Shtikel Gevaldik Vort
We know that all the avot kept the whole Torah. (see Torat Hayim on Avodah Zarah) If this is true then how come Avraham didn’t give himself a circumcision even before he was even commanded? The G”RIZ (Yitzchak Ze’ev Soloveithcik) explains that before Avraham was commanded in this mitzvah, the orlah, did not have the same status and was not forbidden. It was only after Hashem’s commandment that Avraham can now fulfill this task. Similarly when we try and understand how Yaakov could have married two sisters. We know this is forbidden in the Torah. The answer is that before the Torah, there was no idea as such since in the world of gentile marriages, it is not forbidden to marry sisters. (there are some obvious questions on this though).

Riddle of the Week
New – In what situation would two people in the same place be obligated to make the same Kiddush on different nights?
Old- There are a bunch of couples mentioned in Tanach that begin with the same name. How many can you name? Answer – Noach and Na’ama, Eisav and Adah, Aharon and Elisheva, Otniel and Achsah, Achav and Izevel, Esther and Achashverosh

Sheila with no Teshuva
If Mashiach comes, it will eventually lead to the end of time. According to Rav Sadiya Gaon it will last for a period of 500 years. Whatever the case may be, why do we wish for this? Also if the redemption came 1000 years ago, would that mean that world would no longer be in existence? Was Gods plan to end the world, and that’s it?

Famous (yet not so well known) Machloket L'shem Shomayim
There is a famous machloket as to when the world was created. This has ramifications to last week’s parsha. According to Rabbi Yehoshua the flood would have taken place in Iyar. Rabbi Eliezer says that the second month that Torah is referring to is the month of Cheshvan. Therefore the flood occurred during Cheshvan.

Mi Anachnu u’meh Chayenu??
Rav Yechezkel Sarna was born in Horodok in 1890. At the age of 11 he went to study in Slobodka but after a year switched to another yeshiva in Moltshe. Once again a year later he returned to Slobodka to learn under a different Rabbi, Rav Chaim of Telz. After controversy surrounding its yeshiva and it’s closure in 1906 he returned to Moltshe to learn under Rabbi Shimon Shkop. Eventually he would make his way back to Slobodka to learn under the Alter Rebbe, Nosson Tzvi Finkel. At a young age he was recognized as one of the prominent talmidim of the yeshiva. Rav Sarna tried to escape the draft but was eventually taken to prison. He escaped and made his way to take refuge with the Chofetz Chaim who quickly noticed this young man’s brilliant mind. He later married Rav Moshe Mordechai Epstein daughter. Rabbi Sarna moved to Palestine later on and began studying in Chevron under Rav Finkel. After the Rosh Yeshiva’s death (Rav Finkel) in 1927, Rav Sarna took over many roles in the yeshiva delivering shiurim and mussar. In 1929 the yeshiva suffered a major blow from the riots. 24 yeshiva students were amongst the 67 dead. Rav Sarna amongst other moved the yeshiva to Jerusalem, and eventually in 1934 became Rosh Yeshiva upon the death of his father-in-law. He produced many talmidim and many seforim. Rav Sarna was niftar on the 6th of Elul and buried on Mount Olives.

Mekomot Shel Yehudim
http://www.shofar.net/Content/Kitzur_Shulchan.htm?id=5417 - here is a copy of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch.

Mah Zeh
Yovel – This occurs after 7 shemittah cycles. There is a machloket whether the 50th year is included in the new cycle, or the new cycle begins in the 51st year. In this year all slaves are freed, and all land in Israel goes back to their original owners. The Gemara in Masechet Rosh Hashanna mentions that the shofar is blown on Yom Kippur to symbolize the beginning of the Yovel year even though it technically starts on Rosh Hashanna. Rabbi Yechonan ben Beroka disagrees and stated that in fact Yom Kippur begins the Yovel year.