himself (Rashbam). (3) The Shechina, Who descended with Bnei Yisrael to Mitzrayim (Medrash haGadol). (4) Only 69 actually went, but the Torah rounds it off to 70 (Rosh).
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Q-5. (a) (1) Why did Ya’akov send Yehuda to Mitzrayim ahead of the family (2 reasons)? (2) Why did Yosef not open the yeshiva? (b) (1) When Yosef met Ya’akov and cried on his shoulder, why did Ya’akov not cry on Yosef’s shoulder (2 explanations)? (2) Why did Yosef not also recite the Shema? (c) Why did Avraham, Yitzchak, Ya’akov and his sons become shepherds (5 explanations)? (Bereishit 46:28-32)
A-5. (a) (1) To (i) establish a Torah study house (Rashi). (ii) determine the best route to Goshen, avoiding contact with the immoral Mitzrim (Radak). (2) Since Yehuda had learned with his rebbi, Ya’akov, for 22 years, while Yosef did not, Yehuda was more qualified (Bereishit Raba). (b) (1) (i) Ya’akov was reciting the Shema (Rashi) to thank Hashem for this joy (Maharal). (ii) In fact, it was Ya’akov, the aged parent, who fell on his son’s shoulder (Ramban). (2) Yosef was doing in the mitzvah of honoring his father and was absolved from the mitzvah to recite the Shema (Siftei Chachamim). (c) Shepherding (1) separated them from idolaters who worshiped sheep and despised shepherds (R. Bechaya). (2) caused them to be alone and avoid big-city sins of gossip, slander, immorality, thievery and falsehood (R. Munk). (3) requires less physical exertion than agriculture, leaving more time to think about Hashem and do chesed; (4) instills traits of kindness and generosity by caring for needy animals (R. Hirsch). (5) was a profession not looked upon as a threat to the governments in Cana’an and Mitzrayim (Ha’amek Davar).
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Q-6. (a) (1) Why did Hashem punish Ya’akov for telling Pharaoh, “few and bad have been the years of my life”? (2) How was he punished? (b) Why do we eat romaine lettuce at the seder? (c) Why did Yosef not take the priests’ land in return for food (3 reasons)? (Bereishit 47:8-9,22)
A-5. (a) (1) Ya’akov should have appreciated all Hashem had done – saving him from Eisav, Lavan and Shechem and the return of Dinah and Yosef; (2) Ya’akov lived until 147 – 33 years less than Yitzchak, corresponding to the 33 words in these 2 verses (Chizkuni). (b) Romaine lettuce first tastes fine but leaves a bitter taste – Ya’akov’s going to Mitzrayim at first was fine, but later, Bnei Yisrael were embittered (Yerushalmi Pesachim 2:5). (c) (1) Due to Pharaoh’s subsidy, the priests did not need to sell their land; (2) to teach Bnei Yisrael not to hesitate to give kohanim and levi’im the tithes (Moshav Zekeinim). (3) Yosef rewarded their defending him when Potifar was going to kill him (Targum Yonatan).
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Q-7. In the haftara, the Navi says that Bnei Yisrael “will dwell on the land I gave to My servant Ya’akov” – since He had promised Eretz Yisrael to Avraham and Yitzchak too, why does the Navi specify the land that He gave to Ya’akov? (Yechezkeil 37:25)
A-7. Avraham and Yitzchak each had a son, Yishmael and Eisav, respectively, whose offspring had no share in the land – only Bnei Yisrael, the offspring of all of Ya’akov’s sons, will inherit all of Eretz Yisrael in yemot haMashiach (Radak).