* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary. Parshas Ki Sisa For the week ending 18 Adar Rishon 5755 17 & 18 February 1995 =========================================================================== Parsha Questions 1. How was the census taken? 2. What were the three different types of terumah donated? 3. List two times when the Jewish People were counted. 4. Kings were annointed with oil that was poured on their heads in the shape of what object? 5. How many ingredients comprise the incense of the Mishkan? 6. What is the difference between chochma (wisdom), bina (understanding), and da'as (knowledge)? 7. Shabbos is "a sign" (31:13). What does it signify? 8. What is the penalty for violating Shabbos if the witnesses do not warn the violator? 9. Why did Aaron build the altar for the golden calf by himself? 10. Who were the "mixed multitude"? 11. Why did Hashem tell Moshe, "Let Me alone...and I will consume them" (32:10)? 12. Why did Moshe break the Tablets? 13. How can two brothers belong to two different tribes? 14. Rather than wipe out the Jewish People for the sin of the golden calf, Hashem agreed to punish them gradually. How did this affect the Jewish People throughout history? 15. What is a textual source for referring to "travel to Israel" as "Aliyah"? 16. In verse 33:2, Hashem says that the inhabitants of Eretz Canaan would be driven out of the Land. In that verse, only six of the seven Canaanite nations are mentioned. What happened to the seventh? 17. Which events took place on these dates: a) 17 Tamuz; b) 18 Tamuz; c) 19 Tamuz; d) 1 Elul; e) 10 Tishrei; f) 1 Nisan? 18. How did Hashem show that He forgave the Jewish People? 19. Why is Hashem "slow to anger"? 20. How many times is the ban on meat and milk mentioned, and why? Bonus QUESTION: Even though the Torah generally calls a person by his name and the name of his father, the Torah calls Betzalel after his father's and grandfather's names (31:2). Why? I Did Not Know That! "My Shabbos you shall keep...And you shall keep my Shabbos..." (31:13-14) The double commandment "keep my Shabbos" teaches that we should add to the Shabbos day a little in the beginning and a little at the end. Rabbenu Bachai =========================================================================== Answers to this Week's Questions All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated 1. 30:12 - Through the donation of a half-shekel per person. 2. 30:15 - For the Adanim (sockets), for the purchase of communal sacrifices, and for the building of the Mishkan. 3. 30:16 - After Yom Kippur of the first year, and in Iyar of the second year. 4. 30:26 - In the shape of a crown. 5. 30:34 - Eleven ingredients were used making the incense. 6. 31:3 - Chochma is knowledge acquired from others. Bina is the deduction of new knowledge from what one has already learned. Da'as is holy inspiration. 7. 31:13 - It is a sign between Hashem and the Jewish People that He has chosen them and a sign to the nations of the world that He has sanctified the Jewish People. 8. 31:14 - Kares (excision). 9. 32:5 - He hoped that by building it by himself it would take longer and in the interim Moshe would return. 10. 32:7 - The non-Jews who came out of Egypt, who Moshe accepted and converted. 11. 32:10 - To hint to Moshe that if he would intercede on behalf of the Jewish People, Hashem would not consume them. 12. 32:19 - Moshe reasoned: If the Torah did not permit those who have estranged themselves from the Torah to partake in even a single commandment (Pesach sacrifice), surely the entire Torah cannot be given to a whole nation who has estranged itself from Hashem! 13. 32:27 - Half-brothers, sharing the same mother. 14. 32:34 - Whenever Hashem punished the Jewish People, part of that punishment comes as payment for the sin of the golden calf. 15. 33:1 - The words "lech aleh" (depart and go up). 16. 33:2 - The seventh nation, the Girgashites, voluntarily emigrated. 17. 33:11 - a) Moshe came down from Har Sinai and broke the Tablets. b) Moshe burned the golden calf and punished the offenders. c) Moshe went up a second time to Har Sinai. d) Moshe went up a third time to Har Sinai. e) Hashem forgave the Jewish people and gave Moshe the Second Tablets. f) The Mishkan was completed. 18. 33:14 - He agreed to let His Shechina dwell among them. 19. 34:6 - To give the sinner a chance to repent. 20. 34:26 - Three times -- to prohibit eating, deriving benefit and cooking. Bonus ANSWER: Betzalel's grandfather was Chur, the son of Miriam and Kalev. Chur was killed when he protested the making of the golden calf. Since the Mishkan comes to atone for the sin of the golden calf, Chur, who gave his life trying to prevent that sin, is mentioned in connection with the Mishkan. Da'as Zekainim =========================================================================== What do you do with Parsha Q&A? Barbara S. Schur, of Sarasota, Florida writes: "Thank you for making these various writings available to us. your Torah Weekly and Parasha Q&A help my husband and me better understand the weekly portion. We study the Parasha and quiz each other with the Q&A. Many thanks." What do you do with Parsha Q&A? Fax, E-mail, post, even Fedex your responses -- we'll share them with all the Q&A readers! ============================================================================= Are you subscribed to the OS-SPECIAL list? 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