פרשת ויגש Questions

Grades 1 and 2

1. Which one of the brothers showed great leadership by meeting with Yosef to discuss his desire to keep Binyamin as a slave? (44:18)

2. What was the first question Yosef asked after telling his brothers who he was? (45:3)

3. According to Yosef, who was responsible for sending him to Mitzrayim? (45:5)

4. How many people in total went down to Mitzrayim? (46:27)

5. What did Yaakov do when he saw Yosef? (46:29)

6. What was the name of the land where Yosef wanted his brothers to live? (46:34)

Grades 3-5

1. What was Yehuda’s request of Yosef? (44:33)

2. Why did Yosef cry? (45:2)

3. How did the brothers react when Yosef told them he was their brother? (45:3)

4. What did Yosef say to the brothers that made them feel better about the situation? (45:5)

5. What was the name of the land in which Yosef’s family was to live? (46:34)

6. Why did Pharaoh allow Yaakov’s family to live in this place? (46:34) 

פרשת ויגש

In this week’s parsha, Parshat Vayigash, the cup of Yosef has just been found in Benyamin's sack of grain. Yosef has said that whoever has the cup will be his servant, and the rest of them will go free. Yehuda calls Yosef as powerful as Pharoah and begs him not to enslave Benyamin, saying that if Benyamin doesn't come back, his father will die. Yosef tells all the Egyptians to leave, and he reveals himself to his brothers. His brothers are speechless. Yosef explains that it is okay that they sold him because it was all part of Hashem's plan to help them survive the famine. He tells them to go get his father and live in Egypt. Yaacov arrives and says that he can die in peace, having seen Yosef alive again. The brothers ask to live in Goshen, and their wish is granted. The parsha concludes by saying that Bnei Yisrael became fruitful and multiplied.

At the beginning of the parsha, Yehuda says to Yosef, "My lord asked his servants saying, 'Have you a father or brother?'" What kind of question is this? Everyone has a father (besides Adam HaRishon). The Rav זצ״ל addressed this issue. In an edition of the Chumash that includes commentary taken from many sources from and about the Rav, a story from his childhood is used to explain this matter. In the Rav’s story, the students in his childhood yeshiva were learning this parsha lazily because Chanukah had just passed. His teacher suddenly jumped up and asked the young Rav, "What kind of question is this? Everyone has a father!" The Rav attempted to explain by saying, "Yosef wanted to find out if their father was alive. 'Do you have a father?' actually means, 'Is he alive or dead?'" The teacher responded, "If so, Yosef would have phrased the question differently." The teacher went on to explain that Yosef was asking, "'Are you rooted in your father? Do you see him as the foundation of your existence? Do you see him as your provider and sustainer? Or are you just a rootless shepherd wandering from place to place who forgets his origin?" The teacher turned to the students and began to yell, "Are you truly humble? Do you look condescendingly down at your old father as an ancient tradition? Do you think your father is capable of telling you something new and exciting? Something you didn't know before? Or are you so arrogant and vain, that you deny dependence on your father, upon your source? When we recognize the supremacy of our father, we accept the supremacy of our Universal Father in Heaven."

The Rav relates an important message. We have to know who is superior to us and be humble to our roots, our origins. In order to be humble before Hashem, we have to first be humble before our parents. That in itself is sometimes a challenge, but it will make being humble before Hashem that much easier. May we all find true humbleness and accept Hashem, and our parents, as our superiors and our origins.

Shabbat Shalom,

Abe Spectre-Covitz

פרשת מקץ Questions

Grades 1 and 2

1. What did the weak cows do to the healthy cows? (41:4)

2. What did the 7 healthy cows and the full ears of corn represent? (41:25-26)

3. What was Yosef’s suggestion to help Mitzrayim through the famine? (41:34– 38)

4. What name did Yosef give his first born son?  What name did he give his second son? (41:50-52)

5. Yaakov sent ten brothers to Mitzrayim to buy food. Which brother stayed back? Why? 42:4)

Grades 3-5

1. Describe Pharaoh’s two dreams. (41:2– 7)

2. To whom did Yosef attribute his ability to interpret dreams? (41:16) 

3. Bonus: Pharaoh appointed Yosef to a high position, gave him an official ring, dressed him in royal clothing, and had him ride around on a chariot before all of Mitzrayim.  Who else in Jewish history was appointed to a high position, dressed in royal clothing, and rode around on a chariot before all of the people? (Can you think of a connection?)

4. Did the famine only affect Mitzrayim? (41:57)? What did Yaakov tell his children to do about the famine? (42:2)

5. Did Yosef recognize his brothers? Did the brothers recognize Yosef? (42:8)

6. What did the brothers find in their bags while returning home from their first trip to Mitzrayim? What did Yaakov do about it? (42:27-28) & (43:12) 

פרשת וישב Questions

Grades 1 and 2

1. What did Yaakov give to Yosef that made his brothers jealous? (37:3-4) 

2. Describe Yosef’s first dream. (37:7) 

3. How did Yosef find out where his brothers were? (31:15) 

4. What was Reuven’s plan to save Yosef? (37:21-22) 

5. What was the name of Yosef’s master in Egypt? (39:1) 

6. Which two of Pharaoh's servants were in jail? (40:2) 

7. Why were they in jail? 

Grades 3-5

1. Describe Yosef’s second dream. (37:9) 

2. What was Yehuda’s suggestion to the brothers? (37:26-27) 

3. What position was Yosef given in Potiphar’s house? (39:4) 

4. What position was Yosef given in the jail? (39:22) 

5. Why was the winemaker sent to jail? (Rashi 40:1) 

6.  What was the winemaker’s dream? (40:9)  

7. What was Yosef’s solution to the winemaker’s dream? (40:12-13) 

8. What was the dream of the chief baker? 

פרשת וישב

In this weeks parsha, פרשת וישב  Yosef receives his multicolored coat and boils up jealousy

between him and his brothers. שמעון  and לוי  wanted to kill him but ראובן came in and had mercy so he said they should throw him in a pit. They do, but then they sell him. Yosef is then sold to Mitzrayim and he works his way up the ranks and becomes the second most powerful man in Mitzrayim (right under the Pharaoh).

In the second פסוק  it mentions that Yosef was a lad who was a troublemaker and who cared about his looks (Rashi). But then, in the next פסוק  it says Yosef was his father’s favorite. Yosef;s father made him a coat of many colors which was impressive back then because it was hard to get the different colors and it was worth a lot of money. But why would an extremely holy man favor his troublemaker son even if he is his eldest from Rachel? There are numerous answers, but one stands out among the rest. This answer is that Yosef had similar features to that of Yaakov, so, therefore, he favored him more. This seems to be teaching us that looks are more important than knowledge and character in the area of Kedusha? It can’t be possible that Yaakov favored him based on the fact that they looked alike. A way to solve this dilemma is that being handsome in the Torah usually stems from one's wisdom and character. Some examples are Moshe, Sarah, David... Basically, everyone ever mentioned in the Torah to be handsome or beautiful -יפת תואר ויפת מראה.  Unfortunately with this comes jealousy as well, even from the holiest people.

We can learn from this that people can be jealous of someone's appearance, character or the relationship they have with others. No one is immune to that feeling and we have to learn that no matter how natural it might be, we need to keep it in check.

Shabbat Shalom,

Yoni D. Zirman

פרשת וישלח Questions

פרשת וישלח

Grades 1 and 2:

1. What news did the messengers bring Yaakov regarding Esav? (32:7) 

2. Who did Yaakov meet on the other side of the river? (32:25-29) 

3. What new name was given to Yaakov? (32:25-29) 

4. How did Yaakov greet Esav? (33:3) 

5. Who gave birth to Binyamin? (35:15-17)        

6. How old was Yitzchak when he died? (35:28-30) 

7. Where was Yitzchak buried? (35:28-32) 

Grades 3-5:

1. What three things did Yaakov do in order to prepare for his meeting with Esav? (32:9 Rashi)

2. Why did Yaakov divide his family into two camps? (32:9-10) 

3. Who fought with Yaakov and what new name was given to Yaakov? (32:25-29) 

4. What did Yaakov name the place where he wrestled with the angel? (32:31) 

5. Did Esav want to accept the gift from Yaakov? (33:9-10) 

6. Where was Rachel buried? (35:19) 

7. Who buried Yitzchak? (35:29)  

פרשת וישלח

In this week’s parsha, parshat וישלח,  it tells us יעקב  is meeting up with עשיו  after not seeing him

for 35 years. יעקב  sends messengers to tell עשיו  he wants to meet up with him but the messengers

see עשיו  is trying to plan a war. יעקב  then sends gifts to עשיו  in order for him to stop the war. During the night, יעקב  meets the angel and battles him and injures his hip. Because of this he is named ישראל  which gives us the name of בני ישראל.  Later, יעקב  meets עשיו  and they make peace with a kiss. רחל  later dies in childbirth with בנימין.  After all of this,ראובן  is told he lost the right as the first born because he interfered with יעקבs love life. The parsha ends by telling us about עשיו  and his wives and children and what he was doing at the time and where he was doing everything.

In parshat וישלח  it tells us that יעקב  is afraid. Wasn't he already afraid to meet his brother before? So why is it telling us that he is afraid once again? Shouldn't we already know that someone should be afraid to meet their brother again when they haven't seen each other in many many years and you know he wants to kill you? Any person would be scared, so why tell us again?
In pasukח  Rashi teaches us, ויירא ויצר:  that יעקב  was not afraid to meet his brother rather that his brother would kill him or even worse, his family. Since עשיו  had an army with him יעקב  feared for the life of his family. יעקב  hadn't seen עשיו  in years so he could have been plotting this attack for who knows how long, now that he knows where יעקב  was he could get his revenge on him. But as we go along in the parsha we find out that יעקב  and עשיו  make up and no one gets killed.
One can learn from this episode of “fear” that in the end all the fear in the world will not change the end result. Of course, one needs to take effort in protecting themselves but in the end, one has to have emunah in Hashem, because ultimately, it is in his hands.

Shabbat Shalom,

Emma Zayat and Leora Dallas

Parsha Summary for Vayetzei

Fleeing from Esav, Yakov leaves Be'er Sheva and sets out towards Charan, the home of his mother's family. After a fourteen year stopover in the Yeshiva of Shem and Ever, he resumes his journey and comes to Mount Moriah, the place where his father Yitzchak was brought as an offering, and the future site of the Beit Hamikdash. He lays down to sleep and has a prophetic dream of angels ascending and descending a ladder between heaven and earth. Hashem promises him the Land of Israel, that he will found a great nation and that he will be guarded by Divine protection everywhere. Yakov awakes and vows to build an altar there and tithe all that he will receive. Then he travels to Charan and meets his cousin Rachel at the well. He arranges with her father, Lavan, to work seven years for her hand in marriage, but Lavan deceives Yakov and substitutes Rachel's elder sister, Leah. Yakov commits himself to work another seven years in order to also marry Rachel. Leah bears him four sons - Reuven, Shimon, Levi and Yehuda - the first Tribes of Israel. Rachel is jealous that she cannot conceive, and gives her handmaiden Bilhah to Yakov. Bilhah bears Dan and Naftali. Leah also gives Yakov her handmaiden Zilpah, who bears Gad and Asher. Leah now gives birth to Yissachar, Zevulun, and a daughter, Dina. Hashem finally blesses Rachel with a son, Yosef. Yakov decides to leave Lavan, but Lavan, aware of the wealth Yakov has made for him, is reluctant to let him go, and concludes a contract of employment with him. Lavan tries again to swindle Yakov but is unsuccessful, and Yakov becomes extremely wealthy. Six years later, Yakov, aware that Lavan has become resentful of his wealth, takes advantage of his father-in-law's temporary absence and flees with his family. Lavan pursues them but is warned by Hashem not to harm them. Yakov and Lavan agree to a covenant and Lavan returns home. Yakov continues on his way to face his brother Esav.

Questiosn for Parshat Vayetzei פרשת ויצא

Parshat Vayetzei
Question for Grades 1 - 2

1.Upon what did  Yakov lay his head to rest? ( 28:11) 
2. What did Yakov do that the other shepreds were not able to do? (29:10)  

3. How did Lavan greet Yakov? (29:13) 

4. What did Yakov say he wanted in return for working for Lavan? (29:18) 

5. How many daughters did Lavan have, and what were their names?  

6. How did Lavan trick Yakov? (29:24) 

Questions for Grades 3- 5 

1. What two promises did Hashem make to Yakov in his dream? (28:13-14)  

2. What was Lavan’s answer to Yakov when asked why he tricked him? (29:26)  

3. How many additional years did Yakov work to marry Rachel? (29:27) 

BONUS - How long did Yakov need to wait until he married Rachel? (Look closely at 29:28)

4. What was the name of  Leah’s daughter? (30:21) 

5. What areTeraphim? Who stole them(Rashi 31:19)  

6.What did Yakov say would happen to the person who had the idols? (31:32)