* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary. Parshas Korach For the week ending 26 Sivan 5755 (3 Tamuz 5755)* 23 & 24 June 1995 (30 June & 1 July 1995)* *week ending dates for locations outside of Israel =========================================================================== Announcing the Ohr Somayach Home Page on the World Wide Web! just point to "http://www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr/intro.html" ========================================================================== Parsha Questions 1. What did Korach "take"? 2. Why is Yaakov's name not mentioned in Korach's genealogy? 3. What motivated Korach to rebel? 4. Why did Moshe delay the confrontation with Korach's congregation until the next day? 5. What warning did Moshe give the rebels regarding the offering of the incense? 6. Korach knew prophetically that great men would descend from him. Who were the descendants of Korach? 7. What event did Korach not foresee? 8. What did Korach do the night before the final confrontation? 9. In verse 16:25, why did Moshe approach Dasan and Aviram? 10. Before what age is a person not punished by the Heavenly Tribunal for his sins? 11. The censers used by Korach's assembly were made into an overlay for the Mizbe'ach. This was to serve as a warning. What was the purpose of the sign? 12. What happens to one who rebels against the institution of Kehuna? Who suffered such a fate? 13. How did Moshe know that burning incense would stop the plague? 14. Which tribe was divided into two families? 15. Why was Aaron's staff placed in the middle of the other eleven staffs? 16. Aaron's staff was kept as a sign. What did it signify? 17. After Aaron's Kehuna was firmly established, what fear did the Jewish People express to Moshe? 18. Why are the 24 gifts for the Kohanim taught in this week's Parsha? 19. Who may eat the Kodshei Kodashim (most holy sacrifices), and where must they be eaten? 20. If a Levi comes to the pile of grain on the threshing floor before terumah gedolah has been separated, what must he do before receiving his own tithe? Bonus QUESTION: "Which is a controversy for the sake of heaven? The conflict of Hillel and Shamai. Which is not for the sake of heaven? The conflict of Korach and his congregation." Avos Ch. 5 Why doesn't the mishnah list Moshe as participant in the conflict with Korach? I Did Not Know That! The mouth of the earth that swallowed Korach was one of the ten things created at the very end of the sixth day of creation. Avos 5:8 =========================================================================== Answers to this Week's Questions All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated 1. 16:1 - He 'took himself' out of the community in order to incite dissension. 2. 16:1 - Yaakov prayed that his name would not be mentioned in connection with Korach's rebellion (Bereshis 49:6). 3. 16:1 - He was jealous that Elzaphan ben Uziel was appointed as leader of the family of Kehas instead of himself. 4. 16:5 - In order that they might repent. 5. 16:6 - Only one person would survive. 6. 16:7 - Shmuel HaNavi, and 24 groups of Levi'im who served in the Beis Hamikdash, all of whom were Nevi'im. 7. 16:7 - That his sons would repent. (Shmuel and the 24 groups of Levi'im descended from them). 8. 16:19 - He went from tribe to tribe in order to rally support for himself. 9. 16:25 - He felt that if he himself approached them, they might back down. 10. 16:27 - 20 years old. 11. 17:3 - To serve as remembrance of the challenge to the Kehuna and that the rebels were burned. 12. 17:5 - He is stricken with tzara'as, as was King Uziyahu (Divrei HaYamim II 26:16-19). 13. 17:11 - He was told on Har Sinai by the Angel of Death that the ketores (incense) has the power to stop plagues. 14. 17:18 - Levi. It was divided into the family of Kohanim, and the family of Levi'im. 15. 17:21 - So that people would not say that Aaron's staff bloomed because Moshe placed it closer to the Shechina. 16. 17:25 - That only Aaron and his children were selected for the Kehuna. 17. 17:28 - Since they were permitted in the courtyard of the Ohel Mo'ed, they feared that they might accidentally enter the Ohel Mo'ed itself and be punished. 18. 18:8 - Since Korach claimed the Kehuna, the Torah emphasizes Aaron's and his descendants' rights to Kehuna by recording the gifts given to them. 19. 18:10 - Male Kohanim may eat them and only in the Azara (fore-court of the Beis Hamikdash). 20. 18:29 - He must first set aside 1/50 of the pile -- the average amount given as teruma gedolah -- before taking his tenth from the pile. Bonus ANSWER: Moshe's participation in the conflict was completely honorable. Only Korach and his congregation were acting "not for the sake of heaven." 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