Question
BSD. I think there is a Midrash that teaches us that the 70 souls going into Mitzrayim did not include the wives of the sons of Yaakov Avinu. Does anyone know anything about this? Does the count include the wives? Can someone please tell me who are counted in the 70 souls? Thanks

Question
In most English translations of Zechariah 3:9, it says, “I will remove the iniquity of that land…” My question is about the article “that.” Is there a clear distinction in scriptural Hebrew between articles such as “a,” “the,” “this,” and “that?” Would it be incorrect to translate the verse as “the land,” rather than “that land?”

Question
Jews have been scattered among nations for most of their history. Babylon, Spain, Eastern Europe, Turk empire, and so on. In fact, HaShem said in Torah that He will scatter Jews. Why are Jews scattered in a certain era and in a certain region? Why are Jews in 17th century in Eastern Europe? Is there any reason that Jews have been in a specific region in a specific era?

Question
Dear Rabbi: A student came to me the other day with the following question in reference to Genesis 15:13: "Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them 400 years." The young man is a Russian Jew who has become very interested in Judaism and is trying very hard to understand things from a Jewish perspective. Perhaps you would be willing to send me an opinion on this passage? He was very disturbed by it, commenting that he could not understand how G-d would willingly allow his people to be enslaved for 400 years. I would very much appreciate an answer from one of your rabbis on this. Many thanks.  

Question
I have a question not about faith, but about lineage. This whole ancestry thing has gotten so popular as so many are shelling out a lot of money to find out where they came from. But in the Tanach the Jews kept incredible records pertaining to ancestry. Are most Jews still able to trace their lineage way back, or was that just an ancient thing?