From Shemot 1:15 to 2:22, the children of Israel are referred to exclusively as ‘Hebrews’ (עבריים\עבריות). The term is used occasionally in the Tanakh, particularly in Shemot and Sefer Shmuel. The first incident of it being used is in Bereishit 14:13 where Avraham is referred to as ‘Avram the Hebrew’ when learning that Lot has been kidnapped by the four Kings who made war on Sodom. There are two possible etymologies for the term. The first is that it refers to the descendants of Ever (עבר), the …
Archives for December 2018
Why was Pharaoh worried that children of Israel would leave Egypt?
If Pharaoh was worried that the children of Israel were too numerous, why was he concerned about the possibility of them going ‘up from the land’? Rashbam suggests that Pharaoh was worried about the land becoming depopulated.Sa’adya Gaon, Rashi and Rabeinu Bahya follow a midrashic explanation according to which Pharaoh was expressing in a roundabout way his concern that the children of Israel would force the Egyptians out of the land.Ramban suggests that Pharaoh’s concern was that they would …
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When do you light Hanukka candles?
Short answer: משתשקע החמה עד שתכלה רגל מן השוק. Long answer: listen to this shiur. …
