Browse Torah Articles: Sefer Beresheet
There are 12 parshiyot in Sefer Beresheet
Parashat Vayera - פרשת וירא - מאקאם ראהוו או נאווה
147 verses, with Haftara: Kings 2: 4:1-4:37
Contains 0 Misvot: 0 Misvot Aseh, and 0 Loh Taaseh
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| Vayera begins with three of Hashem's messengers visiting an ailing Abraham. Each had a unique mission: one had the task of healing Abraham and saving Lot from Sodom, one had the task of informing Sarah about the birth of a son, one had the task to destroy Sodom. As the parasha develops, each of these tasks are fulfilled. Abraham is healed from his circumcision, Lot is saved from Sodom with his family, Sarah is told about Yisshaq, and Sodom is destroyed, despite Abraham’s vehement prayers to prevent the catastrophe. This parasha ends with the greatest of all tests that Abraham had to endure, the sacrificing of his only son, in Aqedat Yisshaq.
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 Ten Tests - Contributed by: Rabbi Mordechai Katz
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Torah Negotiations - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Laughing Out Loud - Contributed by: Rabbi Haim Shaul
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Hashem Appeared to him - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Parent and Child: Aqedat Yisshaq - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Shem VeEver vs. Abraham - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Fear and Love Hashem - Contributed by: R. Eric Mizrahi
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Parashat Haye Sarah - פרשת חיי ש רה - מאקאם חגאז
105 verses, with Haftara: Kings 1: 1-31
Contains 0 Misvot: 0 Misvot Aseh, and 0 Loh Taaseh
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| Haye Sarah, the life of Sarah, is the name of this parasha wherein the first few pesuqim we are told of her passing. He speaks to the children of Het and to Ephron in order to purchase the Cave of Makhpelah. Abraham then moves on to look for a wife for his son, Yisshaq. He sends Eliezer, his most trusted servant to find her, with specific instructions not to take from the daughters of the Canaanites. Abraham suggests to Eliezer to go to his homeland; to his kind. Eliezer seeks HaShems guidance in his mission stating that the kindness of Heavenly aid is for Abrahams sake. He asks that the maiden to whom he shall say Please tip over your jug so I may drink, and who replies, Drink, and I will even water your camels, she is the one for Yisshaq. HaShem listens to Eliezers prayers and sends the maiden meant for Yisshaq to the well. Eliezer approached Rivqa and asked for water and Rivqa acquiesces and also offers to draw water for the camels. Rivqa passes her test and Eliezer requests permission from Rivqa and her family to take her to marry Yisshaq. Yisshaq and Rivqa get married and ultimately Yisshaq is consoled from his mothers passing. Abraham remarries a woman named Qetura and they have children. Abraham gives gifts to all his offspring and passes on. Together, Yisshaq and Ishmael bury him in the Cave of Makhpelah. The parasha ends with Ishmaels genealogy and his passing.
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Sarah's Age
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Lispod Le'Sarah Vi'Livkotah
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Stranger or Citizen - Contributed by: Rabbi Haim Shaul
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The Order of Mourning - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Bakol - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Parashat Toledot - פרשת תולדות - מאקאם מאהור
106 verses, with Haftara: Malachi 1:1-2:7
Contains 0 Misvot: 0 Misvot Aseh, and 0 Loh Taaseh
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| Parasha Toledot opens with the verse, These are the offspring of Yisshaq son of Abraham. Yet the Torah tells the story of their birth. From the onset, Rivqa was concerned about the children in her womb. She sought the counsel of Shem and Eber to learn that she was pregnant with twins who will each build their own nation. The twins Esav and Yaaqov emerged. They had two different appearances and personalities. Yisshaq appreciated Esavs smooth talking abilities and Rivqa loved Yaaqovs wholesomeness and saw his potential. In a rash action by Esav, he sold his firstborn rights to Yaaqov for a mere portion of soup. Esav later married two Hittite women who were not favorable to his parents. In his old age, Yisshaq wanted to bless Esav, believing he was still the first born. Upon hearing this, Rivqa intervened and had Yaacov enter his fathers tent under the guise that he was Esav, in order to get the blessing. The ruse worked, and when Esav arrived, only to find that his father already gave the blessing, he was enraged and sought revenge against his brother. Once again, Rivqa intervened and told Yaaqov to go to her brother Lavan in Padan Aram, and told Yisshaq that she is disgusted with the daughters of Het and she does not want Yaaqov to marry them. Yisshaq called Yaaqov and blessed him, telling him to go to his mothers brother, Lavan. When Esav saw the distaste of Canaanite women in his fathers eyes, he decided to marry Ishmaels daughter in addition to his other wives.
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The Blessings of Yaacob & Esav
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Eternal Love - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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We all Make Mistakes - Contributed by: Rabbi Haim Shaul
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The First Verse
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Sayid BeFeev
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Who You Are - Contributed by: R. Eric Mizrahi
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ציד בפיו - Contributed by: R. Eric Mizrahi
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Parashat Vayishlah - פרשת וישלח - מאקאם צבא או שיגא
154 verses, with Haftara: Ovadya 1:1-21
Contains 1 Misvot: 0 Misvot Aseh, and 1 Loh Taaseh
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The stage is set in the prior parshiyot for an epic battle between brothers, between Yaacov and Esav. In the beginning of the paraha we find Yaacov preparing in various ways for battle, ultimately able to circumvent fighting Esav and his men. Later in the parasha we read of Dinah and her abduction by Shechem, and the reaction of her brothers, Shimon and Levi.
There is one Missvah Loh Taaseh in this parasha, to not eat the Geed Hanasheh.
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Camp of Angels - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Where was Dinah? - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Parashat Mikes - פרשת מקץ - מאקאם שיגא
146 verses, with Haftara: Kings I: 3:15 - 4:1
Contains 0 Misvot: 0 Misvot Aseh, and 0 Loh Taaseh
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| The parasha begins with a dream of the Pharaoh of Egypt, and the inability of the Egyptian scholars to correctly decipher the dream to Pharaoh’s liking. Yosef is summoned from prison, and after successfully interpreting the dream, he succeeds in manipulating Pharaoh to appoint him as overseer of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself. From a lowly slave, Yosef rises to rule Egypt in a miraculous turnaround. All of these details prelude to the emotional element in the parasha, as Yosef reunites with his estranged brothers. Yosef uses his cunning ability to cause strife between the brothers, and ultimately pulls his brothers into a final showdown in parashat Vayigash.
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Yosef Gives Advice
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Safenat-Paaneah - Contributed by: R. Ezra Mizrahi
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Parashat Vayhi - פרשת ויחי - מאקאם חגאז
85 verses, with Haftara: Kings I: 2:1-12
Contains 0 Misvot: 0 Misvot Aseh, and 0 Loh Taaseh
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| Vayhi is the final parasha in the book of Beresheet, and it is the final chapter in the life of Yaacov Avinou. As Yaacov falls ill, Yosef, leader of all of Egypt, rushes to his bedside one last time. Yosef brings forth his two children, Efrayim and Menashe. Yaacov proceeds to bestow a blessing on them, and adds that it is with their names that future generations will bless their children (“May Hashem place you like Efrayim & Mensahe”).
Yaacov then turns towards all his sons, giving them words of blessing and rebuke.
Upon his passing, Yaacov is brought back to Israel to be buried in Meaarat Hamachpelah, along side his wife, Leah.
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A Final Lesson from Yaacob
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