Parsha Q&A - Ki Sisa

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Ki Sisa

For the week ending 18 Adar 5756; 8 & 9 March 1996

Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • The Chronology of the Giving of the Torah According to Rashi
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

  • Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. How was the census taken?
    2. What was the minimum age of military service in the Jewish army?
    3. What were the three different types of terumah donated?
    4. List two times when the Jewish People were counted.
    5. How did the olive oil for anointing acquire its fragrance?
    6. How many ingredients comprise the incense of the Mishkan?
    7. What is the difference between chochma (wisdom), bina (understanding), and da'as (knowledge)?
    8. Shabbos is "a sign" (31:13). What does it signify?
    9. When did the Jewish People begin to give contributions for the building of the Mishkan?
    10. Why did Aaron build the altar for the golden calf by himself?
    11. Who were the "mixed multitude"?
    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
    Answer
    Contents
    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 not only before a person sins but also after he repents.
    Why does a person need mercy before he sins?

    I Did Not Know That!

    "I have called Betzalel...to devise clever work...and Oholiav...to make all that I have commanded." (31:2-6)
    The work of the Mishkan required a knowledge of design and of construction. Betzalel was in charge of the design of the Mishkan and Oholiav was in charge of its actual construction.
    Sifsei Kohen


    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    30:13
    "Lashon HaKodesh"
    30:19
    Washing Hands
    31:2
    Betzalel
    32:1-4
    The Golden Calf
    32:18
    Sounds
    33:11
    Yehoshua's Age
    34:27
    A Renewed Covenant
    34:28
    The Second Tablets

    Sefer Hachinuch
    105
    Equality in Sacrifices
    107-8
    Anointing

    Malbim
    28:5
    Trustworthy Treasurers
    28:30
    The "Urim V'Tumim"
    29:9
    Donning of the Kohen's Garments
    30:1
    The Incense-Altar
    30:12
    The Concept of Counting People
    31:2
    The Name Betzalel
    31:13
    A Taste of the World-to-Come

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

    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. 30:14 - Twenty.
    3. 30:15 - For the Adanim (sockets), for the purchase of communal sacrifices, and for the building of the Mishkan.
    4. 30:16 - After Yom Kippur of the first year, and in Iyar of the second year.
    5. 30:23-25 - It was mixed with spices.
    6. 30:34 - Eleven ingredients were used making the incense.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 31:18 - The 11th of Tishrei.
    10. 32:5 - He hoped that by building it by himself it would take longer and in the interim Moshe would return.
    11. 32:7 - The non-Jews who came out of Egypt, who Moshe accepted and converted.
    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 Question
    Question
    Contents
    Hashem is merciful and good to all His creations, and although He knows in advance that a person will sin, He still is merciful to that person.
    Sifsei Chachamim

    Hashem is Hashem whether a person sins or not, and this proves that Hashem is unchanging and not affected by human choice or action.
    The Maharal from Prague

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