Names
- wife
- father in law
- brother in law
- Rivkah
- Besuel
- Lavan
How old was Yitzchak when he got married?
How old was Yitzchak when he had children?
40
60
What's the connection between the letter 'nun' and the number of Pesukim in this week's Parsha?
106
nun, vov, nun
Why is the word "Goyim" - "nations" written without a "vov", to read "Ge'im" - "great"?
"Two nations within your womb"
"Two greats within your womb"
Antoninus and Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi - both leaders of their respective nations. Esav/Yaakov.
25:23
What is the connection between this week's Parsha, and Havdalah?
Vayiten Lecha is the blessing that Yitzchak gave to Yaakov (Shishi)
What were the names of the three wells Yitzchak redug, after the Pelishtim filled them in?
Esek
Sitnah
Rechovot
26:20-22
How many years did Yaakov learn in the Yeshivah of Shem and Ever after running away from Esav?
14 years
The following two words have the same gematria:
דומה (similar) and הוליד (begot)
What is the Gematria, and what is the connection between the two words?
55
Hashem ensured Yitzchak looked like Avraham, so no one could say he wasn't Avraham's son.
Why was Yaakov cooking lentils?
Avraham Avinu had passed away and Yitchak was sitting shivah. Lentils are round, symbolising the cycle of life.
Also, lentils have no 'mouth', and a mourner limits speaking (like eggs).
- this is why it is traditional to serve round foods (like bagels) and hard-boiled eggs to mourners for their first meal during shivah.
What is the first colour mentioned in Tanach, and in what context is it mentioned?
Red
Esav demanding lentil soup from Yaakov
25:30
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר עֵשָׂ֜ו אֶל־יַֽעֲקֹ֗ב הַלְעִיטֵ֤נִי נָא֙ מִן־הָֽאָדֹ֤ם הָֽאָדֹם֙ הַזֶּ֔ה
Who did Esav marry? 3 wives.
Explain how one of them was the grand-daughter of Avraham.
Yehudit, Bosemat, Machalat.
Machalat
Yishmael
Avraham
How old was Esav when he got married, and why did he do so at that age?
40. Because his father got married at 40.
26:34
Which father and son mentioned in this week's Parsha, have a difference of 40 in the Gematriyahs of their names?
Avraham 248
Yitzchak 208
Three explanations as to why Yitzchak's eyes were unable to see properly.
1. Because of the smoke of the incense Esav's wives would burn to worship their idols.
2. The Malachim's tears from the Akeidah dripped into his eyes.
3. To enable Yaakov to take the blessings.
27:1
Explain, according to the Pesukim, how Yaakov's response to his father's question "who are you", is not a mistruth. (look at the taamei hamika)
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַֽעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־אָבִ֗יו אָֽנֹכִי֙ עֵשָׂ֣ו בְּכֹרֶ֔ךָ
27:19
"I am me. and Esav is your first born"
Why was Esav called Esav? (2 answers)
Why was Yaakov called Yaakov? (2 answers)
Because he was fully-developed and "Asuy" - "made", when he was born.
Because he was hairy like grass "Esev"
25:25
Because he was holding onto his brother's heel "ekev".
25:26
Because he 'deceived' his brother - "Vaya'akveini"
27:36
Which two numbers, that are also cities, are seen in this Parsha?
Meah Shearim (100) 26:12
Be'er Sheva (7) 26:23
Which Passuk referencing Avraham Avinu, has 10 words in it, hinting to the Aseres HaDibros, Asarah Nisyonos, and the Asarah Maamaros?
26:5
עֵ֕קֶב אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֥ע אַבְרָהָ֖ם בְּקֹלִ֑י וַיִּשְׁמֹר֙ מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֔י מִצְוֺתַ֖י חֻקּוֹתַ֥י וְתוֹרֹתָֽי׃
inasmuch as Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge: My commandments, My laws, and My teachings.”
Why is it considered a praise to Rivkah, that the Torah names her lineage once again?
To tell us that even though both her brother and father were wicked, she was not influenced by them and was a Tzedeikes
25:20
What was unique and special about the garments that Esav wore? Where did he get them from?
They were special garments created for Adam and Chava, made out of the pelts of different animals. Whichever animal saw it, they saw a larger animal of its species and cowered in front of it. Noach inherited this garment which enabled him to control the animals in the Teivah. It passed down the generations until it reached Nimrod (Noach's great-grandson). Nimrod used it to enhance his own power and prestige, and eventually Esav killed him to get it and enhance his powers as a hunter and murderer.
27:15
Name four people in the Parsha who have their father and brother's names appear in the Parsha, but no mention of their mother's name.
1) Rivkah: Besuel and Lavan (25:20)
2) Machalat: Ishmael and Nevayot (28:9)
3) Yitzchak: Avraham and Yishmael
4) Yishmael: Avraham and Yitzchak
Based on the Pesukim and according to Rashi, when should a person start thinking about their own mortality?
When a person reaches within five years of their parent's death, five before and five after.
Yitzchak had reached 123 years old and because Sara had passed away at 127, he started thinking of his own mortality and thus realised he needed to bless his sons.
26:2
Which person has the largest Gematria in this week's Parsha? Who are they?
Bosmas - בָּ֣שְׂמַ֔ת
26:34
One of the wives of Esav
Where do we find Gan Eden and where do we find Gehinom in this week's Parsha?
What does Gan Eden smell like?
Yaakov's garments smell of Gan Eden.
Smells like an apple orchard
שֶׁנָּתַן בּוֹ רֵיחַ טוֹב וְזֶהוּ שְׂדֵה תַּפּוּחִים, כָּךְ דָּרְשׁוּ רבותינו זִכָּרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה:
27:27
Yitzchak shuddered "Vayecherad Yitzchak Charadah Gedolah ad Meod" - Rashi says he saw Gehinnom open up in front of him.
27:33
(Story: Shimon HaKofer)
Find a single Passuk in Parshas Toldos that contains the following relationships, and explain the relationships:
- Grandfather and grandson
- Grandfather and granddaughter
- Father and son
- Uncle and nephew
- Husband and wife
- Father in law and son in law
- Brother and sister
28:9
- Grandfather and grandson: Avraham and Esav
- Grandfather and granddaughter: Avraham and Machalat
- Father and son: Avraham and Yishmael
- Uncle and nephew: Yishmael and Esav
- Husband and wife: Esav and Machalat
- Father in law and son in law: Yishmael and Esav
- Brother and sister: Nevayot and Machalat