* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary. Parshas Tzav -- Parshas Parah For the week ending 20 Adar II 5757 28 & 29 March 1997 =========================================================================== Get Ready for Pesach with Ohr Somayach: http://www.ohr.org.il/special/pesach/index.htm =========================================================================== Parsha Questions 1. In verse 6:2, Hashem tells Moshe, "`Tzav' (command) Aaron..." When is the word `Tzav' used? 2. Until when may the fats and limbs of an Olah be placed on the Mizbe'ach? 3. If, while removing the ashes from the Mizbe'ach, the Kohen finds limbs that were not consumed, what must he do with them? 4. What was the first Korban (sacrifice) brought each day? 5. If someone extinguishes the fire on the Mizbe'ach, how many Torah violations have been transgressed? 6. When a Kohen is inaugurated to serve in the Beis Hamikdash, what offering must he bring? 7. How often must the Kohen Gadol bring a Korban Minchah? 8. What is the difference between a "Minchas Kohen" and a "Minchas Yisrael"? 9. When is a Kohen disqualified from eating from the Chatas (sin offering)? 10. What is the difference between a copper and earthenware vessel regarding the removing of absorbed tastes? 11. Can an animal that has already been dedicated for an Asham be replaced with by another animal? 12. List three types of Kohanim who may not partake of the Asham. 13. List three types of Kohanim who have no share in the skins of the Olah offering. 14. In which 4 instances is a Korban Todah brought? 15. How does a Korban become "Pigul"? 16. How does the Torah punish a tamei person who eats a Korban? 17. What position did Moshe fill during the seven days of the inauguration of the Mishkan? 18. How many days prior to Yom Kippur must the Kohen Gadol separate from his family? 19. What other service requires that the Kohen separate from his family? 20. What are the 5 categories of Korbanos listed in this Parsha? Bonus QUESTION: This is the law of the flour offering: The sons of Aharon shall bring it near.." (6:7) "This refers to bringing the flour offering to the Altar." -- Rashi From here we see that the `sons of Aharon,' -- the kohanim -- are commanded to bring the flour offering to the Altar. But in last week's Parsha Rashi states (2:2) that the kohen's obligation starts only after the flour offering is already brought to the Altar. This implies that a non- kohen may bring the offering to the Altar. How can this apparent contradiction be resolved? I Did Not Know That! If a person feels unenthusiastic about Torah study or mitzvah observance, he should say the verse, "A continuous fire should burn on the Altar, do not extinguish it (6:6)." Rashbaz (Thanks to Rabbi Sholem Fishbane) =========================================================================== Recommended Reading List Ramban 6:7 Minchah Laws 6:18 Korbanos 7:8 Hides of Korbanos 7:14 Leavening in Korban Todah 8:1 Chronology of Mishkan Chapters 8:7 Garments of the Kohanim 8:11 Solution to Rashi's Source 8:22 Role of Different Korbanos in Miluim Sefer Hachinuch 132 Hiding the Miracle 136 The Kohen Gadol's Offering 143 Dignity and Trust 144 The Benefits of Kashrus =========================================================================== Answers to this Week's Questions All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated 1. 6:2 - It is used to indicate a command that urges performance now, and for future generations. 2. 6:2 - Until morning [dawn]. 3. 6:3 - Return them to the Mizbe'ach. 4. 6:5 - The Tamid offering. 5. 6:6 - Two. 6. 6:13 - A Korban Minchah -- A tenth part of an ephah of flour. 7. 6:13 - Daily. 8. 6:15 - The Minchas Kohen is burnt completely. Only a kometz (handful) of the Minchas Yisrael is burnt, and the remainder is eaten by the Kohanim. 9. 6:19 - If he is tamei (spiritually impure) at the time of the sprinkling of the blood. 10. 6:21 - In a copper vessel the absorbed taste can be removed through "scouring and rinsing" while in an earthenware vessel it can never be removed. 11. 7:1 - No. 12. 7:7 - a) A Tvul Yom -- A tamei person who has gone to the Mikveh and is awaiting sunset to become Tahor (spiritually pure); b) A Mechusar Kipurim -- A Tamei person who has gone to the Mikveh but has yet to bring his required sacrifice to become Tahor; c) An Onan -- a mourner prior to the burial of the deceased. 13. 7:8 - a) A Tvul Yom; b) A Mechusar Kipurim; c) An Onan (see answer 12 for more detail). 14. 7:12 - a) After a safe arrival from an ocean voyage; b) After a safe arrival from a desert journey; c) After being freed from prison; d) After recovering from illness. 15. 7:18 - The person slaughters the animal with the intention that it be eaten after the prescribed time. 16. 7:20 - With Kares (spiritual excision). 17. 8:28 - He served as the Kohen. 18. 8:34 - Seven days. 19. 8:34 - The burning of the Parah Adumah (red cow). 20. Olah (6:2); Minchah (6:7); Chatas (6:18); Asham (7:1); Shlamim (7:11). Bonus ANSWER: Bringing the flour offering to the Altar is a mitzvah, but it is not an absolute requirement. That is to say, the offering is valid even if it is not brought to the Altar. Only a kohen can fulfill the mitzvah of bringing the offering to the Altar. If a non-kohen brings the offering to the Altar, the mitzvah has not been fulfilled, but the offering is valid nonetheless. Moznaim L'Torah =========================================================================== Do you link to us? Let everyone know about the Ohr Somayach Home Page by dropping the following text into the HTML document of YOUR home page: The Ohr Somayach International Home Page =========================================================================== "I'm looking for the E-Mail address of a student at Ohr Somayach..." Look no further than http://www.ohr.org.il/web/alumni/email.htm =========================================================================== SUBSCRIBE! to one of the many weekly "lists" published by Ohr Somayach Institutions: ohrnews - Keep up-to-date with the Ohr Somayach Web Site weekly - Summary of the weekly Torah portion dafyomi - Rav Mendel Weinbach's insights into the Daf Yomi ask - The Rabbi answers YOUR questions on Judaism parasha-qa - Challenging questions on the weekly Torah portion os-special - All the SPECIAL publications produced by Ohr Somayach os-alum - "B'Yachad" - the Ohr Somayach Electronic Alumni Newsletter judaismo - Spanish-Language newsletter on the Parsha & Judaism month - Seasons of the Moon - The Jewish Year through its months Ohr Somayach NEVER charges for any of the above lists. To subscribe, send the message: subscribe {listname} {your full name} mailto:listproc@virtual.co.il =========================================================================== Dedication opportunities are available for Parsha Q&A. Please contact us for details. =========================================================================== Written and Compiled by Rabbi Reuven Subar General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman Production Design: Lev Seltzer =========================================================================== Jewish L EEEEEEEE Prepared by the Jewish Learning Exchange of J L E Ohr Somayach International J L E 22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103 J L Exchange Jerusalem 91180, Israel J L E Tel: 972-2-581-0315 Fax: 972-2-581-2890 J J L E Mailto:info@ohr.org.il JJJJ Learning EEEEEEEE http://www.ohr.org.il =========================================================================== (C) 1997 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.