Mefarshim 

📘 Parsha Insights – Rashi Commentary Q&A Chapter 12

1. 🚶‍♂️Q: What does “Lech Lecha” mean according to Rashi?
   🎁A: “Go for yourself” — for your own benefit and good.
2. 🏡Q: Why does Hashem say “from your land, birthplace, and father’s house”?
   📦A: To emphasize leaving each level of familiarity and comfort.
3. 🧭Q: Why didn’t Hashem tell Avraham the destination immediately?
   🎯A: To make the land precious in his eyes and reward him for obedience.
4. 👶Q: Why did Hashem promise Avraham children, wealth, and fame?
   🧳A: Because travel causes loss of all three.
5. 🔠Q: What change in Avraham’s name reflects his greatness?
   🧔A: From “Avram” to “Avraham,” adding a letter to total 248 (human organs).
6. 💰Q: What blessing does “Va’avarechecha” refer to?
   🪙A: Wealth.
7. 🕊️Q: What does “Veh’yei Beracha” mean?
   🗣️A: Blessings are entrusted to Avraham — he can now bless others.
8. 🙏Q: How does Rashi connect Avraham’s blessings to the Amidah prayer?
   🛐A: “God of Abraham,” “God of Isaac,” “God of Jacob,” ending with “Shield of Abraham.”
9. 🧒Q: What does “Venivrichu becha” mean?
   👨‍👦A: People will bless their children saying, “May you be like Avraham.”
10. 📆Q: How old was Avraham when he left Charan?
    🎂A: 75 years old.
11. 👨‍👩‍👦Q: Who did Avraham take with him to Canaan?
    🧳A: Sarai, Lot, their possessions, and the souls they made in Charan.
12. 🕊️Q: What does “souls they made in Charan” mean according to Rashi?
    🛐A: People they brought under the wings of the Divine Presence.
13. 🚶Q: What does “Va’ya’avor” mean in “Avraham passed through the land”?
    🌍A: He entered the land.
14. 🗺️Q: Why did Avraham go to Shechem?
    🛡️A: To pray for Jacob’s sons who would fight there.
15. ⛰️Q: What is “Elon Moreh” according to Rashi?
    🗻A: Shechem — where Hashem showed Avraham Mount Gerizim and Mount Eival.
16. ⚔️Q: Why does the Torah mention “the Canaanites were then in the land”?
    📜A: They were conquering the land from Shem’s descendants.
17. 🛐Q: Why did Avraham build an altar when Hashem appeared to him?
    🎉A: To thank Hashem for the promise of children and land.
18. ⛺Q: What does “Va’ya’atek” mean?
    🚚A: He moved his tent.
19. 🏕️Q: What does “east of Bethel” mean?
    🧭A: The mountain was east of Bethel, so Bethel was west of it.
20. 👩Q: What does “Ahola” teach us about Avraham’s tent?
    ❤️A: He pitched Sarah’s tent first, showing respect.
21. 🧎Q: Why did Avraham build another altar near Ai?
    ⚖️A: He foresaw Achan’s sin and prayed for his descendants.
22. 🧭Q: What does “Haloch v’naso’a” mean?
    🗺️A: He traveled in stages toward the south — toward Jerusalem.
23. 🌾Q: Why was there a famine in Canaan?
    🧪A: To test Avraham’s faith in Hashem’s command.
24. 👀Q: What does “Hinei na yadati” mean?
    💡A: Avraham realized Sarah’s beauty — either newly or due to her modesty.
25. 🌍Q: Why was Avraham concerned about Sarah’s beauty in Egypt?
    😨A: Egyptians were not used to seeing beautiful women.
26. ⚠️Q: What did Avraham fear the Egyptians would do?
    🔪A: Kill him and let Sarah live.
27. 👫Q: What did Avraham ask Sarah to say?
    👧A: That she was his sister.
28. 🎁Q: Why did Avraham ask Sarah to say she was his sister?
    💰A: So he would be treated well and receive gifts.
29. 🧕Q: What does Rashi say about Sarah’s beauty during travel?
    🌟A: She retained her beauty despite the strain of travel.
30. 🧠Q: What deeper lesson does Rashi teach from Avraham’s journey?
    🛤️A: That spiritual growth often comes through challenge and trust in Hashem.