No community start suggestion yet.
Why would Og think Sarah would marry him after Avrohom's death? The Midrash reveals that Og's name comes from his commitment to eat matzah like Sarah was preparing. Og wasn't simply coveting a woman — he was undertaking Avrohom's world mission, believing he could replace Avrohom as the leader who would restore the pre-flood world through settling Eretz Yisrael.
This shiur explores the puzzling question of why Og believed Sarah would marry him if Avrohom died while rescuing Lot. Rashi (רש"י) explains that Og's plan was to inform Avrohom about Lot's capture, hoping Avrohom would die in the rescue attempt, leaving Sarah free to marry him. But this raises an obvious difficulty: why would Sarah, married to the holy Avrohom who had a world mission, want to marry Og? The answer emerges from a Midrash explaining Og's name. The Midrash states that Og came during Pesach (פסח) time when Sarah was kneading dough for matzahs. 'Og' derives from the Hebrew word for kneading. But why should his name be connected to Sarah's activity?
Looking for the full summary?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!
Dedicate a Shiur in Parsha
L'ilui nishmas a loved one. In honor of a simcha or yahrzeit. As a zechus for a refuah sheleimah. Your dedication helps carry Rabbi Zweig's Torah to learners around the world.
Why does the Midrash connect Pharaoh's expulsion of the Jews to the mitzvah of shiluach hakan? The shiur develops a chiddush that Pharaoh's sin wasn't only drowning the children, but the insensitivity of expelling the parents afterward. The deeper analysis reveals that Pharaoh may have valued the Jews greatly and wanted to control them—making his expulsion an act of tremendous cruelty, not liberation.
Why does Moshe respond to the splitting of the sea with shirah rather than praise or thanksgiving? Rashi's use of "al libo" reveals that shirah is an emotional expression—a response of love to love. When Hashem shows personal care, the only adequate response is "I love You too," not mere gratitude or praise, and this principle applies to all relationships.
Parshas Lech Lecha 14:13
Looking for the full transcript?
Full access is available to members of the TUF Alumni Association or the Yam Hagadol Foundation.
Already a member? Let the admin know!