Lech Lecha
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Which benefits was Avrohom promised for leaving his land?
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What power was Avrohom given over divine blessings?
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What honors are each of the Avos (Patriarchs) given in Shmoneh Esrei? What special honor does Avrohom get?
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Why didn’t Hashem tell Avrohom to which land he should go?
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What are two other examples in which a destination was concealed?
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“And the souls (people) they made in Choron,” etc. Give two interpretations of this.
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Why did Avrohom go to Sh’chem? To Eilon Moreh? (Think about future connections.)
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Who ruled Eretz Yisroel at that time? Who ruled it before?
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Avrohom built two altars. Why? Whose tent did he pitch first? Why?
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In which direction was Avrohom travelling in Eretz Yisroel? Toward which city?
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“There was a famine in the land.” Which land? What was its purpose?
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“Now I know that you are beautiful.” Give three interpretations for this statement.
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“And it was when Avrohom came to Mitzrayim (Egypt),” etc. Where was Sara?
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What will be the reward of those who bless Avrohom? And the punishment of those who curse him?
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How old was Avrohom when he left home? Who went along with him?
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What was Sara supposed to tell the Egyptians? What was Avrohom’s fear?
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What happened to Sara as soon as she was seen by the officers?
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How was Avrohom treated by Paroh? Who was punished with Paroh?
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What was Paroh’s complaint to Avrohom? What did Paroh do after that?
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What was Lot’s financial situation? Why? What problem resulted from it?
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Avrohom travelled by using the same ‘hotels’ as he used before. What lesson is derived from it?
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Besides building altars (and offering sacrifices), what else did Avrohom do?
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Lot’s shepherds argued with Avrohom’s shepherds. What was their argument? Who was right? Why?
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What offer did Avrohom make to settle the argument?
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Where did Lot choose for his place of residence? Why? (Two reasons.)
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What was Lot’s real motive for moving away from Avrohom?
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What were the specific faults of the residents of Sdom?
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What special ‘reward’ did Avrohom receive from Hashem after Lot’s departure?
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In 13:15-17 there are promises which seem to have been made in posuk 12:7. Is it a repetition? Are there any differences? Additions? Explain.
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Four kings were fighting against five kings. Why? Who won?
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Why did Avrohom get involved in this war? Who went along to fight?
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What kind of miracle happened to the King of Sdom? For What purpose?
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“And he pursued the enemy till Dan.” What caused him to stop there?
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Who were Avrohom’s close friends? What advice did they give him?
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According to our Sages, the night was ‘divided’ for Avrohom. Explain.
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Did Avrohom succeed in this battle? Who greeted him afterwards?
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Why was ‘the Valley of the King’ (14:17) named this way?
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Who was Malki Tzedek? What did he bring out to Avrohom? Why?
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“And he (Avrohom) gave him a tenth (tithe) from all.” Why?
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What offer did the King of Sdom make to Avrohom? Avrohom’s response? Why?
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Yet, Avrohom did accept payment for the effort of others. Whom?
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Which important principle of fairness did King David learn from Avrohom?
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What was worrying Avrohom after his victory in the war?
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What assurances did Hashem give him?
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Was Avrohom satisfied with the new promises? Why?
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Why was Eliezer (the servant) called Damesek? (Two reasons.)
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When Hashem assured Avrohom that his own son will inherit him, He took him outside to look at the stars. Why?
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Did Avrohom request a sign from Hashem that He will deliver His promise? Why?
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Did Avrohom request a sign concerning the inheritance of the land? (Two answers.)
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How is the story of the ‘covenant between the slices’ related here?
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What kinds of animals was Avrohom commanded to take?
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“And the bird he did not cut up.” Why? Why were the others cut up?
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What is the symbolism in Avrohom’s driving away the birds from the carcasses?
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A fear and a darkness befell Avrohom. What did this symbolize?
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What did Hashem tell Avrohom during this covenant? (Six or seven things.)
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How was Hashem’s presence seen during the covenant?
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Did the exile in Egypt really last 400 years? Explain.
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What promises did Avrohom get about Yishmael and Eisov?
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Was it good news for Avrohom that he will return peacefully to his father?
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“The fourth generation will return here,” etc. Where? What do we learn from here about Hashem’s fairness?
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“To your Children I have given this Land.” But it has not been received yet. Explain.
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In Eretz Yisroel there were ten nations. How many did we receive? What about the others?
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Why is the river Prass (Euphrates) called ‘the great river’?
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“After ten years of Avrohom’s residence in the Land.” Why are these facts mentioned?
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Why did Sara become ‘light’ (worthless) in her maid’s (Hagar’s) eyes?
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Why was Sara angry at her husband?
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What did the Angel tell Hagar about her future?
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How did the Angel describe the child Hagar will have?
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Prove that Hagar was used to seeing Angels in Avrohom’s house.
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How did Avrohom know to name Hagar’s son Yishmael?
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Why is it mentioned that Avrohom was 86 years old at Yishmael’s birth?
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What did Hashem tell Avrohom about the benefit of circumcision?
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Why did Avrohom fall on his face when Hashem appeared to him?
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What is the significance of Avrohom’s name change? (Two reasons.)
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Who else had to be circumcised besides the members of the family?
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If a child is not circumcised, who gets punished? When? How?
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What is the significance of Sara’s name change?
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What was the special blessing Sara received? How did people find out?
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What were Avrohom and Sara’s reactions to the promise of a child at old age?
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Weren’t earlier generations giving birth at older ages? What’s the wonder here?
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What was Avrohom’s request to Hashem about Yishmael? The response?
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What is the meaning of the name Yitzchak? (Two things.)
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What covenant was Hashem promising to establish with Yitzchak?
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In Tanya (ch. 23) it says that the Avos were like a merkava (chariot to Hashem). Prove it from a posuk in this parsha.
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Why does it emphasize “in the midst of that day (they were circumcised)”?