Famine

Found 14 Search results

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. The Problem of Sustenance

   Dr. Yael Ziegler

   Ruth collects in Boaz's field; she manages to collect and eipha of barley. This is ten times the amount needed to sustain an adult. The enormous amount was collected under Boaz's instructions. Boaz introduces Ruth as his respected guest, and ensures that everyone in the field knows that he is her patron and protector. Boaz offers Ruth much more than she needs for sheer survival; he contributes to her honor, respect, importance, and acceptance. How does Boaz regard Naomi? Why does he treat her the way he does?

3. Siege and Salvation in Shomron

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Judaism does not always present redemption as flawless. We learn about the story of the siege and salvation of Shomron via characters who are ethically compromised: the cruel child-eating mothers and the selfish leprous outcasts. Moreover, God's salvation is discovered almost by accident. The study of this chapter leads to contemporary thought on a flawed redemption in modern day Israel.

4. The Meaning of the Metaphor: God’s Actions

   Dr. Tova Ganzel

   This prophetic unit is one of the harshest that is delivered to the nation anywhere in Tanakh. The prophet begins by defining and illuminating the severity of the actions of the people. Not only have they not fulfilled God’s commandments; they have even been less loyal to God than the surrounding nations have been towards their own deities.

   The nation had not internalized the idea that God might destroy His Temple. They knew that the Destruction of the Temple would be perceived by the nations as weakness on the part of God, reflecting God’s inability to defend His Temple and ward off its enemies. Thus, the Destruction of the Temple would entail a desecration of God’s Name among the nations. The nations would assume that God had lost His power and might, so much so that He could not even prevent the downfall of His Temple. The nations surrounding Jerusalem would have considered the deliberate divine Destruction of Jerusalem so strange that the people of Jerusalem were lulled into believing that this would be enough to prevent the Temple being destroyed despite their severe sins.

   But Yehezkel describes that the people have defiled the Beit HaMikdash with “detestable things and abominations” – a combined term that is used over 80 times in the book that refers to the range of sins that the people have committed which are detailed by the prophet in the coming chapters. Thus the nations will come to understand how God inflicts such devastating damage on His people not as a sign of weakness but as a Divine punishment.

5. Not Without Cause Have I Done

   Dr. Tova Ganzel

   The prophet begins by describing the famine that will befall the city; then the wild animals that will pass through the land, followed by the sword, and finally, the pestilence. Describing these imminent afflictions raises the question of whether any righteous people will survive the onslaught.  And if so, might their families  also be saved in their merit, as in similar situations described in the Torah?

   The prophetic response to this question is that if indeed there are any righteous individuals to be found in the city, they alone will be saved. The inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be saved by virtue of the righteous present there. Through the comparison to Noah, the anticipated Destruction seems even more devastating than the Flood. Noah saved his entire family, but now even that possibility does not exist.

   Ultimately, there are some survivors of the destruction of Jerusalem. But they are left alive not by virtue of the righteous individuals, but because of God’s desire that the terrible actions and the resulting punishment of the inhabitants of the city be made known.

6. Ruth: Of Loyalty and Treason

   Rabbi Moshe Shulman

   תאריך פרסום: תשע"ה | |

   Why do Elimelekh and his sons die? And why had they left the Land of Israel in the first place – if their purpose was to escape the famine, then going to Moav would not ameliorate their situation, as Moav would ostensibly be similarly affected. We turn to the stories of Lot and Avraham as well as the Book of Shoftim, supplemented by Midrash and commentary, to help us explore the mystery of the famine and the journey to Moav.  This famine is not caused by rain: this famine is caused by war. His decision to go to Moav is not about leaving the Land of Israel, but rather an act of treason - which contrasts the loyalty and courage of Rut, Naomi, and Boaz.

7. Ramban vs. Ralbag: Escaping the Famine - Sin or Responsibility?

   Rabbi David Silverberg

8. Lekh Lekha - Go Forth and Make Changes

   Rabbi David Silverberg

9. The Achievement of Yitzchak Avinu

   Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein

   תאריך פרסום: תשע"ג | |

   Aside from the fact that he is Avraham’s son and Yaakov’s father, what do we view as Yitzhak’s achievement that grants him the stature of being an “Av” (forefather)? To answer this, we have to turn to Bereisheet Chapter 26, where the events of Yitzhak’s life really begin. We examine the strong references to and parallels with Avraham’s life, and discover the differences that provide Yitzhak with his unique character traits and talents.

10. Yaakov to his Sons: Do Not Appear Satiated

    Rabbi David Silverberg

11. A Strange Way for Yaakov to Ask his Sons to Go to Egypt

    Rabbi David Silverberg

12. What did Reuven Really Mean?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

13. Sheep that Egyptians Exchanged for Grain

    Rabbi David Silverberg

14. 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.