Rabbi Zeev Weitman

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1. The Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   This lesson will examine the story about the tree of knowledge. Why wasn't man created with the ability to distinguish good from bad? Why must knowledge be gained through sin? If knowledge is sinful - why was the distinction of good from bad not taken away from Adam after the sin? Why was the tree of knowledge planted? Is man similar to God only because he ate from the tree of knowledge? And was the snake correct in his assessment that Adam and Hava would not die if they ate from the tree? These questions will be explored with the help of Ramban and Abarbanel's commentaries.

2. Creation Anew

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   After mankind was corrupted, God regrets creating man, and destroys every living thing. The renewal of the world after the flood is described as a re-creation of the world. Is the new world more successful than the first? What is the relationship between Noah's drunkenness and Adam's sin? Is there a relationship between Lot's drunkenness after the destruction of Sodom and Noah's drunkenness after the destruction of the world?

3. The Covenant Between the Parts

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   What does Avraham mean when he asks "By what shall I know that I shall inherit it?" What is the significance of the actions of the covenant between the Parts? Is the enslavement in Egypt a divine decree, or a foretelling of the future to Avraham? And why do his descendants have to wait so long to inherit the land?

4. God's Revelation to Avraham

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   What is the purpose of God's revelation to Avraham in the beginning of Parashat Vaera? What is the relationship between this revelation and the Covenant of Circumcision? What does Sara's laughter express, and why is she criticized for her laughter? And what is the significance of Avraham's prayer for Sodom?

5. Eretz Yisrael

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   Why it is so important for Avraham to buy land specifically for the purpose of burying Sara? He never demonstrates such stubborn insistence on owning the land upon which he pitches his tent, grazes his flocks, builds altars, or digs wells. Is it more important to buy a plot of land in order to be buried in Eretz Yisrael than it is to buy land in order to live upon it? Is it possible that Jews who live their entire lives in the Diaspora, their only concern concerning Israel being that they will be buried there, have a point?

6. "Give Truth to Yaakov"

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   The story of the birth of Yaakov and Esav, their upbringing, the stolen blessing, and Yaakov's departure to Haran can be seen as two separate narratives, attempting to grapple with the problematic theme of trickery and deceit.

   The synthesis of these two narratives entails drawing a distinction between the two blessings. There is the blessing of Avraham, which relates to the destiny of descendants and of the land, while the other blessing involves power and material abundance. The synthesis of these two stories also suggests that while on one hand, Yaakov and his descendants are chosen by God because of their special and unique merit, at the same time, there is also a Divine decision that has no apparent reason and does not arise from any inherent quality.

7. Why did Yosef Hide his Identity from his Brothers?

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   Why did Yosef hide his identity from his brothers? Why did he not inform Yaakov that he is in Egypt, and instead risks causing significant pain to his father? Why did Yosef place the goblet in Binyamin's sack? Many commentators have grappled with these questions, and this article will explore the various answers, as well as suggesting an alternative idea which provides insight into the reason for Yosef's silence – out of a noble desire to avoid the tearing apart of his father's household.

8. Yaakov's Dual Descent to Egypt

   Rabbi Zeev Weitman

   Yaakov receives two invitations to go down to Egypt. One comes from Yosef, who invites him to come and live in Goshen, where Yosef will be able to sustain him and his household during the remaining years of the famine. The second invitation is issued by Pharaoh, encouraging Yaakov and all of his household to partake of all the goodness of the land of Egypt. In order to illustrate the dual nature of the descent to Egypt, the Torah makes use of both of Yaakov's names – Yaakov and Yisrael, and a dual description of their dwelling – Goshen and Egypt.