Alright, here goes! My chapter-by-chapter thoughts:
#Genesis1 It’s nice how familiar this chapter is. I like knowing it all so well. @Project929 https://twitter.com/morah_sarah/status/1024459294929022976

#Genesis2 It’s just so interesting that so many traditional texts start with origin stories. This is where the rivers come from, the animals, their names, etc @Project929

#Genesis3 Odd that Eve’s eyes weren’t opened until after she gave it to Adam. Why not earlier? Also, who is God talking to? Similar to in ch. 2. @Project929

#Genesis4 Verses 14 and 16 seem explicitly like God is only in one place, & not where Cain goes. I’d never noticed that before. @Project929

#Genesis5 Interesting that Noah’s name is given an explanation, I wonder how the others were chosen.
Also, the always question: What does it mean, Chanoch walked with God?
@Project929

#Genesis6 I definitely never realized some of the practicalities given in the instructions for the ark. Make it with 3 levels. Be sure to store away food to eat. @Project929

#Genesis7 What was it like to be in the ark, while the waters rose? Could you hear people banging on the side? Was the rain pounding or just constant? What does it mean that the waters came not only as rain from the sky, but also “All the fountains of the great deep.” @Project929

#Genesis8 I was absolutely struck by the beauty of 2 verses I’m not sure I ever really read inside, despite knowing the story well. v9, and v 22 “So long as the earth endures, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Summer and winter, Day and night Shall not cease.” @Project929

#Genesis9 I’m always struck by what the world must have looked like. Dead plants and trees, dead and bloated and rotting bodies of humans and beasts. No wonder Noach wanted to have a drink! Not only that, but maybe also some survivor’s guilt? @Project929

#Genesis10 I mapped this all out and have a bunch of thoughts. Here’s one: Yoktan had 13 sons, all of whom we get by name, but never more. Why are ALL of these great-great-great-grandchildren of Shem mentioned, when we don’t follow the rest of their list? @Project929

#Genesis11 In the story Tower of Babel, I was struck that the people were afraid of being scattered (11:4) when it seems from they were already scattered.
Also, most of the men had children in their 30s, yet lived hundreds more years. Were there another fifty kids? @Project929

#Genesis12 I’m intrigued by the many places Avram et al. go in quick succession. Charan, Shechem Elon Moreh, between Beit El and Ai, toward the Negev, Egypt.
How long did these journeys take? Was this over a few months? Years? @Project929

#Genesis13 I probably knew this before, but I am quite struck by how easily God talks to Avram. Not on a mountaintop, or in a dream, but naturally, like how God spoke with Adam and Eve. @Project929

#Genesis14 I really like the Melchi-Tzedek was the first to call God El Elyon Koneh Shamayim v’Aretz (v19). Reminds me of how Yitro is the first to say Baruch Hashem in Shemot 18:10. I like seeing how non-Jews influence ancient-until-modern Jewish language and prayer. @Project929

#Genesis15 Avram’s reaction to God’s promises are interesting. “Ok, since I don’t actually have kids of my own, just checking in, this will all go to Eliezer?” (v2-3)
Also, his descendants will be enslaved for 400 years but will return in the 4th generation (v13v16)? @Project929

#Genesis16 I've never had much sympathy for her, but Sarai has followed Avram to Canaan, to Egypt, and back. God talks to him all the time. And now God is even speaking to Hagar. No wonder she feels so resentful! @Project929

#Genesis17 Sarah is really pushed out of the story. I knew Yitzchak was named for laughter but assumed it was Sarah’s. But it seems to be Avraham’s! (v17-19) Also, her name gets changed without her being told directly, only her husband is told her name is now changed? @Project929

#Genesis18 On the one hand, I was struck by how much Avraham ordered people around (Sarah, the servant) when the messengers arrived, but when you think about how he’s already the chieftain of 100s, it’s remarkable how much he does do for the messengers personally. @Project929

#Genesis19 I hate that Lot protects the strangers since “they came under the shelter of my roof,” yet offers his daughters? Though I read that Lot’s daughters in a way respond to this. They had been offered to be raped, later, they are shown raping their own father. @Project929

#Genesis20 Avimelech speaks with God (in a dream) back and forth. I’m not sure I ever realized that. Is he considered a prophet? Is Balaam?
Also, how long was Sarah taken by Avimelech, that the barrenness of all the women of his people would have been noticed? @Project929

#Genesis21 I totally don’t get the whole Avraham and Phicol parts. What role did Phicol serve at all here? Did I miss something?

Also, a bit confused about the well dispute. How is it that Avraham presenting 7 ewes is proof that Avraham’s people dug the well? @929english

#Genesis22 Artists’ depictions of Isaac during the Binding (+ Rashi) all have Isaac as a fully grown man at this scene. It does really change the dynamic of this narrative, to think of him an young man, and because of his father’s age, likely the stronger one of the two of them.

#Genesis23 I wasn’t surprised by anything here, but found an idea from R’ Gitler interesting. He noted that usually Avraham surrounds himself with people - family, followers, messengers, God. Yet in this entire chapter of the sale of the cave, he is all alone. It’s very striking.

#Genesis24 This 1st intro to Rebecca shows she’s going to be a lead character. Her family wants her to stay, they ask her opinion, & she says she wants to go. Her family knows she needs to be involved in this decision. Also a preview to how she behaves in the future. @929english

#Genesis25
1) Wow, Rivka talks to God & gets a response. Like Hagar (and unlike Sarah)
2) The qualities that we later see in Jacob w/ how he deals with his FIL, clearly are beginning here w/ the buying of the birthright. (And it will become clear from whom he got those qualities)

#Genesis26 There are some very short verses here. 26:3 has 3 words, 26:4 has 4. I wonder if they somehow parallel the simplicity of the character of Isaac.
Also, Beer Sheva is named here in 26:32, when it was also named in 21:31. Ibn Ezra’s response is not satisfying @929english

#Genesis27 They're common words, but I was struck by Rivka’s 2x phrase שמע בקולי. I think of it as a prayerful phrase (שמע קולנו) but here it plans deceit.

Also, in my memory Rivka is the mastermind, yet while she plans it, Jacob explicitly lies to his father 3x (v 19, 20, 24).

#Genesis28 The tone Jacob has after his dream prophecy from God is striking.
1-God was in this place and he didn't know.
2-This must be God’s home,
3-And the gateway to heaven.
Knowing his parents’ and grandparent’s interactions with God, I’m surprised at how surprised he is.

#Genesis29 It’s very מידה כנגד מידה (karmic) for Jacob to be tricked similarly to what he did to Isaac but I still find it hard to believe. Even with the midrash that Rachel told Leah the “signs.” How can you accidentally sleep with the wrong woman after knowing them for 7 years!

#Genesis30 I have some questions about the lives of Bilhah and Zilpah, but also...

The whole spotted/striped goats thing is weird. Not just since it’s weird, tho it is. But it seems like Jacob asks if he can leave in 30:25…& then suddenly he’s staying for another year-ish? Huh?

#Genesis31 There’s so much detail in this chapter, and it feels a bit out of place. It’s surprising to hear Jacob explaining to his wives why they will leave, when we never heard anything similar in previous family journeys.

What’s up with פחד יצחק or Fear of Isaac? @929english

#Genesis32 Some questions on Jacob wrestling with the “man”: Why does Jacob demand a blessing before he allows the “man” to leave? Why does the “man” not know Jacob’s name? Is he some kind of vampire that he needs to leave suddenly because “dawn is breaking?” (v27-28) @929english

#Genesis33 I wonder how much of Esav’s interactions w/ Yaakov are heartfelt & how much are save face. Does he genuinely want to reunite with his brother? Does he want them to live together? Or is he just saying it.

Also, you should check out Yakov Azriel’s poems at @929english.

#Genesis34 The rape of Dina. A few questions, but mostly still thinking about the poem by Yakov Azriel. Wow. Check it out. https://www.929.org.il/lang/en/author/36669/post/38851 @929english @project929

#Genesis35 Lots of things get buried in this chapter: Devorah, Rachel, Isaac, even their foreign gods are buried in 35:4. I also find it interesting that Jacob changes BenOni’s name to Binyamin so it doesn’t have such a negative connotation, and yet of Leah’s first sons…?

#Genesis36 I don’t feel like I have much to say here. Lots of names of a side of the family we’re, frankly, not that interested in. The interesting things I found are how many women are mentioned, when women are so seldomly named in “our” genealogies.

#Genesis37 Joseph later has good interpersonal skills, so why does he tell his brothers about his dreams, when they already don’t like him?
What role does the man who guides Joseph to find his brothers serve (v 15-17)?
Where was Reuben when the brothers decide to sell Joseph?

#Genesis38 I knew the story of Judah & Tamar, but the way it’s presented, as this compact short story is literarily just so well done. I’m definitely appreciating it more. Also, check out @RAViKillip's insightful piece on the role and the power of widows. https://www.929.org.il/lang/en/today/post/39184

#Genesis39 I know that Joseph is described as beautiful, but hearing him described as יפה תאר ויפה מראה is very striking to me, because they seem like such feminine descriptors.

Also, TIL the Hebrew for “prison” appears nowhere else in the Bible other than in the Joseph story.

#Genesis40 Let’s just sit for a moment with the foreboding of that final verse. “Yet the chief cupbearer did not think of Joseph; he forgot him.” It reminds me of Exodus 1:8, “A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.” Chills.
@929english @Project929

#Genesis41 It's interesting that immediately after Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams via God, he immediately went into his own words, on how he needed to find someone wise to be in charge of managing the food supply. Not distinguishing between the interpretation and his plan.

#Genesis42 I find it interesting that they say they are 10 brothers, then say they are 12. They continue to count Joseph, despite him having been sold, by them, more than twenty years ago. @929english @project929

#Genesis43 I wonder how much Joseph’s servant was in on the whole thing. Something about the way he replied to them (v 23) gave me the impression that he knew what was up.
Also it’s fun to imagine the thoughts of the brothers when seated in age order “randomly.” Did they suspect?

#Genesis44 I really like hearing Judah’s full explanation to Joseph of why they can’t leave Benjamin. I feel like often, we only get snippets of what must have been larger exchanges. But this feels so complete and honest. Apparently, it’s the longest monologue in the Torah.

#Genesis45 my favorite detail of this chapter is that when Joseph sends his brothers to get their father, he adds “Do not be quarrelsome on the way” v 24.

I also like how happy this reunion seems to make Pharoah, so his close adviser doesn't need to remain w/o extended family.

#Genesis46 It’s interesting that God tells Jacob “I will go down with you to Egypt” in v 4, when it almost seems like God “forgot” the Israelites, until Ex 3:9, “Now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me.”

And what's the backstory of Saul the son of a Canaanite woman (v 10)?

#Genesis47 Which brothers did Joseph present to Pharaoh (v 2) when he only brought 5?
If shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians, why do they have cattle & sheep (v 17) to sell for food?
Would the Israelites have ended up enslaved if Joseph hadn’t made all Egyptians slaves here?

#Genesis48 I wonder about how Jacob is making Joseph’s sons like his own, but Jospeh’s other sons would be his. I don’t think he had more sons, but if he had, would we then have a 13th tribe?

Also, in v 2 he was called both Jacob and Israel in 1 verse. Has that happened before?

#Genesis49 It’s interesting that this is the 1st we hear of Leah's death, after she's been buried at Machpelah.

Looking at the 12 blessings, I noticed that Zebulun’s blessing (v 13) is the only 1 that mentions locations for the tribe, & it mentions 2! (by the seashore, at Sidon)

Yeah, I definitely didn't read that closely enough.
Simeon and Levi - "I will divide them in Jacob, Scatter them in Israel" (v 7).
Levi - a tribe without a portion in the Land.
Simeon - a tribe whose inheritance is incorporated into the territory of Judah.