* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha with Rashi Parshas Vayera For the week ending 17 Cheshvan 5755 - 21 & 22 October 1994 ========================================================================= Parsha Questions 1. Why was Avraham sitting at the entrance to his tent? 2. What were the missions of the three angels? 3. Why did Avraham enjoin the guests to wash the dust off their feet? 4. Why did Avraham ask Yishmael to prepare the food for the guests? 5. The angels asked Avraham where Sarah was. Why? 6. The distance between Hevron and Sodom is short. Why did the angels take so long to travel to Sodom? 7. Why was Lot sitting in the gate of Sodom? 8. Lot served the angels matzos. Why? 9. Why did Lot delay when he left Sodom? 10. In what merit did Hashem save Lot? 11. Why did the daughters of Lot want to conceive children from their father? 12. Why did Avraham relocate after the destruction of Sodom? 13. What prevented Avimelech from approaching Sarah? 14. Why did Avimelech give gifts to Avraham? 15. How old was Yitzchak when he was weaned? 16. Why was Avraham told to listen to Sarah? 17. Why did Hashem listen to the prayer of Yishmael and not to that of Hagar? 18. Why was it clear to Avimelech that "Hashem was with Avraham"? 19. Who accompanied Avraham and Yitzchak to the Akedah ("binding")? 20. How do the children of Nachor parallel the descendants of Avraham? Bonus QUESTION: Rashi states that Mamre advised Avraham to circumcise himself (18:1). As a reward for this advice, the land of Mamre is the venue for the beginning of Parshas Vayera. Avraham received a direct command from Hashem to circumcise himself, so why did he seek advice? I Did Not Know That! The Yeshiva of Rabbi Yishmael taught: "In the merit of Avraham's kindness to the angels, Hashem rewarded his children in the Midbar: Avraham brought them milk -- Hashem gave the manna. Avraham stood over them to serve them -- Hashem gave the ananei hakavod (clouds of glory). Avraham gave them water -- Hashem gave Miriam's well." Bava Metzia 86b ========================================================================= Answers to this Week's Questions All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated 1. 18:1 - He was looking for guests. 2. 18:2 - To announce that Sarah would give birth, to heal Avraham, and to destroy Sodom. 3. 18:4 - He thought they were Arabians who worshiped the dust, and he didn't want any object of idolatry in his home. 4. 18:7 - To train him in the performance of mitzvos. 5. 18:9 - To call attention to Sarah's modesty, so as to endear her to her husband. 6. 19:1 - They tarried, hoping that Avraham would find a way to save Sodom. 7. 19:1 - He was a judge. 8. 19:3 - It was Passover. 9. 19:16 - He lingered to save his property. 10. 19:29 - Lot protected Avram by concealing from the Egyptians that Sarai was Avram's wife. 11. 19:31 - They thought the world had been destroyed as in the time of the Flood and hoped to preserve the human race. 12. 20:1 - Avraham relocated because travel in the region ceased and he could no longer receive guests. 13. 20:4 - An angel. 14. 20:14 - So that Avraham would pray for him. 15. 21:8 - Twenty-four months. 16. 21:12 - Because she was greater in prophecy. 17. 21:17 - Because the prayer of a sick person is more readily accepted than the prayer of others on his behalf. 18. 21:22 - Because Avraham left the area of Sodom safely, defeated the four kings in battle, and was given a son in his old age. 19. 21:3 - Yishmael and Eliezer. 20. 22:20 - Nachor had 12 sons, eight from his primary wife and four from his concubine. This corresponds to the 12 children of Yaacov, eight of whom were born to his primary wives and four to their handmaidens. Bonus ANSWER: Avraham thought that many or most of his friends would advise against it. If he hadn't sought advice, then scoffers would claim that he wouldn't have circumcized himself if he had known about the ill-effects. By seeking counsel, he showed that he would listen to Hashem, in any event. Gur Aryeh ========================================================================= Spend this coming Winter Break in Israel for as little as $599 -> JLE Israel Winter Seminar '94/'95 <- 3 weeks of study and touring, optional Ulpan, and structured encounters with Israeli Dignitaries Departure December 22 Optional free week Jan 8-15 For Jewish men between the ages of 19 and 30 with demonstrated academic achievment and a sincere motivation to explore their roots. Minimum scholarship price: $599 Covers round trip ticket, room, board, tuition and tours Undergraduates attending college anywhere in North America who PERMANENTLY reside in New York City (Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx and Richmond counties), Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties) or Westchester County may qualify for a FULL SCHOLARSHIP _ an ALL EXPENSE paid trip to ISRAEL! For information: o send E-Mail to Rabbi Zalman Corlin o in the U.S. call toll-free 800-431-2272 (212-344-2000) o Outside N. America, send E-Mail to: ohr@jer1.co.il ========================================================================= Ohr Somayach's Free Israel Torah Fax Service Ohr Somayach is proud to offer a new fax service for people living or visiting Israel. You can receive at no cost issues of Torah Weekly, Ask The Rabbi, Parsha Q&A, and The Weekly Daf at the start of each week to read in the comfort of your own home or office. Requirements: o Phone number within Israel o auto-receive fax (a fax that will receive faxes without requiring the sender to call first to announce the fax) o Fax must be rated at a minimum speed of 4800 baud o Fax must be available 10:00pm - 7:00am Motzei Shabbos How to subscribe: Send a fax to Ohr Somayach (02-812-890) with: o your name & mailing address o your fax # within Israel o Please indicate whether you would like to receive Torah Weekly or all four pubilcations. (Unfortunately, we cannot offer subscriptions to any other combination of publications at this time). Cost: There is no cost for this service. However, you may want to consider a donation to Ohr Somayach to cover the cost of the phone calls. ========================================================================= Dedication opportunities are available for Parsha Q&A Please contact us for details. ========================================================================= Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by Ohr Somayach Institutions J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J J L E Tel: 02-810315 Fax: 02-812890 JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE Internet: ohr@jer1.co.il ========================================================================= Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane Production Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman Production Design: Lev Seltzer ========================================================================= (C) 1994 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission.