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• The Bible 378 course aims to deepen the understanding of the main female figures in the Pentateuch and Torah laws related to women.
• Examines the relevance of female characters through rabbinic interpretations from the Midrash composers to contemporary female Torah teachers.
• Focuses on lessons from the women of the Torah and their application to Jewish women's daily lives and spiritual growth.
• Specific topics include analysis of Chava, the Matriarchs, and Miriam, as well as laws related to family purity and divorce.

Exam Protocol

• Test duration is two hours.
• Write answers legibly in black ink.
• Answer multiple-choice questions in the provided blank space.
• If unsure, make a note and return to the question later if time permits.
• Incorrect answers do not incur a penalty.
• The passing grade is 70%.
• The exam consists of 20 multiple-choice questions (40% of grade), 15 open-ended questions (45% of grade), and 3 essay questions (15% of grade).

Breishis: Creation of Man and Woman

• The Torah doesn't state "it is good" after man's creation, only after woman's creation
• Rav S.R. Hirsch: A wife is called “ezer k’negdo" (a helper opposite him")
• Differences enable mutual shaping and unity if both subordinate to Hashem.
• The creation of man was "good" only when completed with Chava.

Noach: Noach's Wife, Na'ama

• Most men in Noach's generation had two wives, Noach seems to only have had one.
• Na'ama accompanied him in the ark and bore his children.
• Na'ama's salvation may have been due to her own merit or Noach's; her unique merit might be being a true “ezer k'negdo” to an "ish tzadik".

Lech Lecha: Sarah's Beauty

• Avraham says to Sarah “Behold, now I know that you are a woman of beautiful appearance" upon descending to Egypt.
• Rashi: Avraham had not noticed her beauty until then due to their modesty.
• Midrash: Avraham became aware of Sarah's beauty when he saw her reflection in the Nile.
• Avraham realized she had physical beauty and feared the Egyptians might take her.
• Rashi: When Sarah was taken to Pharaoh's palace unwillingly, Pharaoh was stricken by a skin disease that made intercourse impossible.

Sarai Complains About Hagar

• Sarai complains that Avraham prayed not to remain childless, but did not pray for her specifically.
• Sarai also felt Avraham was quiet when Hagar disparaged her righteousness.
• Rav Henach Leibowitz: Avraham was accountable for not praying for Sarah, even if he did not purposely refrain.
• Rav S.R. Hirsch: Sarah was angry because Hagar showed independence, and Sarah wanted to raise Hagar's child based on Sarah and Avraham's faith.

Vayeira: Name Change

• Rashi: Sarai’s name change reflects a change from "my princess" to "princess of all mankind".
• Saying “Sarah is her name” implies she already possessed this status.
• Unlike Avraham, Sarah did not need a formal covenant or action with the name change.
• Rav S.R. Hirsch: A woman, based on her lineage from Sarah, has the ability to subordinate herself to everything pure and holy.

Vayeira: G-d Speaks to Avraham

• G-d told Avraham to listen to Sarah’s voice regarding Yishmael and Hagar (Breishis 21:12).
• Rashi: Sarah had greater prophecy than Avraham.
• Crown of Creation: Sarah achieved a foretaste of the future world, where the body would be on a higher level of G-dliness than the soul.

Hagar and Yishmael

• Rav S.R. Hirsch: Hagar cruelly focused on her feelings, rather than Yishmael's needs, by throwing him “beneath the bushes.”
• Rav S.R. Hirsch: Hashem heard Yishmael's crying, not Hagar's, because Hashem is not moved by an egotist’s tears.

Vayeira: Yitzchak's Birth

• Sarah gave birth after she was no longer naturally able to conceive: This teaches to never give up hope.
• The Jewish people survive through miracles.
• Yeshayahu (51:2) tells to look to Avraham and Sarah, as G-d rejuvenated them, enabling them to have children.

Chayei Sarah: Sarah's Life

• The years of Sarah's life were 127 years (Breishis 23:1).
• Rashi: Adding “the years of the life of Sarah" teaches "all of them equal for good".

Chayei Sarah: Eliezer and Rivkah

• Sfas Emes: Rashi's words hint that Sarah saw everything in her life as good.
• Rivkah showed kindness by drawing water for Eliezer and his camels.
• Rav Eliyahu Dushnitzer: Rivkah realized she should also provide water for the camels, though it required much work.
• Rav Yechiel Michel Feinstein: Eliezer decided Rivkah had characteristics to adapt to Yitzchak's lifestyle.
• Rav Avraham Pam: Matriarchs' beauty seems surprising since Mishlei (31:30) teaches “grace is false and beauty is vain." Beauty is like zero; it has value when combined with good character and fear of Hashem.
• Rav Moshe Shapiro: True beauty is when inner beauty expresses itself outwardly.

Chayei Sarah: Rivkah Continues

• Under Rivkah, three miracles from Sarah's time resumed. Candles burned from one Shabbos to the next. Her dough was blessed. A cloud signifying the Divine Presence hovered over tent. This consoled Yitzchak over his mother's loss.
• Significance of Shabbos candles: Prevents fights giving peace in the home.
• Maharal: Light all allows differentiation between things, enabling peace when boundaries are distinguishable.
• Sarah and Rivkah's lit candles symbolized their ability to see and differentiate things with clarity.
• Shem MiShmuel: Sarah enhanced Shabbos lights each week by supplementing the previous week’s spiritual growth and strength.

Chayei Sarah: Death of Sarah

• Midrash: Sarah's life could not be taken until Satan distracted her with the shocking news of the Akeidah because she focused on the Shechinah.
• Rabbeinu Chaim Paltiel: Sarah’s soul departed knowing she fulfilled her life's work as a mother being deemed worthy of being sacrificed.

Toldos : Yitzchak and Rivkah

• Talmud: Avos and imahos were barren because G-d loves the prayers of the righteous.
• Pain from infertility brought prayer so intense that it produced extraordinary offspring.

Toldos: Rivkah's Pregnancy

• Rivkah had a difficult pregnancy (Breishis 25:22).
• Rashi: Yaakov would rush to come out when she passed places of Torah or idolatry.
• Rashi: Rivkah asked “lamah zeh anochi,” meaning why did she pray if pregnancy caused suffering.
• Breishis Rabbah: Rivkah lost the merit to bear 12 tribes because she regretted praying.
• Rav Henach Leibowitz: People should trust in Hashem and do what is right, regardless of outcome.

Toldos: Yaakov and Rivkah

• Rivkah urges Yaakov to pose as Eisav for the blessings from Yitzchak.
• Onkelos: Rivkah said she received a prophecy that no harm will come to Yaakov.

Vayetze: Leah's Eyes

• "Leah's eyes were tender...” (Breishis 29:17).
• Rashi: Her eyes became that way as she cried, thinking she would marry Eisav.
• Breishis Rabbah: Leah prayed not to marry the wicked one. Prayer is so powerful that Leah's prayer broke this decree and she was able to marry Yaakov.
• Rav Yechezkel Levenstein: Leah prayed not to marry Eisav rather to marry Yaakov because it was from a purer place.

Vayetze: Leah gives Thanks

• Talmud: No one gave thanks until Leah upon the birth of Yehudah.
• Some say Leah was the first to thank Hashem for something natural.
• Some say that her thanks would continue whenever she called her son's name.
• Her thanks was unique in that she changed her feeling of suffering to joy, focused on her love and connection to Hashem.

Vayetze: Rachel

‐ Rachel envied Leah, reasoning Leah would not have merited bearing children if she was not more righteous.

• Rav Henach Leibowitz - envy of good deeds can lead to despair. Focus instead on one's own positive traits.
• Rav Simcha Bunim of P’shis'cha - Rachel envied of Leah being hated, and made the comment of "give me children" so that she too could become hated
• Chizkuni - Rachel became jealous after Leah had 4 children because this was more than her share.

Vayetze: Rachel and Leah Flee

• Rachel and Leah agreed to flee together with Yaakov from Lavan's home.
• Rav Henach Leibowitz - Even though they would feel the necessity to go because of the Divine command to return to Eretz Yisrael, they gave a more practical reason.
• Rav Moshe Shapiro - The main aspect of binah is to clarify the details and establish them properly; this is the job of the mother; Sarah sent away Yishmael and Rivkah ensured that Eisav did not receive the blessings

Vayishlach: Dinah

: Dinah was slightly lacking in modesty for going out

• Midrash - Yaakov hid Dinah from Eisav, this tragedy befell her; Yaakov deprived Eisav of a kindness in not allowing him to marry Dinah
• With the right guidance and nfluence, women can encourage growth and greatness in their families

(Rivkah's nursemaid) and of Rivkah

Vayishlach: Devorah (Rivkah's nursemaid) and of Rivkah

• Rashi - had the Torah mentioned Rivkah's death explicitly, people would have cursed her for being the mother of Eisav
• Devorah was important enough to be mentioned - perhaps because she gave Yaakov's wives and children a small sample of who Rivkah was
• the loss of Devorah was directly linked to the loss of Rivkah
• IMPORTANT - It is important to expose our children to holy individuals of the older generation

Vayeshev: Yehuda and Tamar

• Yehuda - Tamar was descendant of Noach's son, Shem
• Talmud - Tamar went to Avraham's tomb to pray for the privilege to marry and bear a child
• Tamar was willing to give up her life rather than directly shame Yehudah

Miketz: Yosef and Osnas

• Osnas - Dinah conceived Osnas from Sh’chem
• Yaakov sent Osnas to Egypt, fearing Shimon and Levi might kill her;. Yaakov wrote her amulet to wear
• Yosef saw the amulet, he married Osnas, who remained pure in Egypt
• G-d guides every person to to find a proper mate

Vayigash: Serach

• Serach bas Asher informs Yaakov that Yosef is alive
• Midrash - Serach broke the news gently, playing the harp; Yaakov promised she wouldn't taste death

Vayigash: Serachs Greatness

• She is the only daughter of the shvatim listed when the family members are counted
• Before the exodus, Serach confirmed Moshe and Aharon as legitimate redeemers - pakod pakadti
• Serach identified the place to retrieve Yosef's bones
• Da'as Z'keinim uses the word "name" referring to Serach, hinting that she was known for her good
• Serach's greatness was in how she lived

Vayigash: Yocheved's Birth

• Vayigash - Yocheved is born as the Bnei Yisrael enter Egypt
• Not one moment of exile could pass without Hashem preparing the seeds of redemption - Yocheved

Vayechi: Special Blessing

• Vayechi- Ephraim and Menashe receive a special blessing from Yaakov - sons like Ephraim and Menashe, daughter like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, and Leah
• Ephraim and Menashe maintained their commitment to their family's faith
• Besuel had rights to carnal relations with any girl before she got married; Lavan notorious for dishonesty

Shmos: Miriam and Yocheved

• Miriam and Yocheved saved the Jewish babies from Paroh's decrees
• Rashi - Shifrah and “Puah” beautifying the infant a
• Rav Yaakov Ruderman true a great greatness in day-to-day actions: some are minor, others are more important
• Rav Shmuel Rozovsky -Despite high spititial levels, they were women first
• Levovitz -Ven the most minor work, is significant

Shmos: Moshe Daughter

• They are mentioned by the names that refer to their work
• • Paroh gave them Egyptian names to try to make them identify with his agenda.
• Basya - finalize her conversion to to see baby
• Saving helped her overcome

Va'eira": Aharon

• "Aharon took Elisheva - look into child”
• Elisheva -she laughs last day of the week- chayal

Beshalach: Hashem

• they trusted - anticipate to be in Mitzrayirm
• miracles Moshe - Miram - the women focuses
• just the horse assist the woman assist

Yisro: Moshe and the Torah

• Tziporah - When Aharon had told Moshe - fathers where remain exit
• To - a woman must step to do work

Yisro: Bein Yisrael

• “So"
• • say to beis- soft - somar be told be heard
• Bechaye their
• Mitzvot -because of the enthusiasm

Mishpatim: A Man Sells

• Mishpatim slaves: this may be positive and care be
• master
• marry respect the free

Mishpatim: Pain of the Vidiw

• • magnifies advice ears
• and

Ki Sisa: Copper Mirrors

• Ssia:mirrios the used - labor of the
• originally

- Chru- women leader Miriram

Vayakhel Women Jewelry

• -indicates

-them - they were