* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha with Rashi Parshas Ki Sisa For the week ending 15 Adar 5754 25 & 26 February 1994 ========================================================================= Parsha Questions 1. Why does the word "Terumah" appear three times (in verses 30:13,14,15)? 2. List two times when the Jewish People were counted. 3. Why are there two citations of the penalty for a Kohen who does not ritually wash himself? 4. How did the olive oil for anointing acquire its fragrance? 5. How did the anointing of Kings differ from other anointings? 6. How many ingredients comprise the incense of the Mishkan, and how many are identified in the Chumash? 7. Which three dimensions of wisdom did Betzalel possess? 8. What is the penalty for violating Shabbos if the witnesses do not warn the violator? 9. Which events took place on these dates: a) 7 Sivan; b) 17 Tamuz; c) 18 Tamuz; d) 19 Tamuz e) 1 Elul; f)10 Tishrei; g) 1 Nisan. 10. What two "stalling tactics" did Aaron adopt until Moshe's arrival? 11. Who were the "mixed multitude"? 12. Why did Moshe break the Tablets? 13. How can two brothers belong to two different tribes? 14. What is a textual source for referring to "travel to Israel" as "Aliyah"? 15. What two dimensions of prayer are referred to in psukim 32:13 and 33:19? 16. What aspect of HaShem did Moshe perceive? 17. Why did the Torah forbid eating food and wine offered to idols? 18. How many times is the ban on meat and milk mentioned, and why? Bonus Question In the list of the "13 Attributes of Hashem", the name "Hashem" appears twice. Rashi explains that the name "Hashem" refers to the attribute of mercy, and is repeated to teach that Hashem is merciful, both before a person sins, and also after he repents. Why does a person need mercy before he sins? I Did Not Know That! The Ten Commandments were inscribed on two Tablets and not on only one in order to symbolize: o Heaven and Earth o Chassan and Kalla o Two Shushvinim (Escorts - Moshe and Aaron) o This-World and The World-to-Come. ========================================================================= Answers to Last Week's Questions - Parshas Tetzaveh Parsha Questions All references are to Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated. 1. 27:20 - The olives were pounded and not ground, and only the first drops were used. 2. 27:20 - Ner - every night; 29:42 - Olah - every day; 30:8 - K'tores - every day. 3. 28:6 - Five materials: Gold thread; blue, purple, and scarlet yarn; fine linen. 4. 28:10 - Fifty letters. 5. 28:15 - 1) The claims of the litigants; 2) The court's decision; 3) The court's punishment. 6. Here it means a clear-cut decision. 7. 28:17-21 - Reuven -- Odem; Yehuda -- Nofech; Yosef -- Shoham 8. 28:30 - Urim V'tumim. 9. 28:35 - Death. 10. 28:4,36,40,42 - A Kohen Hediot wore 4 garments: Kesones, Michnasayim, Avnet and Migba'as; A Kohen Gadol wore 8: Kesones, Michnasayim, Avnet, Mitznefes, Me'il, Ephod, Choshen & Tzitz. 11. Three types: Lechem Matzos, Chalos Matzos, Rekikei Matzos. 12. 29:2,7 - Matzos; Kohanim. 13. 29:4 - And you shall wash them with water. 14. 29:1,14 - This sacrifice atones for the sin of the golden calf, and it is the only sin-offering that is completely burned. 15. 29:12,16 - Only for a sin-offering is blood sprinkled with a finger. 16. Beneath the hands of the owners of the korban. 17. 29:30 - "The Kohen (who will be) in his place, of his sons". 18. Oil for the Menorah must come only from beaten olives. Oil for meal- offerings may come from beaten olives or from ground-up olives. 19. 29:43 - "And it shall be sanctified by My glory". 20. 30:3 - They all had crowns. The Crown of the incense-Altar symbolizes the Crown of Kehuna. Bonus Question Question: Why does the command to make an Altar for the incense occur after the other details of building the Mishkan, and not beforehand with the commands to make the Menorah and the Table? Answer: The existence of the incense-Altar is not imperative for the burning of the incense in the Mishkan. The lamps may not be kindled without the Menorah and the Korban Olah may not be offered without the Mizbe'ach. However, the incense may be burned in the place of the Mizbe'ach, and therefore the Mizbe'ach is mentioned at the end. 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