are two basic approaches that we can potentially take: 1. Our understanding of the word ברית is incorrect, and the word can mean a commitment, which can be either one or two sided. Interestingly אונקלוס translates the word as קים, which is the same word as used for the word שבועה, which can certainly be one-sided. 2. Noach was indeed required to do something, namely entering the Ark and procreating. It's just that these are hinted at, rather than made explicit. Fascinating is that Rashi, on both verses, explains what Noach was worried about that required הקב״ה to make a ברית.

Question : The creation story in chapter 1 uses a number of verbs to describe the creative process. What's the difference between them all? Specifically, we have ויעש and ויברא; the latter used only for creation of sea creatures and humans. Why? Approach : The root ברא also appears in the first very first verse. It appears that this root connotes the concept of ex-nihilo, creation of something from nothing. The creation of living and breathing creatures is a significant "improvement" in the creative process, and is akin to something being created from nothing. Similarly, the human being, with the נשמת חיים (famously rendered as the ability to speak by תרגום אונקלוס) also represents a significant "jump" in the creative process. Interestingly, the root ברא is used elsewhere in the תורה to refer to the creation of Earth or humankind, and two other places. Shmot 34:10 relates that wonders will be performed for the nation that have yet to be created . And of cour...

1. Where do we see הקב״ה appearing from שעיר & הר פארן? 2. Why are the blessings for זבולון & יששכר combined? 3. Why are the military blessings separated by a blessing relating to agriculture? 4. Why is the age of משה at his passing repeated? We have already been told this in פרשת וילך

1. 32:12 How does this fit in with the story of the עגל הזהב where הקב״ה specifically tells משה that He will not lead the people in the desert? 2. Why are the nations punished for what they inflict on בני ישראל, which are warranted? 3. 32:47 What is the meaning of the word רק? 4.  How can הר נבו be in מואב if בני ישראל were forbidden to enter that country?

1. Why does משה need to encourage יהושע using the same wording as for the rest of the nation? 2. How do we understand the מצוה of הקהל? It seems to be given after משה finishes writing the תורה 3. To what end is יהושע called to the אוהל מועד whilst הקב״ה speaks only to משה? 4. How does putting the ספר תורה next to the ארון help the people not do עבודה זרה?