Review Questions 5781 Aggada

 Review Questions 5781

Aggada

1.     How did Bob Dylan's visual art change before 1975 and after, how did this impact his lyrics? Why is this important for the study of Aggada?

2.     What was meant by the term “suspend disbelief”? 

3.     Why did Moshe not understand Rebbi Akiva’s class? (according to our conclusion)

4.     What happened when Moshe entered Rabbi Akiva’s classroom?

5.     What were the three approaches the Rambam mentioned to Aggada texts? Which did he prefer?

6.     Which two theological questions were raised by the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe?

7.     Which line from the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe was left out of the advertisement which mentioned the story?

8.     In the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe how did Rashi solve a theological problem? What is the possible weakness in his approach?

9.     In the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe how did Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (Ari'Zal) solve the theological problem?

10.  In the final analysis, did the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe deal with the question of "why bad things happen to good people"?

11.  In what way did Rabbi Akiva continue the life of Moshe?

12.  What was God's "first thought"? (according to Rashi)

13.  How were both Rabbi Akiva and Moshe treated?

14.  What does the word tel mean? Why is it significant in understanding the passage?

Review questions Spring 2020

Review questions Spring 2020

Aggada

What were Achashverosh’s origins?

What were Vashti’s origins?

In what way does Vashti impact the Purim story?

What psychological profile can be used to analyze the behavior of Vashti?

Why did Vashti drink?

What do we see from the various parties which Achashverosh made?

What psychological profile can be used to analyze the behavior of Achashverosh?

What insult did Vashti hurl at Achashverosh?

Why were Achashverosh’s advisors so scared about the response of the other women?

What was the psychological profile of Haman? What evidence can you bring to support this?

What was the psychological profile of Achashverosh? What evidence can you bring to support this?

How does Esther exploit the weaknesses of Haman and Achashverosh?

What was the mood of each of the participants at Esther's first party?

What was the mood of each of the participants at Esther's second party?

How far was Esther willing to go when Achashverosh went out to clear his head? 

What did we learn from seeing different pictures of the wicked son?

What was the most common depiction of the wicked son in art in the middle ages? 20^thcentury?

In Kibbutz Haggadah who was depicted as the wicked son?

In the text of the Torah what made the question of the wicked son different from the other sons?

In the text of the Torah what was the question of the wise son?

In the text of the Torah, how did the parents respond to the news of the son who asked the question ascribed to the wicked son?

How did the question of the wicked son differ in the Jerusalem Talmud compared to the Mechilta?

Who was the Jerusalem Talmud most likely responding to in its treatment of the “wicked son”?

Why does Lot serve Matzah?

Did Avraham serve Matzah? Why would the Midrash relate Matzah to Avraham?

In what way was Lot imperfect?

What are the elements in the Lot narrative which are reminiscent of the Exodus story?

What does the Midrash mean when it says that “David was found in Sodom”?

Who did Rabbi Akiva imagine was/or could be the messiah?

Who argued with Rabbi Akiva regarding the messianic age?

Why is it surprising that the Rambam rules like Rabbi Akiva regarding the messianic age?

Which famous teaching was authored by Rabbi Yochanan be Torta?

What does the phrase “Grass will grow from your cheeks” mean? Who said it? To whom? Why? How did the Rambam understand it?

What earlier biographical episode may have impacted the messianic vision of Rabbi Yochanan be Torta?

What earlier biographical episode may have impacted the messianic vision of Rabbi Akiva?

Which three rabbis discussed the contributions of the Romans to the quality of life in Judea? What were their responses? 

Where did Rashbi (Rav Shimon Bar Yochai) hide when the Romans? First hiding place? Second hiding place?

Who did the Rashbi take with him when he hid from the Romans?

What happened when the Rashbi went to the cave? What made the situation “Eden-like”?

What happened when the Rashbi left to the cave? First time? Second time?

Who was the greatest student of Hillel? What does the Gemara say about him?

Who was the “least” of the students of Hillel? What does the Gemara say about him?

What did the Kotzker Rebbe say about Hillel? How did this apply to the Rashbi (according to the Imray Shammai)?

What did the angel tell the Rashbi was his purpose in visiting the world? What did the Rashbi respond? First time? Second time?

In what way did Rashbi change from student to teacher?

Who came to visit Rabbi Akiva when he was in prison?

Why is it difficult to discern the conversation between Rabbi Akiva and Rav Shimon Bar Yochai?

What was the response of Rabbi Akiva to the Roman decree?

What was the threat of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai to Rabbi Akiva? What did he really mean to convey?

What was the content of the last speech of Rabbi Akiva?

What did Rabbi Akiva mean when he said “If you are going to be killed- be hung by a big tree”?

Who was Rabbi Elazar ben Dordia?

What does the prostitute tell Elazar? How does he respond?

How was the second story which contained a prostitute different from the first? In what way was it similar?

What did the sun and moon tell Elazar? What was the theological significance of this interchange?

What is Elazar’s eventual conclusion?

In what position do we find Elazar when he cries? What is the significance?

In what way was Elazar ben Dordia a Rabbi?

What made Rebbe say that there are 7 books of the Torah? what are the Seven bools?

What made Moshe seem suicidal?

Why did Resh Lakish jump into the Jordan river?

What were the first words that Rav Yochanan said to Resh Lakish? What was Rav Yochanan thinking?

What were the most painful words that Rav Yochanan said to Resh Lakish? What was Rav Yochanan thinking?

What did Resh Lakish do when Rav Issi was kidnapped?

What did Rav Yochanan do when Rav Issi was kidnapped?

What act of Resh Lakish indicated that Teshuva motivated by love – could turn a sin into merit? How does that work?

Parasha

How does the building make sense according to the Ramban in terms of the Torah sequence?

How does the building of the Mishkan make sense according to Rashi?

How are the Ark and Tablets related to Sinai?

What is strange about the choice of the Keruvim?

What are the Keruvim?

What do the Keruvim represent?

In what way were the Keruvim “cheapened”? By whom were they cheapened”?

What is strange about the Keruvim embracing at the time of the destruction?

Where is the first time the Keruvim are mentioned?

In what way are Adam and Eve parallel to the Tablets of Stone?

Which date appears in real-time in three of the books of the Torah?

What is tumah?

What is tahara?

Why does a new mother bring the sin offering?

Why does a nazir bring a sin offering?

How is a nazir like and not like a kohen? Kohen Gadol?

Is a sin offering always for sin?

What is the most severe tumah?

What is the overarching issue in Parashat Emor?

In what way is a vow creating an abode for God? How does this connection work in Hebrew? Who was the first that made a vow which supports this association?

In what way do Jews declare the Holidays holy?

In what way do Jews declare the Shabbat holy?

In what way is the holiness different from Shabbat as opposed to holidays (in terms of the direction of the holiness?

In what way is counting the Omer a declaration of holiness?

What are the two narratives in the Book of Vayikra? How are they polar opposites?

How is the story of the blasphemer thematically connected to Parashat Emor? 

Which sins are highlighted in the Gemara as a cause of exile and destruction? 

Which sins are highlighted in the tochecha in Bechukotai as a cause of exile and destruction? 

What did the Ramban consider to be one of the great secrets of the Torah?

How is the Sabbatical cycle related to the age of the world?

How did Rabbi Yisrael Lifshitz respond to the news that fossils and dinosaurs were found?

What did Rabbi Yitzchak from Acco add to the teaching of the Ramban?

How would the Ramban understand the verse “In the Beginning, God created- the world was desolate and empty”?

According to the Vilna Gaon who is an essential character in the messianic drama?

When the war against Amalek was waged - who was chosen to lead the battle? Why? What tribe was he from?

Which place is Yosef compared to?

Where do we see the psychological condition of projection in the story of the spies?

Why did Yehoshua initially not respond to the report of the spies? Who did respond?

What is the Aramaic word for “grasshopper”? what is the significance?

What was the content of the murmurings in the tents when the people heard the report of the spies?

In the Korach episode, how many groups were there?

What was the punishment of the 250 men? What was this reminiscent of?

What was the punishment of Datan and Aviram? What was this reminiscent of?

Who was the first to say to Moshe “who made you judge”? What was this reminiscent of?

What happened to Ohn ben Pelet?

What was the significance of the behavior of the wife of Ohn?

What was Moshe accused of during the Korach episode? why?

Law and Ethics

What was the story cited in the Shvut Yakov?

How is Esther connected to the ruling of the Shvut Yakov?

What was the story cited in the Maharik?

How is Esther connected to the ruling of the Maharik?

What was the precedent cited in the Shvut Yakov from the Maharik?

Is culpability of a crime completely correlated with ramifications of one’s actions?

Why did the Noda Beyehuda object to the ruling of the Shvut Yakov?

How did the Noda Beyehuda “save” Esther?

What complication do the rabbis read into the relationship between Mordechai and Esther?

Is the sale of the land of Israel during shemita (the sabbatical year) a legal fiction?

Is the sale of chametz a legal fiction?

How does the sale of chametz work according to Rav Moshe Feinstein?

How does the sale of chametz work according to the Noda Beyehudah?

Can a person execute a marriage using cake? On Pesach?

In what way are Chametz on Pesach and a pit in a public area similar?

When did the mourning customs of the Sefira begin? Which earlier episode is mentioned as a reason?

What were the original elements of mourning during the Sefira?

Why would/ and why wouldn’t recorded music be included in the mourning of the Sefira?

Which four obligations exist between children and parents?

If a parent tells a child to desecrate Shabbat should they listen? How do we know?

Can a parent lose their privileges of filial responsibilities?

If apparent does “teshuva” does it do anything to the child’s responsibility?

If a parent is abusive to a child can the child stay away from the parent?

Does a child have to obey the parents' wishes?

What constitutes honor of parents?

What constitutes reverence of parents?

What was the first thing Rav Assi’s mother asked for? How did he respond?

What was the second thing Rav Assi’s mother asked for? How did he respond?

What was the third thing Rav Assi’s mother said? How did he respond?

What did the Rambam learn from the narrative of Rav Assi? Did he see the story primarily speaking about Zionism or filial responsibility?

What is the Rambam’s conclusion regarding a child’s responsibility to a parent with dementia? What is the best-case scenario? What is acceptable?

Could one argue in favor of the suicide of King Saul?

What is complex- or even contradictory about the response (or responses) of Rabbi Chanaya Ben Tradyon to the executioner?

What is strange about the argument which Rabbe Tam makes in terms of martyrdom? Which 2 leaps of logic does he make?

What was the case of the 400 kids?

Which same question was asked of multiple rabbis independently? 

What was the analysis used by Rabbi Moshe Feinstein for cosmetic surgery? 

What did Rabbi Waldenberg say about cosmetic surgery?

Is the International dateline a physical reality or a man-made construct?

When was the International date line created?

Who wrote “Three Sundays in a week”?

Where do rabbis posit should be the “center of the world”?

Review Questions Fall 5780

Review Questions 5780

Aggada

1.     How did Bob Dylan's visual art change before 1975 and after, how did this impact his lyrics? Why is this important for the study of Aggada?

2.     Why did Moshe not understand Rebbi Akiva's class? (according to our conclusion)

3.     What happened when Moshe entered Rabbi Akiva’s classroom?

4.     What were the three approaches the Rambam mentioned to Aggada texts? Which did he prefer?

5.     Which two theological questions were raised by the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe?

6.     Which line from the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe was left out of the advertisement which mentioned the story?

7.     In the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe how did Rashi solve a theological problem? What is the possible weakness in his approach?

8.     In the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe how did Rabbi Yitzchak Luria (Ari'Zal) solve the theological problem?

9.     In the final analysis, did the passage of Rabbi Akiva and Moshe deal with the question of "why bad things happen to good people"?

10.  In what way did Rabbi Akiva continue the life of Moshe?

11.  What was God's "first thought"? (according to Rashi)

12.  How were both Rabbi Akiva and Moshe treated?

13.  What does the word tel mean? Why is it significant in understanding the passage?

14.  Which text did we see which seems to support a postmodern argument?

15.  How did Tosfot cited by the Ritva understand “Elu v’Elu divrie Elokim Haim”?

16.  How did Rabbenu Yechiel understand “Elu v’Elu divrie Elokim Haim”?

17.  How did the rabbis respond to the voice from heaven which expressed support of Rabbi Eliezer?

18.  How did Rabbenu Peretz understand “Elu v’Elu divrie Elokim Haim”?

19.  What was our conclusion regarding the modifier and the referent in the phrase “Elu v’Elu divrie Elokim Haim”?

20.  What two things did the Talmud Yerushami say about the student who could argue a hundred ways that a “sheretz” is pure? (someone who allowed something which isn’t allowed)

21.  Is the concept of “Elu v’Elu divrie Elokim Haim” supported by Biblical law?

22.  What does the Torah say to do in cases of disagreement?

23.  What was the dual role of the Sanhedrin?

24.  Where did the bat kol say “Elu v’Elu divrie Elokim Haim”?

25.  What is the significance to the Bat Kol and Yavne?

26.  Why couldn’t the argument between the schools of Hillel and Shamai be resolved in the “old fashioned” way?

27.  Why was the law established like the school of Hillel?

28.  In what way did the school of Hillel identify more with the concept of “elu v’ elu”?

29.  What question does the Talmud ask about Chanuka?

30.  What is the context in the Gemara when it asks “what is Chanukah?”?

31.  What is the primary focus of the Gemara’s answer when it asks “what is Chanukah?”?

32.  Why would the Talmud not wish to emphasize the military victory? 3 answers

33.  What deficiency does the Ramban identify with the Maccabees?

34.  What does the Rambam think is a great outcome of the Chanukah story? In what way does he see it as a “secular holiday?

35.  In a retrospective biblical perspective – what is the significance of the “miracle of lights”?

36.  Which statement about Chanuka was most repeated in Rabbinic literature?

37.  What does a “horn of an ox” represent?

38.  What does a horn have to do with Tefilin?

39.  What was Noah’s blessing for Shem and Yefet?

40.  What was the dispute regarding the Oven of Achnai?

41.  What was the context in terms of the Mishna/Talmud regarding the Oven of Achnai?

42.  In the Oven of Achnai did Rabbi Eliezer have the ability to defend his position?

43.  What did Rabbi Eliezer do when the rabbis would not engage him in dialogue?

44.  Who were the other protagonists who argued with Rabbi Eliezer?

45.  In the Oven of Achnai why did Rabbi Eliezer resort to the performance of miracles?

46.  Who told Rabbi Eliezer he was banished?

47.  Which prayer would Rabbi Eliezer's wife (Ema Shalom) not allow him to say?

48.  What happened when Rabbi Eliezer prayed?

49.  What is the symbol of a tree being ripped from the ground?

50.  What is the symbol of a stream flowing backward?

51.  What is the symbol of the walls of the Beit Midrash collapsing?

52.  How did Rabban Gamliel defend himself when he was in a sinking boat?

53.  Why did Rabbi Eliezer think he was correct?

54.  Why did the rabbis who argued with Rabbi Eliezer think that they were correct?

55.  How did Rabbi Eliezer’s youth shed light on his later life?

56.  To what did Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai compare Rabbi Eliezer?

57.  How is the death of Rabbi Akiva related to the story of the banishment of his teacher?

58.  How is the death of Rabbi Akiva visually foreshadowed at the funeral of his teacher?

59.  Why did the rabbis think that they could ignore the voice from heaven? According to The Sefer Hachinuch? According to the Vilna Gaon? Rav Nissim Gaon?

World of the Sages

1.     Why did the people build the tower in a valley and not on a mountain?

2.     What is meant when the people who built the tower said “make for us a shem”?

3.     Why did the people who built the tower detest Avraham?

4.     Does the Torah describe the sin of the building of the Tower?

5.     What inspired Avraham to start looking back where things came from?

6.     In what way does Terach teach Avraham?

7.     In what way did Avraham go further than his father?

8.     What was the substance of the “debate” which Avraham had with the man who came into the idol shop?

9.     What was the substance of the “debate” which Avraham had with the woman who came into the idol shop?

10.  What was the substance of the “debate” which Avraham had with his father? 

11.  What was the substance of the “debate” which Avraham had with Nimrod?

12.  In what way does the work of Victor Frankel compound the test of the Akaida?

13.  What does the Rashbam say was the event which led to the Akaida? How is this a “Zionist” introduction?

14.  What do we see in the dialogue between Avraham and Avimelech?

15.  How does the dialogue with Avimelech shed light on the Akaida?

16.  What was the ultimate reason God told Avraham to place Yitzchak on the altar (according to our conclusion)?

17.  Who thought that both Avraham and Sara were equals (more or less)?

18.  Who thought that Avraham was the central character, and Sara was merely in a supporting role?

19.  Who was Hagar according to the Midrash? Targum Yonatan?

20.  In what ways did we see Avraham’s sojourn to Egypt was a prototype for the Egyptian exile and redemption?

21.  Was the choosing of Hagar a brave choice? Why was she chosen?

22.  Did Esav treat both parents equally?

23.  What was Yitzchak’s dream for Yakov and Esav?

24.  Which biblical character reminds us of Esav? 

25.  Which Blessing did Yitzchak wish to give to Esav?

26.  Which Blessing did Yitzchak wish to give to Yakov? (did he give to Yakov – when he knew it was Yakov)

27.  Which Blessing did Yitzchak give to Esav? Did he see Esav as his spiritual heir? How do we know?

28.  When God blessed Yakov – which blessing was missing?

29.  What evidence is there that Esav was superficial?

30.  When did Yakov realize that his mother was right and that Esav was a failure?

31.  Which secret did Rivka apparently keep from her husband?

32.  What did Yitzchak wish to accomplish when he asked Esav to bring him food?

33.  What reason does the Torah give for the love of Rivka toward Yakov?

34.  What reason does the Torah give for the love of Yitzchak toward Esav? Was it conditional or unconditional?

35.  When Yitzchak said "the voice is the of Yaakov, and the hands are the hands of Esav", did the sentence end with a "question mark" or an exclamation point?!

36.  What was Yakov told by his father would be the relationship between him and Esav (at least according to the Sfat Emet?)

37.  What complicated the relationship between Rivka and her children?

38.  Which instruction did to Yaakov did both of his parents agree upon?

39.  What is the background of the Yakov/Yosef story/selection?

40.  Does the Torah actually say that Yakov loved Yosef the most of all his sons?

41.  Who originally suggest to kill Yosef?

42.  How did Reuven save Yosef from death?

43.  What sign did Yehuda think he received which caused him to suggest the sale of Yosef?

44.  What sign did Yehudah ignore?

45.  What was the underlying nature of the competition between Yosef and Yehudah?

46.  How is the Yehuda story thematically related to the Sale of Yosef?

47.  Which terms did Tamar use in chapter 38 which were reminiscent of chapter 37?

48.  When does Yehuda self-centeredness end?

49.  What episode in the life of Yosef in chapter 39 was in stark contrast to the behavior of Yehuda in chapter 38?

50.  What does the midrash say was created by God around the same time as the sale of Yosef?

51.  According to Rabbi Yoel Bin Nun, why didn’t Yosef inform his father of his fate? 

52.  When Yosef sees his brothers after many years –what does he accuse them of? Why?

53.  When Yosef sees his brothers after many years – what does he want them to say?

54.  Why does Yosef arrest his brothers?

55.  What did Yosef put in his brother’s bag the first time? The second time? Why?

56.  Why does Yosef put his brother's money back in their bags?

57.  Why does Yosef place the chalice in his brother's bag?

58.  What earlier episode in the brother's lives is Yosef trying to replicate? How do we see that Yosef was successful?

59.  Which previous episode do the brothers have in mind when they volunteer that whoever has the cup should die?

60.  What words does Yosef use when he reveals himself to his brothers? How does the Seforno understand those words?

61.  How did Yosef make his dreams come true?

62.  What were the brothers scared of when Yakov died?

63.  In what way did Yosef fail to reconcile with his brothers? Why?

64.  In what way did Bereishit end on a happy note? (What did Yosef do?)

Contemporary Halacha

1.     Is it really surprising to have found documents of Oliver Wendel Holmes Jr in a Nierenberg trial collection?

2.     What was the William Brown?

3.     What was the case of “Buck vs Bell”?

4.     If two people are stranded with limited water which belongs to one of them – how many categories of action are there? (how many solutions to the problem)

5.     If two people are stranded with limited water which belongs to one of them – how would Ben Petura solve the problem?

6.     If two people are stranded with limited water which belongs to one of them – how would Rabbi Akiva solve the problem?

7.     What is the logic of Rabbi Akiva? Which verse did he use as support?

8.     What is the logic of Ben Petura? Which verse did he use as support?

9.     What insight did we see from Eli Wiesel regarding the verse “your brother shall live with you?

10.  What was the context in the Talmud where the response was "who says your blood is redder"?

11.  What would Rabbi Akiva say in the case of "kill him or I will kill you"?

12.  How does Tosafot distinguish between the case in the desert and the case of "kill him or I will kill you"? Which principle or logic does Tosfot use?

13.  How does Rav Chaim distinguish between the case in the desert and the case of "kill him or I will kill you"?

14.  What did Tosafot say to do in the case where one's life is threatened, unless they allow themselves to be pushed on a baby?

15.  What did Rav Chaim say to do in the case where one's life is threatened, unless they allow themselves to be pushed on a baby?

16.  How does the Tosafot – Rav Chaim argument impact Shabbat elevators?

17.  What was the case of the two streams?

18.  What did the Rabbis say should be the rule if there were 2 streams and both needed the water for the same purpose?

19.  What was strange about the ruling of Rabbi Yossi - in the case of the two streams?

20.  In the case of the two streams – according to whom did the Sheiltot rule?

21.  How did the Netziv explain the ruling of the Shelitot?

22.  What became clear about the logic and ruling of Ben Petura when we saw the ruling about the two streams? 

23.  What became clear about the logic and ruling of Rabbi Akiva when we saw the ruling about the two streams? 

24.  In what way is lack of laundry dangerous?

25.  What is Tikkun Olam in the Jewish Tradition? (as seen in the Mishna)

26.  How did Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel suggest we solve moral dilemmas involving limited resources?

27.  Did the original text of the Mishna read “whosever saves one life” or whoever saves a Jewish life”? bring 2 pieces of evidence

28.                 From where did we learn that a community need not spend all of its resources saving lives?

29.   

30.  Which rabbi reportedly requested not to be redeemed when he was kidnapped? Why?

31.  What is the Hannibal Directive?

32.  What case indicated that even something of infinite value has a price?

33.  What three places does the Talmud discuss to light Chanukah candles?

34.  According to the Talmud in optimal conditions where should the Chanukah candles be lit? do most people follow the Talmud today?

35.  According to the Talmud under which conditions can the Chanukah candles be lit inside?

36.  What should people who live in an apartment building do regarding lighting Chanukah candles? According to Rav Moshe Feinstein? Chazon Ish? Rabbi Soloveitchik?

37.  Do all types of transplants fundamentally present the same challenge in Jewish law?

38.  What is the precedent in terms of donating an organ from a dead body?

39.  What is the precedent in terms of donating an organ from a live body?

40.  What is the complication of donating a heart?

41.  What was the case which the Recanati presented – how does it impact organ donation?

42.  What was the case of the Noda B’yehuda– how does it impact organ donation?

43.  Can a person ever lose the status of being a Jew?

44.  Can a person ever lose the obligations of being a Jew?

45.  Can a person ever lose the privileges of being a Jew?

46.  When would it be permissible to speak negatively about another Jew?

47.  Is the Jewish (Halacha) approach to abortion uniform?

48.  In what way was the Ben Ish Chai coy when asked about abortion?

49.  What was a lenient consideration of Rabbi Yakov Emden (regarding abortion)?

50.  What was a lenient consideration of the Maharit (regarding abortion)?

51.  What was a lenient consideration of the Chavat Yair (regarding abortion)?