Wednesday, November 6, 2013

4 Questions On The Parsha

Leah was SOOOOO happy that she had more than her portion of children [she was only supposed to have 3], so when number four was born, she called him Yehuda "הפעם אודה את השם" - This time I will thank Hashem. Then it says that she stopped having babies ותעמוד מלדת.

Four questions from the Rebbe Shlita:

1] Why didn't she call her son אודה. Why יהודה? I think that אודה is a really nice name. [I actually wanted to name one of my twin sons אודה. But I never had twins....]

2] Why does she only thank Hashem because she received MORE than her portion. Shouldn't she thank Hashem for EVERYTHING? Each child deserves special thanks, not just the extras.

3] Why does the Torah say ONLY ABOUT LEAH ותעמוד מלדת and not about any of the other imahos? Why? They also stopped giving birth at some point.

4] The gemara [Brachos 7] says that Leah was the first person to thank Hashem. Odd, as there are medrashim that Adam thanked Hashem, Noach thanked Hashem and Eliezer thanked Hashem. They were a bit before Leah?