Parsha Q&A - Reeh

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Reeh

For the week ending 27 Av 5757; 29 & 30 August 1997

Dedicated by Mrs. Shoshana Abensour, in honor of my husband, Gavriel, on the occasion of our upcoming 23rd Wedding Anniversary, Rosh Chodesh Elul, 5757- may he have good health and may we have many more happy years together and in honor of our two sons, Avner, and Eliezer Pessah who continue this Elul to learn in Beis Medrash for their 3rd and 5th year respectively-
may they continue to grow in Torah and yir'at shamayim...


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. What were the sites designated for the "Blessings and the Curses" to be pronounced by the people?
    2. What was to be the sign for the Jewish People that they would inherit the Land?
    3. During the 14 year period of the conquest and division of the Land, what types of offerings were permitted to be offered on private bamos (altars)?
    4. When was the use of private bamos permitted?
    5. What must one do with consecrated animals that develop a blemish?
    6. In what ways does a consecrated animal that develops a blemish retain a degree of kedusha (holiness) even after it has been redeemed?
    7. Why was the tribe of Yehuda not permitted to conquer Jerusalem?
    8. Why were the Jewish People allowed to witness the extermination of the Canaanites?
    9. What forms of idol worship are punishable by death?
    10. A person performs miraculous deeds in the name of Hashem, and then states that the laws of the Torah have been revised. What is done to this person?
    11. The trial of a person who is accused of encouraging others to worship idols differs from the trial of other capital cases in what manner?
    12. Who has the primary responsibility of inflicting the punishment on one who tried to entice others to worship idols?
    13. What is the "source" of the Jewish People being an Am Kadosh, (Holy Nation)?
    14. How should the Jewish People maintain themselves as an Am Kadosh?
    15. Which animals are not included in the Torah prohibition of cooking meat together with milk?
    16. What is the order of priority with regard to whom one should give charity?
    17. Why is matzah called "the bread of affliction"?
    18. What mitzvah recalls the Exodus from Egypt?
    19. Which four individuals are under Hashem's "special protection"?


    Bonus Question
    Answer
    Contents
    In the beginning of Parshas Re'eh, Hashem tells the Jewish People, "See, I am placing before you a blessing and a curse. The blessing, asher (that) you guard the mitzvos...and a curse im (if) you do not guard the mitzvos..." (11:26-28).

    Why did the Torah change its mode of expression from "that" to "if"?


    I Did Not Know That!

    When King Ptolmy commanded the elders to translate the Torah into Greek, Hashem put into their hearts to alter the translation. One example - the word arneves (rabbit) was changed to tze'iras hareglaim (short legged creature). King Ptolmy's wife was named Arneves, and it wasn't deemed wise to list the king's wife as one of the non-kosher animals.

    (Megilla 9b)


    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    12:5
    Search for Hashem
    12:20-21
    Meat
    12:30
    Serving Hashem
    13:2
    False Prophets
    13:5
    The True Path
    14:1
    Limits of Grief
    14:3
    Forbidden Foods
    15:3
    Collecting Debts
    Sforno
    11:26
    Never Average
    14:1
    Limited Mourning
    15:4
    Wealth
    16:17
    Limits to Charity

    Sefer Hachinuch
    437
    Sanctity of the Divine Name
    450
    Supporting Hashem's Servants
    454
    Don't Add or Subtract
    464
    A Rebellious City
    488
    Rejoicing in the Mitzvos

    Answers to this Week's Questions

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

    1. 11:26 - Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Eval, respectively.
    2. 11:31 - The miracles that would occur while crossing the Jordan River.
    3. 12:8 - Vow Offerings or Free-Will Offerings.
    4. 12:11 - During the intermediate periods between one Mishkan and the next; for example, the time between Shilo and Nob. Once the Beis Hamikdash was built, private bamos were not permitted, even after its destruction.
    5. 12:15 - They must be redeemed and may then be eaten.
    6. 12:15 - Eating it is permitted, but use of its milk or fleece is forbidden.
    7. 12:17 - When Avraham bought ma'aras hamachpelah, he made a covenant of peace with the Hittites who sold it and his descendants honored this pact in regard to the Hittite descendants in Jerusalem.
    8. 12:30 - To learn not to follow in their depraved ways.
    9. 12:30 - Slaughtering or burning a sacrifice on an altar, pouring libations, prostrating oneself, and any service which is the normal manner of worshipping that idol.
    10. 13:2-6 - He is put to death.
    11. 13:10 - If he was acquitted and new information of a condemning nature arises, he is retried. If he was judged to be guilty, he is not returned to court to plead in his favor.
    12. 13:10 - The person who the guilty one attempted to entice.
    13. 14:2 - The kedusha is inherited from the Avos.
    14. 14:21 - By avoiding excesses even in areas that are permitted.
    15. 14:21 - Wild animals, non-kosher animals and fowl.
    16. 15:7 - The most needy, a brother from one's father, a brother from one's mother, the poor of one's city, the poor of another city.
    17. 16:3 - It calls to mind the affliction that was suffered in Egypt.
    18. 16:3 - Eating the Korban Pesach and the matzah on the night of Pesach.
    19. 16:10 - A Levi, convert, orphan, and widow

    Bonus Question
    Question
    Contents

    The Torah teaches that Hashem is ready to grant the blessing immediately. He requires only that the people fulfill their "part of the deal" by upholding the Torah. The curse, on the other hand, He is not as ready to give. Only if the Jewish People violate the Torah will Hashem then "be forced" to activate the curse.

    (Gur Aryeh)

    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Eli Ballon
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