Parsha Q&A

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas V'zos Habracha

For the week ending 20 Tishrei 5756; 13 & 14 October 1995

Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

    • Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. Prior to giving the Torah to the Jewish People, Hashem offered it to other nations. Name two of them.
    2. In what manner was the Torah written before it was given at Mt. Sinai?
    3. When the nations oppress the Jewish People, how do the righteous people react?
    4. Why is Yehuda blessed immediately after Reuven?
    5. Where is Shimon's blessing found in the Parsha?
    6. What covenant (bris) did the Tribe of Levi safeguard?
    7. Why was Binyamin blessed before Yosef?
    8. Which Tribe received the "best" portion of Eretz Yisrael?
    9. Why did Yehoshua need to conquer 31 kings if there were only 7 Canaanite nations?
    10. Who are the "thousands of Menashe"? (33:17)
    11. What was the partnership between Zevulun and Yissachar?
    12. Which five tribes were the weakest?
    13. What three things did the land of Zevulun possess?
    14. How did Zevulun "call people to the mountain"? (33:19)
    15. In which direction did Gad's territory extend?
    16. Why did Gad desire to inherit the land of Sichon and Og?
    17. In whose territory was the source of the Jordan River?
    18. Which tribe possessed the Kinneret?
    19. What was Moshe shown on Mt. Nevo?
    20. Why was Moshe shown the Land of Israel?

    Bonus Question

    Answer | Contents

    The blessing to Yissachar (33:18) is the shortest one of any of the tribes, consisting of only two words. Considering that the Tribe of Yissachar was the most erudite in Torah, shouldn't Yissachar have received a more elaborate blessing?

    I Did Not Know That!

    All the righteous converts who would convert to Judaism in the future also stood at Mount Sinai.
    Ba'al HaTurim

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    33:6
    Why not Shimon?
    33:12
    The Shelter of Binyamin

    Sforno
    33:6
    Reuven's Blessing
    33:7
    Shimon's Blessing
    33:17
    The Kingship of Yosef
    33:25-6
    The Collective Blessing

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

    All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

    1. 33:2 - Edom and Yishmael.
    2. 33:2 - Black fire on white fire.
    3. 33:3 - They continue to cleave to Him.
    4. 33:7 - Both of them confessed their sin.
    5. 33:7 - It is hidden in the blessing of Yehuda.
    6. 33:9 - Bris Mila (circumcision).
    7. 33:12 - Because the Beis HaMikdash was built in Binyamin's portion, and "more beloved" than the Mishkan which was in Yosef's portion.
    8. 33:13 - The Tribe of Yosef.
    9. 33:17 - Since the Land was so desirable, many foreign kings acquired property there.
    10. 33:17 - The thousands of Midianites slain by Gideon, a descendant of Menashe.
    11. 33:18 - Zevulun engaged in commerce and provided for Yissachar, who sat and studied Torah. They shared their reward in this world and in the World to Come.
    12. 33:18 - The Tribes of Zevulun, Gad, Dan, Naftali, and Asher.
    13. 33:19 - Taris, a type of fish; Chilazon, a mollusk whose blood was needed for the techeles (a blue dye needed for tzitzis); and a type of sand needed for white glass.
    14. 33:19 - Foreigners who engaged in business with Zevulun would travel to Eretz Yisrael. They would desire to convert after seeing the Jewish People in all their splendor.
    15. 33:20 - Eastward.
    16. 33:21 - Because Moshe was to be buried in it.
    17. 33:22 - The Tribe of Dan.
    18. 33:23 - The Tribe of Naftali.
    19. 34:1-3 - All that would happen to the Jewish People and to Eretz Yisrael until the time for the resurrection of the dead.
    20. 34:4 - So that he could testify before the Avos that Hashem has fulfilled His promise to them.

    Answer to Bonus Question

    Question | Contents

    "Be happy in your tents" (33:18) means to be happy in your dwelling places in both this world and in the World to Come. This is a comprehensive blessing. Yissachar merited contentment in this world that is obtained by those who are diligent in Torah, and also merited a reward in the World to Come that is reserved for those who engage in Torah study.
    Rabbeinu Bachya

    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
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