📘 Parsha Insights – Rashi Commentary Q&A
1️⃣ Q: Why does the Torah praise Noach when mentioning his descendants?
🅰️ Because “the mention of a righteous person is for blessing.” 🌟
2️⃣ Q: What does Rashi say is the true legacy of righteous people?
🅰️ Their good deeds. 🕊️
3️⃣ Q: What are the two views on the phrase “בְּדֹֽרֹתָיו – in his generations”?
🅰️ One praises Noach for being righteous even in a corrupt generation; the other says he was only righteous compared to his generation. ⚖️
4️⃣ Q: What is the difference between Noach and Avraham in how they walked with God?
🅰️ Noach needed support; Avraham strengthened himself independently. 🚶♂️🆚🚶♂️💪
5️⃣ Q: What grammatical note does Rashi make about the word “הִתְהַלֶּךְ”?
🅰️ It’s in the past tense and uses the hitpa’el form. 📚
6️⃣ Q: What does “וַתִּשָּׁחֵת” mean according to Rashi?
🅰️ It refers to immorality and idol worship. 🛑🛐
7️⃣ Q: What does “חָמָס” mean in the context of the flood?
🅰️ Robbery. 🏴☠️
8️⃣ Q: What does Rashi say about “כִּֽי־הִשְׁחִית כָּל־בָּשָׂר”?
🅰️ Even animals and birds corrupted their nature. 🐒🐔❌
9️⃣ Q: Why was the punishment for the generation of the flood indiscriminate?
🅰️ Because of immorality and idol worship. ⚖️🌊
🔟 Q: What sin sealed the fate of the generation of the flood?
🅰️ Robbery. 🧾🔒
1️⃣1️⃣ Q: What does “אֶת־הָאָרֶץ” mean in this context?
🅰️ It can mean “from the earth” or “together with the earth.” 🌍
1️⃣2️⃣ Q: Why did Hashem command Noach to build an ark instead of saving him miraculously?
🅰️ So people would ask about it and possibly repent. 🛶🔨
1️⃣3️⃣ Q: What type of wood was used for the ark and why?
🅰️ Cypress wood, because its name resembles “sulfur,” symbolizing destruction. 🌲🔥
1️⃣4️⃣ Q: What are “קִנִּים” in the ark?
🅰️ Compartments for each type of animal. 🐘🐅🐓
1️⃣5️⃣ Q: Why was the ark coated with pitch inside and out?
🅰️ Because of the pressure of the water. 🛶🧱
1️⃣6️⃣ Q: What does “צֹהַר” mean according to Rashi?
🅰️ Either a window or a luminous stone. 💎🪟
1️⃣7️⃣ Q: Why was the roof of the ark tapered to one cubit?
🅰️ So water would run off. 🌧️🏠
1️⃣8️⃣ Q: Why was the entrance placed on the side of the ark?
🅰️ To prevent rain from entering. 🚪🌧️
1️⃣9️⃣ Q: What were the three levels of the ark for?
🅰️ Top for people, middle for animals, bottom for waste. 🧍🐘💩
2️⃣0️⃣ Q: What does “מַּבּוּל” mean and why is it called that?
🅰️ It means flood, from words meaning ruin, confusion, and bringing down. 🌊🔄
2️⃣1️⃣ Q: What covenant did Hashem make with Noach?
🅰️ That the fruit wouldn’t rot and the wicked wouldn’t kill him. 🍎🛡️
2️⃣2️⃣ Q: Why were men and women separated in the ark?
🅰️ They were forbidden marital relations during the flood. 🚫❤️
2️⃣3️⃣ Q: What does “וּמִכָּל־הָחַי” include?
🅰️ Even demons. 👻
2️⃣4️⃣ Q: What does “שְׁנַיִם מִכָּל” teach us?
🅰️ At least two of each species entered the ark. 🐕🐕
2️⃣5️⃣ Q: What does “וַיַּעַשׂ נֹחַ” refer to?
🅰️ Noach built the ark as commanded. 🛶✅