From: CFRQC@CUNYVM.BITNET (ToraByte Int'l)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: A Byte Of Torah II,III Lech Lecha
Date: 5 Nov 92 06:15:50 GMT
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center


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                                     A                                   BS"D
   Volume II                      B Y T E     The Electronic
     Issue III                      O F          Torah Weekly
                                 T O R A H
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 ----                    Editor : Zev S. Itzkowitz                       ----
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                           Dvar Torah of the Week
                           ----------------------

"And Hashem struck Pharaoh with great plagues,
  and his household,
   because of Sarai the wife of Abram." (Genesis 12:17)

  Did Hashem really strike Pharaoh and his household? It is possible to say
that Hashem only warned Pharaoh of the impending plagues if he would carry out
his scheme to marry Sarai (Rabbeinu Bachya, R. Saadia Gaon). Nevertheless,
others maintain that Hashem actually did inflict the plagues upon Pharaoh and
his household (Rabbeinu Bachya, Or HaChayim). However, the plagues were
primarily sent for Pharaoh. They therefore afflicted him greater than the rest
of his household (Sephoreno).
  Why does the Bible tell us that the plagues were "because of Sarai the wife
of Abram"? One possibility is that the plagues were inflicted upon Pharaoh for
his evil machinations, due to the merits of both Sarai and Abram (Ramban). An
alternative explanation is that Sarai told Pharaoh that she was married to
Abram. However, Pharaoh answered her, I do not believe you, because Abram said
that you are his sister. Thus, Pharaoh was afflicted on account of Sarai's
words, because he did not believe them (Keli Yakar). Another possible
explanation is that once Pharaoh was struck by the plague, he realized that
Sarai was in fact married to Abram and not merely his sister (Or HaChayim).
Why did the plague indicate to Pharaoh that Sarai was indeed married? The
plague made it hard for Pharaoh to have relations with Sarai (Rashi). He thus
concluded that the plague was sent to him as a sign that Sarai was a married
woman (Ramban).


                             Mussar of the Week
                             ------------------

"And he (Abram) went on his travels
  from the south until Beth-El,
   until the place where his tent was originally pitched..." (Genesis 13:3)

  Why does the Bible specifically go out of its way to describe the path that
Abram used when he returned to the Land of Canaan? When Abram returned, he
went via the same route that he used when he journeyed down to Egypt. Abram
did this so that he would be able to pay back the debts that he incurred when
he went down (Rashi). This teaches us that it is proper to settle one's debts
as soon as one has the ability to do so (Sifsei Chachimim).

Please direct any comments, questions, etc. to bytetorah@israel.nysernet.org,
which will be forwarded to me. Please pass it on to a friend. If you want to
subscribe, please send e-mail to listserv@israel.nysernet.org with the msg:
SUB bytetorah <first name> <last name>.  --Zev Itzkowitz        Copyright 1992
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish