1) When approaching Egypt, Avraham asked Sorah to pretend to be his sister so that the Egyptians won’t kill him in order to marry her (12:12-13). Of what assistance would this plan have been, as it would have served to spare Avraham’s life, but it would have resulted in the married Sorah engaging in forbidden relations?
2) The Pirkei D’Rebbi Eliezer 29) writes that Avraham Avinu’s bris took place on Yom Kippur. Avraham Avinu kept the entire Torah, and the halachah is that only a bris which is bizmanoi [on the eighth day] overrides Shabbos. Since Avraham’s bris was shelo bizmanoi [not on the eighth day] how was he allowed to it on Yom Kippur?
3) The Gemara in Berachos (57b) says: “One who sees a lion’s den, or a fiery furnace should make the beracha of she’oseh nes le’avoseinu bemokam hazeh [performed miracles for our forefathers in this place]”. Rashi explains, “upon seeing the furnace where Chananya, Mishael, and Azariah were thrown”. From Rashi it seems that one only makes a berachah upon seeing the fiery furnace of Chananya, Mishael, and Azariah, and not upon the fiery furnace that Avraham Avinu was thrown into. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 218:7) also writes: “One who sees the lion’s den of Doniel, or the fiery furnace of Chananya, Mishael, and Azariah should recite the berachah of she’oseh nes le’avoseinu bemokam hazeh” and makes no mention of the furnace of Avraham. Why is the furnace of Avraham not mentioned? And is it in fact different?
4) In this week’s parsha (17:12), Hashem gives Avraham the mitzvah of bris milah. When a person is making a bris, it is customary not to directly invite people, but merely to notify them, lest they be punished if they do not attend a seudas mitzvah [festive meal in honor of a mitzvah] to which they were invited. Why do we not have the custom to refrain from inviting people to a wedding for the same reason?
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This booklet was compiled by Moshe Harris. For final rulings please consult your Rov. For any comments, dedications, or to subscribe to receive my weekly sheet email: [email protected] or call me on 0583249052.
