When listing the generations between Adam and Noach, the Torah first says when each person had his 'important' son, then how long he lived after that, and then how long he lived altogether. For example (Bereishis 5:3-5): ויחי אדם שלשים ומאת שנה ויולד בדמותו כצלמו ויקרא את שמו שת: ויהיו ימי אדם א...

In Bereishis 11:12, when recounting the lifespan of the descendants of Noach, it is written: וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֣ד חַ֔י חָמֵ֥שׁ וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־שָֽׁלַח… וְשֶׁ֥לַח חַ֖י שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיּ֖וֹלֶד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃ Why specifically about these two does the Torah say חי as opposed to...

What should I do if I am unsure of the status of a hostage that I took responsibility to daven for? I don’t know if they are still hostage, freed, or Chas v’shalom not alive anymore.

Shalom. Is there an exhaustive list of halakhic legal statuses (for people) available anywhere? I’ve come across more than one instance in my own life where I could not fathom my own halakhic legal status. Many thanks for your time.

The chachamim learn halachos even from individual letters so there is nothing extra in the Torah. That being so what do we learn from וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן being recited throughout creation? Also rather than וַֽיְהִי־כֵֽן on the first day it repeats וַֽיְהִי־אֽוֹר. What's different about אֽוֹר from the r...