More Discussions for this daf
1. Washing before reentering the Beis ha'Mikdash 2. Avos were Mekayem the Torah 3. Avos keeping Mitzvos
4. Question on Insights to the Daf 5. Separate Kohen for Kabalas ha'Dam 6. Who said He'ir Pnei ha'Mizrach
7. Lottery for the Limbs of the Afternoon Tamid 8. Ayal or Ayeles? 9. Avraham Kept the Torah
10. מתני' תמיד 11. אליעזר עבד אברהם
DAF DISCUSSIONS - YOMA 28

Shmuel Horowitz asks:

The Gemara says that Avrohom observed the whole Torah. Does it say anywhere whether Yitzchok and Yaakov also observed the whole Torah?

Shmuel Horowitz, Brooklyn, NY, United States

The Kollel replies:

Your question is a starting point for countless Derashos and Divrei Torah. I'll try to give the main sources to answer you. There is no clearcut answer so I will just bring the main sources.

1) As you know, the Gemara in Yoma and Kidushin (82a) mentions only Avraham as someone who was Mekayem the entire Torah.

2) Rashi (Bereishis 32:5) comments on Yakov Avinu's words, "Im Lavan Garti" -- "v'Taryag Mitzvos Shamarti."

The Sifri (Ha'azinu 336) says that Yakov fulfilled all of the Torah. The Midrash (Tana d'Vei Eliyahu Rabah, ch. 7) brings a much longer list. Adam, Noach (see also Rashi to Bereishis 7:2, and Eruvin 18a), Yitzchak, Yakov (see also Bereishis Rabah 11:7), Yehudah, Yosef (see also Bereishis Rabah 92:4, and Bamidbar Rabah 14:2). However, it does not say that all of them were Mekayem the entire Torah, but rather that they "were Mekayem the Torah."

3) The Ramban (Bereishis 26; 5) assumes that just as Avraham (and Yosef) fulfilled all of the Torah commandments, it is assumed that Yakov did too, and he goes on to explain how he was permitted to marry two sisters.

4) The Rema (Teshuvos ha'Rama, ch. 10) assumes just the opposite, that since Yakov married two sisters, we may assume that only Avraham was Mekayem the Torah, while his children fulfilled just the seven commandments of Bnei Noach.

5) The Da'as Zekenim (Bereishis 37:35) suggests that Yitzchak and Yakov chose which Mitzvos they wanted to fulfill.

6) See also Maharal (Tiferes Ysrael, ch. 19-20, and elsewhere) who discusses this issue at length.

As I said, there is much more to add about this, but this will suffice for now.

Kol Tuv,

Aharon Steiner