Parsha Q&A - Beha'aloscha

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Beha'aloscha

For the week ending 16 Sivan 5757; 20 & 21 June 1997
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
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    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
  • Toward which direction did the wicks of the menorah burn, and why?
  • From what material was the menorah made?
  • What was unique about the "chatas" offered by the levi'im?
  • For which two functions were the levi'im dedicated?
  • Why did Hashem claim the firstborn of the Jewish People as His possession?
  • Why does the Torah repeat the words "Bnei Yisrael" five times in verse 8:19?
  • When a levi reaches the age of 50, which functions may he still perform?
  • How many times did the Jewish People offer the korban Pesach in the midbar?
  • Why was the mitzvah of Pesach Sheini not commanded to Moshe earlier?
  • One might think that a certain person should bring a Pesach offering any time of year. Who is this certain person?
  • When were the trumpets used?
  • What date did the Jewish People camp at Har Sinai?
  • The tribe of Dan, who traveled last, was called "the gatherer of all the camps." What did they gather?
  • When the Jewish People entered the Land, who took temporary possession of Jericho?
  • "The manna was like 'zera gad' (coriander seed)…." In what way was it like 'zera gad?'
  • Moshe was commanded to choose 70 elders to help him lead the Jewish People. What happened to the elders who led the Jewish People in Egypt?
  • Whom did Moshe choose as the 70 elders?
  • What was the prophesy of Eldad and Medad?
  • What was Tzipporah's reaction when she heard that Eldad and Medad reached the level of prophecy?
  • Why did Miriam deserve that the Jewish People wait one week for her to recover?
    Bonus Question
    Answer
    Contents
    "If the sheep and cattle be slaughtered for them, will it be enough for them? If every fish in the sea be gathered for them, will it be enough for them?" (11:22)

    The Jewish People owned abundant livestock, and there are lots of fish in the ocean. Why, then, wouldn't these be enough to satisfy the Jewish People's complaints about eating manna all the time?

    I Did Not Know That!

    "…Eldad and Medad are prophesying (that Moshe will die and Yehoshua will lead the people into the land…)" (11:27).

    Eldad and Meidad were Moses's brothers. Moses's parents divorced due to the Egyptian decree that the babies be cast into the Nile. Moses's mother then married someone else and bore Eldad and Medad.

    Yonasan ben Uziel

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    8:2
    Preview of Chanukah
    9:1
    Korban Pesach in the Midbar
    9:10
    Pesach Sheini
    9:14 Pesach of the Ger
    10:29
    Yisro's Choice
    10:35
    Flight from Sinai
    11:1
    Sin of Complainers
    11:5
    Fish and Vegetables in Egypt
    11:6
    Complaints about Manna
    11:16
    Significance of Number 70
    Sefer Hachinuch
    380
    Pesach Sheini
    384
    Significance of Trumpets
    Sforno
    9:1
    The Four Merits
    11:22
    Never Satisfied

    Answers to this Week's Questions

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

    1. 8:2 - They leaned toward the middle wick so people would not say Hashem needed the menorah for its light.
    2. 8:4 - Solid gold.
    3. 8:8 - It was not eaten by the kohanim.
    4. 8:16 - For carrying the sacred articles of the Mishkan and for singing in the Mishkan.
    5. 8:17 - Because in Egypt He spared them during makas bechoros.
    6. 8:19 - To show Hashem's love for them, their name was repeated five times corresponding to the five Books of the Torah.
    7. 8:25 - He may close the gates of the courtyard of the Mishkan and Beis Hamikdash, may sing during the avoda, and may load the wagons when the Mishkan is to be transported.
    8. 9:1 - Only once.
    9. 9:7 - To reward those who asked about it. Hashem wanted them to be the catalyst for the teaching of this mitzvah.
    10. 9:14 - A convert.
    11. 10:2-7 - They were used to gather the Jewish People, to gather the nesi'im, to signal the beginning of a move of the camp, and to accompany the offering of certain communal korbanos.
    12. 10:11 - Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
    13. 10:25 - They gathered and returned anything lost by people from the other tribes.
    14. 10:32 - The children of Yisro.
    15. 11:7 - It was round.
    16. 11:16 - They were consumed in the fire at Taverah (11:3).
    17. 11:16 - People who were supervisors in Egypt and, at personal risk, had shown compassion for their brethren.
    18. 11:28 - "Moshe will die and Yehoshua will lead the Jewish People into the Land."
    19. 12:1 - She said, "Woe to their wives! If they become prophets, they will separate from their wives the same way my husband separated from me."
    20. 12:15 - Because when Moshe was cast into the river, Miriam waited one hour to see what would happen to him.
    Bonus Question
    Question
    Contents

    The Jewish People didn't complain about the amount of food they received; rather, they complained about the taste. Moshe thought: "No matter how much food I give them, someone is bound to complain about the taste. If I give them all the sheep and cattle, someone is bound to say 'I want deer meat....'

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