Parsha Q&A - Terumah « Ohr Somayach

Parsha Q&A - Terumah

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Parsha Q&A

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Parshas Terumah

For the week ending 4 Adar 5756; 23 & 24 February 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
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

    • Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. Why in the first verse of the Parsha does the word Terumah appear 3 times?
    2. The skin of which now-extinct animal was used in making the Mishkan?
    3. From where did the Jewish People obtain the wood to build the Mishkan?
    4. Describe two uses of: a) oil; b) spices; c) jewels.
    5. Betzalel made the Aron out of three boxes, one inside of the other. Of what material were these boxes made?
    6. What is the significance of the crown on top of the Aron?
    7. The Torah is referred to as "testimony" (25:16). To what does the Torah testify?
    8. What did the faces of the Cherubim on top of the Aron resemble?
    9. How did Betzalel make the Cherubim?
    10. What is the significance of the crown on top of the Shulchan (table)?
    11. How was the Menorah made?
    12. In which direction did the flames of the Menorah cast their light?
    13. How did Moshe know the shape of the Menorah?
    14. What designs were embroidered into the tapestries of the Mishkan?
    15. What is meant by "standing wood" in verse 26:15?
    16. What was the length of the Mishkan?
    17. How wide was the interior of the Mishkan?
    18. What was the height of the Mizbe'ach (Altar)?
    19. What were the dimensions of the Courtyard of the Mishkan?
    20. How were the yeseidos (copper pegs) used?
    Bonus Question
    Answer
    Contents    		In the order of the Parsha, Moshe first commands the Bnei Yisrael to make the Ark and afterwards he commands about making the components (walls and curtains) of the Mishkan itself. However, the components of the Mishkan were built before the Ark. Why didn't Moshe command according to the order of construction?

    I Did Not Know That!

    The Menorah had 6 side branches and a central stem, in total 7 flames. The 3 right flames symbolize intellectual ideals and the 3 on the left symbolize aspects of one's livelihood. All should be directed by the central light, the Torah.
    Sforno

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    25:1
    The Mishkan, a "Portable Sinai"
    25:10
    Universal Torah Involvement
    26:33
    Making and Placing

    Ibn Ezra
    25:3
    The Need for Silver

    Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh
    25:8
    The Shechina Within Jewry

    Sefer Hachinuch
    95
    Our Need for a Mishkan
    96
    Utility and Form
    97
    Blessings and Benefit

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

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

    1. 25:2 - To allude to the three different types of Terumah offered.
    2. 25:5 - The Tachash.
    3. 25:5 - Yaakov foresaw through Ruach Hakodesh that the Jewish People would be commanded to build the Mishkan. He planted cedars in Egypt and commanded his children to cut them down and to take the wood with them when they left Egypt.
    4. 25:6-7 - a) The oil was burned in the Menorah and used for anointing. b) The spices were a component of the anointing oil and of the incense. c) The jewels were used in the Ephod and the Choshen.
    5. 25:11 - The outer and inner boxes were made of gold and the middle box was made of wood.
    6. 25:11 - It symbolizes the crown of Torah.
    7. 25:16 - It testifies that Hashem commanded us to keep His mitzvos.
    8. 25:18 - The faces of children.
    9. 25:18 - They were hammered out of a solid block of gold as part of the cover of the Aron.
    10. 25:24 - It symbolizes the crown of royalty.
    11. 25:31 - It was initially to be hammered from one block of gold, but afterwards Hashem told Moshe that it should be thrown into the fire and it 'made itself.'
    12. 25:37 - Towards the middle flame.
    13. 25:40 - Hashem showed Moshe a Menorah made out of fire.
    14. 26:1 - On one side a lion and on the other side an eagle.
    15. 26:15 - The wooden beams were to be placed upright and not to be placed one upon the other.
    16. 26:16 - 30 Amos (cubits).
    17. 26:23 - 10 Amos.
    18. 27:1 - There are two opinions. Rabbi Yehuda said it was three Amos high. Rabbi Yosi said it was 10 Amos high.
    19. 27:18 - One hundred Amos long by fifty Amos wide.
    20. 27:19 - They were used to secure the curtains against the wind.
    Bonus Question
    Question
    Contents    		The reason for building the Mishkan was in order to house the Ark that contained the Tablets. The Ark with the Tablets was the primary aspect of the Mishkan.
    Ramban
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Michael Treblow
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