For the week ending 31 July 2021 / 22 Av 5781
Parashat Ekev
Questions
- What must the Jewish People do to ensure that Hashem will fulfill His promise to do good for us?
- What were the:
a) wonders
b) strong hand
c) outstretched arm that the Jewish People saw in Egypt? - When a group performs a mitzvah, whose name is attached to the mitzvah?
- How did the Jewish People do their laundry in the midbar?
- How did the Jewish People obtain clothing for their growing children in the midbar?
- How many days did Moshe spend on Mount Sinai altogether?
- On what day did Moshe come down from Mount Sinai having received complete forgiveness for the Jewish People?
- How was Aharon punished for his role in the golden calf?
- Who made the ark in which Moshe placed the second set of tablets? What special function did it later serve?
- Which sin of the Jewish People was prompted by the death of Aharon?
- Why were the levi'im chosen by Hashem?
- Why do the levi'im have no portion in the Land?
- All aspects of man's life are in Hashem's "hands" except one. What is this?
- What is the "added benefit" of observing the mitzvot?
- What is meant by circumcising one's heart?
- What are the sources of water for the fields of Egypt and Eretz Yisrael?
- What path does the Torah prescribe for gaining new knowledge?
- Which activity is "serving Hashem with the heart"?
- When the Jewish People sin, why are they considered worse than the generation of the flood?
- How does one "cleave to Hashem"?
All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated.
Answers
- What must the Jewish People do to ensure that Hashem will fulfill His promise to do good for us?
7:12 - Guard even the "light" commandments. - What were the:
a) wonders
b) strong hand
c) outstretched arm that the Jewish People saw in Egypt?
7:19 -
a) Plagues;
b) Pestilence;
c) Slaying of the firstborn. - When a group performs a mitzvah, whose name is attached to the mitzvah?
8:1 - The person who finishes it. - How did the Jewish People do their laundry in the midbar?
8:4 - The ananei kavod (clouds of glory) cleaned and bleached their clothes. - How did the Jewish People obtain clothing for their growing children in the midbar?
8:4 - As their children grew, their clothing grew with them. - How many days did Moshe spend on Mount Sinai altogether?
9:18 - 120 days. - On what day did Moshe come down from Mount Sinai having received complete forgiveness for the Jewish People?
9:18 - The tenth of Tishrei, Yom Kippur. - How was Aharon punished for his role in the golden calf?
9:20 - His two sons died. - Who made the ark in which Moshe placed the second set of tablets? What special function did it later serve?
10:1 - Moshe. This ark would accompany the Jewish People into battle. - Which sin of the Jewish People was prompted by the death of Aharon?
10:6-7 - When Aharon died the ananei kavod departed causing many Jews to fear war with the King of Arad and to retreat toward Egypt. - Why were the levi'im chosen by Hashem?
10:8 - Because they did not participate in the sin of the golden calf. - Why do the levi'im have no portion in the Land?
10:9 - Since they served in the Temple, they were not free to work the land. - All aspects of man's life are in Hashem's "hands" except one. What is this?
10:12 - Fear of Heaven, which is dependent upon the person. - What is the "added benefit" of observing the mitzvot?
10:13 - There is reward. - What is meant by circumcising one's heart?
10:16 - To remove those things that block the words of Torah from entering. - What are the sources of water for the fields of Egypt and Eretz Yisrael?
11:10 - Egypt is irrigated by manually carrying water up from the Nile. Eretz Yisrael is supplied by rainwater requiring no work on the part of its inhabitants. - What path does the Torah prescribe for gaining new knowledge?
11:13 - By repeatedly reviewing what one knows, one more easily acquires new knowledge. - Which activity is "serving Hashem with the heart"?
11:13 - Prayer. - When the Jewish People sin, why are they considered worse than the generation of the flood?
11:17 - Because the generation of the flood had no one from whom to learn. - How does one "cleave to Hashem"?
11:22 - Attaching oneself to Torah scholars.