Parsha Q&A - Bechukosai « Ohr Somayach

Parshas Bechukosai

For the week ending 24 Iyar 5757; 31 May 1997

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Parsha Questions

Bonus Question

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

To what do the words "bechukosai telechu" (walk in My statutes) refer?
When is "rain in its season?"
What is the blessing of "v'achaltem lachm'chem l'sova" (and you shall eat your bread to satisfaction)?
What is meant by the verse "and a sword will not pass through your land?"
Mathematically, if five Jewish soldiers can defeat 100 enemy soldiers, how many enemy soldiers should 100 Jewish soldiers be able to defeat?
How much is 'revava'?
Which "progression" of seven transgressions are taught in Chapter 26, and why in that particular order?
What is one benefit which the Jewish People derive from the Land of Israel's state of ruin?
What was the duration of the Babylonian exile and why that particular number?
How many years after entering the Land were the northern tribes exiled?
In verse 26:42, the name Yaakov is written with an extra "vav". From whom did Yaakov receive this extra letter and why?
What positive element is implied by the words "and I will bring them into the land of their enemies?"
In verse 26:42, why is the word "remember" not used in connection with the name of Yitzchak?
Why does the Torah say in 26:46 "Toros" (plural) and not "Torah" (singular)?
What happens when a poor person dedicates the value of a man to the Beis Hamikdash and doesn't have sufficient funds to fulfill his vow?
If a person says "The leg of this animal shall be an olah offering" the animal is sold and sacrificed as an olah offering. What is the status of the money received for the animal?
If a person dedicates his ancestral field to the Beis Hamikdash and fails to redeem it before Yovel what happens to the field?
Where must "Ma'aser Sheini" be eaten?
When a person redeems "Ma'aser Sheini" what happens to the food? What happens to the redemption money?
How does a person tithe his animals?

Answer Contents	"And five of you will pursue a hundred [enemy soldiers]." (26:8) This verse implies that when the Jewish people are righteous, one Jewish soldier will be able to defeat twenty enemies. But another verse states that if the Jewish people sin, 'one enemy will pursue a thousand Jewish soldiers' (Devarim 32 30). Doesn't this contradict the principle that Hashem's reward is always more than His punishment?

Answer
Contents

"And five of you will pursue a hundred [enemy soldiers]." (26:8)
This verse implies that when the Jewish people are righteous, one Jewish soldier will be able to defeat twenty enemies. But another verse states that if the Jewish people sin, 'one enemy will pursue a thousand Jewish soldiers' (Devarim 32 30). Doesn't this contradict the principle that Hashem's reward is always more than His punishment?

I Did Not Know That!

"And I will remember My covenant with Yaakov, and also My covenant with Yitzchak, and also My covenant with Avaham I will remember..."
Hashem will redeem us in the merit of Sara, Rivka, Rachel and Leah. This is indicated by the three words 'with' in this verse - the women who were 'with' Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov as life partners.

Yalkut Shimoni

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

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

26:3 - Laboring in Torah learning.
26:4 - At times when people are not outside (e.g., Shabbos nights).
26:5 - You will only require a little bread to be completely satisfied.
26:6 - No foreign army will travel through your land on their way to a different country.
26:8 - Two Thousand.
26:8 - Ten Thousand.
26:14,15 - Not studying Torah, not observing mitzvos, rejecting those who observe mitzvos, hating Sages, preventing others from observing mitzvos, denying that Hashem gave the mitzvos, denying the existence of Hashem. They are listed in this order because each transgression leads to the next.
26:32 - No enemy nation will be able to settle in the Land of Israel.
26:35 - 70 years. Because the Jewish People violated 70 Shemita and Yovel years.
26:35 - 390 years.
26:42 - In five places in the Torah Yaakov's name is written with an extra "vav" and in five places the name Eliyahu is missing a "vav". Yaakov took these vavs as a pledge that Eliyahu will one day come and announce the redemption of Yaakov's children.
26:41 - Hashem Himself, so to speak, will bring them into their enemies' land. This means that even when the Jews are in exile, Hashem will supply them with leaders who inspire them to keep the Torah. This guards the Jewish from assimilating into the host culture.
26:42 - Because the image of Yitzchak's ashes (who was prepared to be brought as an offering) upon the altar is always before Hashem.
26:46 - To teach that both the Written Torah and the Oral Torah were given to Moshe on Har Sinai.
27:8 - The person whose value was donated goes before the kohen, who sets the obligation according to the poor person's ability to pay.
27:9 - The money is 'chullin', meaning it does not have 'holy' status, except for the value of the animal's leg which does have 'holy' status.
27:16 - It becomes the property of the kohanim who are on rotation at the beginning of Yovel.
27:30 - In Jerusalem.
27:31 - The food becomes permissible to him outside of Jerusalem. The redemption money must be brought to Jerusalem and used to purchase food to be eaten there.
27:32 - He passes them through a door individually and every tenth animal he marks with a rod smeared with red dye.

Question Contents	No. The verse in this week's Parsha is referring to the weakest of our soldiers. Even our weakest soldier will be able to defeat twenty enemies. Our strongest soldier will be able to defeat a thousand or more. Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh, based on Toras Kohanim

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
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Parsha Q&A - Bechukosai

Parshas Bechukosai

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I Did Not Know That!

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