Expert: Rabbi Yechezkel Fox - 12/30/2007

Question
Hi, I am not sure if I can post this here, but here goes...I have an essay for chumash to do-it has a lot of questions in it, but I cannot answer these 3:  1) What is the point of learning Sefer Breishit?  2) Why has Abraham chosen to be "av hamon hagoyim" (no idea what that is anyway)?  3) Why did Hashem choose Abraham and not Noach to recieve a special blessing?
**These answers do not need to be so long because there already a lot more questions, but I have to just give answers to these as well

Thanks so much!

Answer
Hello Stephanie,
               Here are what I think are the answers:-
1)We learn Sefer Bereishis, even though it has very few halachot, to teach us the right way to live. We learn from the character traits, the trials and the faith of the our Forefathers and mothers how a Jew is supposed to live.

2)"Av hamon hagoyim" means "father of a multitude of nations". He was given this title after Hashem made the Bris of Mila with him. From this point on he was in total control of his whole body and fitting  to become the spiritual father to all the nations.

3)Abraham got the special blessing because he cared about other people (i.e. he tried to bring them close to G-d)whereas Noach just looked out for himself.

I hope these help.

All the best,
Rabbi Yechezkel Fox