Saints or Sinners?

The Biblical account of the destruction of Sedom raises many
questions. Amongst them: Why does the Torah imply that the angels defied G-d’s wishes by acting independently? Did Lot in fact direct his prayers to the angels? Was
his defense of the inhabitants of Tzoar that much better than Avraham’s
arguments to spare Sedom?

If Avraham was specifically
instructed to refrain from marrying a maidservant, how was he permitted to
marry Hagar? How could Avraham marry Hagar if Jews may not marry a first or second-generation
Egyptian convert? Was Hagar betrothed through a form of kiddushin or was
she considered a concubine? Was the marriage of Avraham and Hagar divinely
ordained?

Jews have always cherished the land of Israel, and yearned to be buried there upon their passing. They also seek to have their grave marked honorably, so as to enable loved ones to visit and pray. Yet Moshe Rabbeinu merited none of these, buried in “the Valley of Moab,” where “no person knows the place of his burial unto this day”.
Why was he assigned this fate? Does this somehow reflect his life’s unparalleled accomplishments?
(Hebrew)

Handling economic depressions is one of the duties of modern government. Yet when the Egyptians begged for food during the famine, Yosef enslaved them as payment. Wasn’t it his responsibility to provide food? Why did the Egyptians beg for food instead of demanding their due right?

The circumstances surrounding the birth of King David remain obscure. Legend has it that Nitzeves endured great personal sacrifice in mothering the Sweet Singer of Israel. How is this chapter in King David’s life understood through the lenses of Torah scholarship?

There are many covenants between G-d and the Jewish people described in the Torah, such as the covenants with Avraham, before Matan Torah, before entering Eretz Israel, as well as many others. What is the significance of each covenant according to the traditional and mystical meanings?