Lech Lecha #4- 8th day

בראשית פרק יז פסוק יב

יב) וּבֶן־שְׁמֹנַת יָמִים יִמּוֹל לָכֶם כָּל־זָכָר לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם יְלִיד בָּיִת וּמִקְנַת־כֶּסֶף מִכֹּל בֶּן־נֵכָר אֲשֶׁר לֹא מִזַּרְעֲךָ הוּא

Why do we have the brit on the eighth day? The Zohar says the baby must experience a Shabbat before being circumcised. This gives the baby a  special soul; a soul of Shabbat. The baby needs this soul to prepare for the brit. What are other reasons for the significance of the 8th day?

Lech Lecha #3- Go where?

The first Jew in the Torah, Avram, is introduced in Parshat Lech Lecha. Hashem comes and says to Avraham, "Leave this land, from the place you were born, from your fathers house to land that I will show you".

יֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל אַבְרָם לֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ:

Ramban says in his perush on Berashit 12:1 that it is difficult for a man to leave his homeland, harder to leave the place you were born and hardest to leave your fathers house.

וטעם להזכיר "ארצך ומולדתך ובית אביך" כי יקשה על האדם לעזוב ארצו אשר הוא יושב בה ושם אוהביו ורעיו וכל שכן כשהוא ארץ מולדתו ששם נולד וכל שכן כשיש שם כל בית אביו ולכך הוצרך לומר לו שיעזוב הכל לאהבתו של הקב"ה

Question: Why would Avram want to leave the place where he has always lived? Why would he follow without knowing his destination? If it was so hard for him to leave, why wouldn't Hashem tell him where he is going? 

Lech Lecha #2- Go for yourself

"וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-אַבְרָם, לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ, אֶל-הָאָרֶץ, אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךָּ."

Why does Hashem randomly chose Avraham to leave?

Rashi says that Hahems says the "licha" part in "lech licha" is because it is for Avraham's benefit. Hashem will make Avraham a great nation, because he cannot have children where he is now. Additionally, Avraham's name will be great.

Why does Hashem want Avraham to leave if it is just for Avraham's benefit (according to Rashi)? What are other interpretations of what Hashem was telling Avraham when he said "lech lecha", "go FOR YOURSELF"?

Lech Lecha #1- NOW she's beautiful?

12:11-13

יא) וַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁר הִקְרִיב לָבוֹא מִצְרָיְמָה וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־שָׂרַי אִשְׁתּוֹ הִנֵּה־נָא יָדַעְתִּי כִּי אִשָּׁה יְפַת־מַרְאֶה אָתְּ

 

 

יב) וְהָיָה כִּי־יִרְאוּ אֹתָךְ הַמִּצְרִים וְאָמְרוּ אִשְׁתּוֹ זֹאת וְהָרְגוּ אֹתִי וְאֹתָךְ יְחַיּוּ

 

 

יג) אִמְרִי־נָא אֲחֹתִי אָתְּ לְמַעַן יִיטַב־לִי בַעֲבוּרֵךְ וְחָיְתָה נַפְשִׁי בִּגְלָלֵךְ

The question is how come Abraham after being married to Sarah for many years just realizes how beautiful she is now?

Rashi asks this same question and gives two answers. 

You can look into these answers or consider others you find related to what is the significance of Avraham realizing Sarah's beauty? why does he only realize now?

פרשת נח #1- Faithful or Faithless?

After building the תיבה as Hashem commanded, Noach is told that the flood will begin in 7 days (ז:ד). When the time comes to enter the תיבה the תורה relates:

(ז) וַיָּבֹא נֹחַ וּבָנָיו וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וּנְשֵׁי־בָנָיו אִתּוֹ אֶל־הַתֵּבָה מִפְּנֵי מֵי הַמַּבּוּל:

Rashi notes that the words  "מִפְּנֵי מֵי הַמַּבּוּל" seem to imply that Noach literally fled the waters of the flood, that he waited until he was actually threatened by the rain and only then entered the תיבה with his family. Rashi presents the following reason for Noach’s delay:

"מפני מי המבול" - אף נח מקטני אמנה היה, מאמין ואינו מאמין שיבא המבול ולא נכנס לתיבה עד שדחקוהו המים:

How can we understand this Rashi? What does it mean that Noach is מקטני אמנה- what does he not have faith in? Does/how does this conflict with other views of Noach? (consider the Rashis in 6:9 and 7:1) Can this be resolved? Are there other interpretations for the words  "מִפְּנֵי מֵי הַמַּבּוּל" ?