Torah Classes

Chp. 1 verses 1 - 4: Introduction, G-d creates the heavens and the earth. The earth is empty and void, and darkness hovers over the face of the water. He creates light, and sees that it is good. He separates between the light and the darkness.

Chp. 1 verses 4 - 26: G-d calls the light day and the darkness nigth, and it was evening and morning one day. On the second day He creates the firmament and He separates between the upper waters and the lower waters. On the third day He gathers the waters exposing the dry land and vegetation. On the fourth day He creates the luminaries. On the fifth day He creates sea life and birds. On the six day He creates reptiles, animals, and finally man.

Chp. 1 verse 26 - Chp. 2 verse 4: G-d creates man in his image, male and female He created them. He commands him to be fruitful and multiply and have dominion over all of created things. G-d informs him that he is to be a vegetarian, and so too all living being. Chp. 2, on the seventh day Hashem "rested" from all His work, and He sanctified the day as Shabbos.

Chp. 4 verse 5 - Chp. 6 verse 8: Hashem did not accept Kayin's offering and he was upset. Kayin kills his brother and Hashem condemns him to wander for seven generations until he will die. Lemech kills Kayin. Adam reconciles with Chavah and she gives birth to Sheis. Mankind continues to increase. There are ten generations form Adam to Noach, which included two righteous individuals, Chanoch and Mesushelech. However, most of mankind practiced immorality and violence. Hashem questioned His decision to create mankind, however Noach found favor in His eyes.

Chp. 32 verses 1 - 17: Introduction, Moshe begins his poetic message with a call to heaven and earth to witness his words. He praises Hashem and His justice. He tells them how Hashem had chosen the older generation from among the nations. He cared for them in the wilderness and carried and guarded them as an eagle watches over it's young.

Chp. 32 verses 17 - 52: He continues with his message. That in later generations they may turn to other objects to worship. Consequently, Hashem will repay their lack of appreciation with the denial of His favor. His punishments will be disease and the cruelty of the enemy. His only concern will be that the enemy should not gloat which will prevent the complete annihilation of the nation. Israel should then realize that their survival is totally dependent upon Hashem and their obedience. After completing this address Moshe was told to ascend Mount Nevo so that he would be able to see the Promised Land before he died.

continues with avraham's hospitality for his three guests. They bless him that sawra should bear a son in one years time, she laughs. Two of the angels go on to sodom to destroy it and to save lot. Hashem informs Avraham of His plans to destroy sodom and avraham begins his plea to save the cities.

Avraham continues his passionate plea for the people of sodom. The angels come to sodom and lot invites them to come to his house and offers them food and lodging. The people of sodom surround the house and demand that lot give them his guests. Angels tell lot of their mission to destoy the city and tell him to take his family and possessions and they will escort him out of the city before they destoy it. They are told not to look back at the destruction but lot's wife does and is turned into a pillar of salt. We begin the story of lot and his two daughters.

This chapter deals with the "Akeidah" the binding of yitzhok, and ends with the birth of rivkah.

Lot gets drunk and is seduced by his two daughters. Avraham travels to gerar where the king abducts sawra. Hashem appears to the king in a dream and tells him that he is going to die for taking sawra. Avrahem prays for the king and his household. Avimelech then invites him to reside in his country and showers him with gifts. Sawra gives birth to yitzhok. Avraham is tested by Hashem by driving hagar and yishmael from his house. Angel appear to hagar. The king visits avraham and makes a treaty with him.