Parsha Q&A - Ki Sisa

Become a Supporter Library Library

Parsha Q&A

Parshas Ki Sisa

For the week ending 22 Adar I 5757; 28 February & 1 March 1997
This issue is sponsored Herschel Kulefsky, Attorney at Law
15 Park Row, New York, NY 10038
1-212-693-1671
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page
    • This publication is also available in the following formats: [Text] [Word] [PDF] Explanation of these symbols

    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. How many 'geira' are there in a shekel?
    2. What was the minimum age of military service in the Jewish army?
    3. What were the three different types of terumah donated?
    4. The Jews were counted after Yom Kippur and again after Pesach. Both times they numbered the same amount. How can this be? Didn't some 19 year olds turn 20 during that six month period?
    5. How many ingredients comprise the incense of the Mishkan?
    6. According to Rashi, why are sailors called 'malachim?'
    7. What is the difference between chochma (wisdom), bina (understanding), and da'as (knowledge)?
    8. Shabbos is a 'sign.' What does it signify?
    9. When did the Jewish People begin to give contributions for the building of the Mishkan?
    10. How many books are there in Tanach?
    11. From where did the men take the earrings that they donated to make the calf?
    12. Why did Aaron build the altar for the golden calf by himself?
    13. Why did Moshe break the Tablets?
    14. How can two brothers belong to two different tribes?
    15. Why did Moshe ask that his name be erased from the Torah?
    16. How has the sin of the golden calf affected the Jewish People throughout history?
    17. 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?
    18. How did Hashem show that He forgave the Jewish People?
    19. How did Moshe become wealthy?
    20. How do the light rays shining from Moshe's face show us the powerful effect of sin?
    Bonus Question
    Answer
    Contents
    "The rich man should not give more nor should the poor man give less than a half shekel to atone for their souls." (30:15)."
    Why shouldn't the rich man give more?

    I Did Not Know That!

    Hashem said to Moshe, "Whoever sins against Me, I will him erase from My book." (32:33)."

    This should be read as a rhetorical question: "Whoever sins against Me, will I erase him from My book?!" Hashem was telling Moshe: "You have asked Me to erase you from My book. But it is not My way to erase a person from My book, even a person who has sinned against Me."

    Maharil Diskin

    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

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

    1. 30:13 - Twenty.
    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 - Their ages were calculated based on Rosh Hashana, not based on their individual birthdays.
    5. 30:34 - Eleven ingredients were used making the incense.
    6. 30:35 - Because they stir (malach) the water with their oars.
    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. 31:18 - 24.
    11. 32:2,3 - From their ears.
    12. 32:5 - He hoped that by building it by himself it would take longer and in the interim Moshe would return.
    13. 32:19 - Moshe reasoned: If the Torah forbids 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!
    14. 32:27 - Half-brothers, sharing the same mother.
    15. 32:32 - So people shouldn't say "Moshe was unworthy to plead for mercy on behalf of the Jewish people."
    16. 32:34 - Whenever Hashem punishes the Jewish People, part of that punishment comes as payment for the sin of the golden calf.
    17. 33:2 - The seventh nation, the Girgashites, voluntarily emigrated.
    18. 33:14 - He agreed to let His Shechina dwell among them.
    19. 34:1 - Moshe carved the Tablets out of precious stone. Hashem commanded Moshe to keep the leftover fragments.
    20. 34:35 - Before the sin of the golden calf, the people would not have been afraid to look at the light rays, but after the sin they were afraid.
    Bonus Question
    Question
    Contents    		 So that by counting the half shekel coins, they will know how many people there are.
    Daas Zekenim Miba'alei Hatosfos
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Michael Treblow
    HTML Assistance:     Simon Shamoun
    © 1997 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.
    This publication is available via E-Mail
    Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

    The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

    Ohr Somayach's Web site is hosted by TeamGenesis

    Copyright © 1997 Ohr Somayach International. Send us Feedback.
    Dedication opportunities are available for Parsha Q&A. Please contact us for details.
    Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.