Avraham's Descent to Egypt

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1. The Famine in the Days of the Patriarchs

   Rabbi Meir Lichtenstein

   תאריך פרסום: תשעב | |

   The three Patriarchs were faced with famine followed with the dilemma of staying in Eretz Yisrael as opposed to possible descent to Egypt. The lesson will explore the reason for the famines and the meaning of the different responses of each patriarch to this dilemma.

2. "Avraham Bore Yitzchak..."

   Prof. Jonathan Grossman

   Yitzchak’s actions seem similar to those of his father Avraham. A closer look at the relationship between Yitzchak and Abimelech reveals that Yitzchak resolves moral dilemmas that Avraham leaves open ended.

3. The Differences Between Avraham and Yitzchak

   Rabbi Amnon Bazak

   Yitzchak’s character is often viewed as parallel to Avraham, as depicted in Midrash Hagadol: “All things that happened to Avraham – happened to Yitzchak.” The midrash indicates that there is no innovation by Yitzchak, whose strength is primarily in maintaining and stabilizing the path that his father had forged. Is this indeed a correct reading of the text? Perhaps the many points of comparison highlight the differences between these two characters, and emphasize Yitzchak’s unique personality.

4. The Source of Gravitas

   Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz

5. A Double Test

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   We can consider the story of the descent to Egypt and the return from there, and the story of Lot's parting from Avram, as two halves of a single story. Are these two halves, connected as they are on the level of plot and in the common structure of the story as a whole, also connected in terms of the significance of the story? In other words, is there a unified message that arises from the greater story, and if so, what is it?

   What unifies the two halves of our story on the level of its significance is tests for Avram. The events that it describes present Avram with harsh contradictions of the promise of seed and the promise of the land that God gave him in Charan, at the beginning of parshat Lekh Lekha. In each instance Avram is tested concerning his faith in both promises, but in each half the principal test focuses on one of them. In the descent to Egypt, Avram's main test comes when his wife is taken from him, and the possibility of establishing the offspring promised to him is cancelled. In Egypt the basis for a later test for Avram is also prepared – a test that started with the descent itself because of the famine – but the essence of this test lies in the story of Lot's parting from him. This causes Avram to experience grave doubts as to the promise of the inheritance of the land.

6. From Lekh Lekha Me-artzekcha to Lekh Lekha El Ha-makom- A Dynasty Born of Faith

   Rabbi Reuven Taragin

   By closely examining Avraham's life story from Lekh Lekha until the Akeida we can notice that while Avraham's first tests challenged him to part with the past or present in light of his future; his last test forced him to part with that future as well. His willingness to complete the task proved him to be one singularly focused on the service of God and the glorification of His name.

7. Ramban's Criticism of Avraham: Did Avraham Sin in Descending to Egypt?

   Rabbi David Silverberg

8. Avraham and Lot: Divided by a Pause or a Gaping Chasm?

   Rabbi David Silverberg

9. Avraham's Wealth and Lifestyle Choices

   Rabbi David Silverberg

10. Avraham: Repaying Debts and Inspiring Monotheism

    Rabbi David Silverberg

11. Accepting Gifts from Pharaoh but not from Sodom - Inconsistency or Insight?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

12. Avraham's Gifts from Pharoah - Why did he Accept?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

13. Lekh Lekha - Go Forth and Make Changes

    Rabbi David Silverberg

14. Lekh Lekha: Sequencing Avraham's Prophecies

    Rabbi David Silverberg

    תאריך פרסום: 2006 | | 35 minutes

    In the Covenant Between the Parts, God tells Avraham that his descendants will be oppressed and enslaved in a foreign land for 400 years. In Shemot, however, the Torah relates that Bnei Yisrael were in Egypt for 430 years! How can we account for this discrepancy? Rashi and other commentators offer explanations, and also provide different readings of the sequencing of Avraham's journeys and prophecies.

15. Ramban on Lekh Lekha: Fathers and Children - Maaseh Avot Siman LaBanim

    Rabbi Ezra Bick | 32 minutes

    In this week's shiur, we introduce and explore Ramban's interpretation of Chazal's comment that everything that happened in the stories of the Avot (forefathers), serve as a "siman" for the sons. What does "siman" mean? Ramban views this statement as saying that the actions of the forefathers affect future generations in a metaphysical way, such that future generations play out some aspect of the forefathers' actions and journeys, for better or for worse. But what about the Torah's concept that the "sins of the fathers shall not be visited on the sons"? Is there a real difference between punishments and "consequences"? 

16. The Sins of Biblical Figures

    Part 2

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    Two fundamental approaches exist regarding three incidents involving Avraham: one maintains that the plain reading of the text suggests that the acts in question were wrong – perhaps even serious sins – and are recorded with a view to instructing the readers how not to behave. The other view seeks to cast their actions in a positive light and regards them as a model for emulation.

    Those who seek a favorable interpretation of all questionable actions of biblical characters rely, as one of their central sources, on a well-known discussion in Massekhet Shabbat (55b-56b) which lists six figures who seem, according to the plain text, to have committed various transgressions – some of them extremely serious ones. In each case, Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani teaches, in the name of Rabbi Yonatan, that "anyone who says that so-and-so sinned, is simply mistaken."

17. Avram in Egypt, Yaakov in Haran, and the Exodus from Egypt

    Dr. Yael Ziegler

    תאריך פרסום: תשס"ז | | 31 minutes

    This shiur looks at events in Bereisheet leading up to the Exodus from Egypt, in attempt to understand how these stories impact upon the message of Yetziat Mitzrayim - and the ideas of exodus and redemption.  We focus on two stories: Avraham's descent to Egypt, and Yaakov in the House of Lavan. We find linguistic and thematic connections to the story of the enslavement in and exodus from Egypt. These stories highlight the added challenge of leaving places of natural material wealth and fertility to return to the Land of Israel, where fertility, water, and resources are dependent on God.

18. Ramban

    Part 2

    Dr. Avigail Rock

    This lesson is dedicated to a number of philosophical topics that recur throughout the Ramban’s commentary on the Torah.

    Maaseh Avot Siman Lebanim – The events that transpire with the forefathers is an omen for the children.

    This historical view of the Ramban is of great significance, not just in the field of exegesis, but also because it has such a clear polemical anti-Christian aim. Indeed there is an allusion to the future in the stories of the forefathers, but the allusion is for Israel’s future — what is decreed upon their seed — but not for others, who are not of their seed.

    The Superiority of the Land of Israel

    The superiority of the Land of Israel predates Avraham and to the People of Israel. The overturning of Sodom was due to the superiority of the Land of Israel. As opposed to the other lands of the worlds that are managed by angelic representatives of God, the Land of Israel is managed by God directly.

    The main significance of the fulfillment of commandments is in the Land of Israel.

    Nissayon – Test

    The test is designed to serve not the Tester, God, but rather the one who is being tested. The nissayon in the Torah is an opportunity which is provided for the righteous to apply in practice their dedication to God and to earn a reward for this. In this way, they will receive a reward not only for their potential dedication, but for their actual dedication as is described with regard to Akeidat Yitzhak and the mann.

19. Parshat Lech-Lecha Part 1: Go Forth!

    Rabbi Alex Israel | 30 minutes

    Perek 12 begins the Avraham narratives with God’s commandment to relocate to Canaan, and continues with Avraham and Sara’s journey to Egypt. We learn of God’s promise to Avraham of land and offspring, and notice that this promise becomes compromised repeatedly throughout the narratives. 

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com