Parsha Q&A - Parshas Chukas

Parshas Chukas

For the week ending 10 Tammuz 5758 / 3 - 4 July 1998

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Sherlox Holmes

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

"Take a perfect parah adumah (red heifer) which has no blemish…" What does the word "perfect" -temima - mean in this context?
How many non-red hairs disqualify a cow as a valid parah adumah?
A man dies in a tent. What happens to the sealed metal and earthenware utensils in the tent?
What happens to the one who: a) sprinkles the water mixed with the ashes of the parah adumah; b) touches the water; c) carries the water?
Why was the mitzvah of the parah adumah entrusted to Elazar rather than to Aharon?
Why does the Torah stress that all of the congregation came to Midbar Tzin?
Why is Miriam's death taught after the section of the parah adumah?
During their journey in the midbar, through whose merit did the Jewish People receive water?
Why did Moshe need to strike the rock a second time?
When Moshe told the King of Edom that the Jewish People would not drink from the well-water, to which well did he refer? What do we learn from this?
The cloud that led the Jewish People in the midbar leveled all the mountains that were in their path except for three. Which three and why?
Why did the entire congregation mourn the death of Aharon?
What disappeared when Aharon died?
Who was "the inhabitant of the South" (21:1) that attacked the Jewish People?
For what two reasons did Hashem punish the people with snakes specifically?
Why did the Jewish People camp in Arnon, rather than pass through Moav to enter Eretz Canaan?
What miracle took place at the valley of Arnon?
What was the "strength" of Amon that prevented the Jewish People from entering into their land?
Why was Moshe afraid of Og?
Who killed Og?

Solution Contents	Sherlox Holmes Mud flew as the carriage moved through the rain. In the distance trudged two dark figures sharing one umbrella. "Driver!" called out world famous detextive Sherlox Holmes, "Please stop and pick up that poor father and son up ahead." "How, from this distance, can you can tell it's a father and son?" asked Watstein. "It's pouring rain, yet the one is holding the umbrella over the head of the other as only a father would do for a son. For better or worse, parents have a strange tendency to put their children first." "Speaking of parents," said Watstein, "perhaps you could unravel this mystery for me. The verse quotes Moshe as saying: 'And the Egyptians did evil to us and to our fathers (20:15).' Rashi comments: 'From here we see that the Forefathers (Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov) experience pain in their grave when bad things befall the Jewish People.'" "Does a parent ever lose concern for a child?" said Sherlox. "No. But why does Rashi seem to take the word 'fathers' out of context? The Egyptians oppressed Moshe's parents' generation as well. Why can't the word 'fathers' refer to the previous generation who indeed suffered directly from the Egyptians? Why must Rashi go 'digging' in order to explain that the 'fathers' mentioned suffered posthumously?" Just then the carriage stopped and the door opened. "Climb in son!" said a voice outside. "Always putting their children first," said Sherlox.

Solution
Contents

Sherlox Holmes

Mud flew as the carriage moved through the rain. In the distance trudged two dark figures sharing one umbrella. "Driver!" called out world famous detextive Sherlox Holmes, "Please stop and pick up that poor father and son up ahead."

"How, from this distance, can you can tell it's a father and son?" asked Watstein.

"It's pouring rain, yet the one is holding the umbrella over the head of the other as only a father would do for a son. For better or worse, parents have a strange tendency to put their children first."

"Speaking of parents," said Watstein, "perhaps you could unravel this mystery for me. The verse quotes Moshe as saying: 'And the Egyptians did evil to us and to our fathers (20:15).' Rashi comments: 'From here we see that the Forefathers (Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov) experience pain in their grave when bad things befall the Jewish People.'"

"Does a parent ever lose concern for a child?" said Sherlox.

"No. But why does Rashi seem to take the word 'fathers' out of context? The Egyptians oppressed Moshe's parents' generation as well. Why can't the word 'fathers' refer to the previous generation who indeed suffered directly from the Egyptians? Why must Rashi go 'digging' in order to explain that the 'fathers' mentioned suffered posthumously?"

Just then the carriage stopped and the door opened. "Climb in son!" said a voice outside.

"Always putting their children first," said Sherlox.

I Did Not Know That!

"Why have you brought the congregation of Hashem to this wilderness... not a place of seed, or fig, or grape or pomegranate..." (20:4-6)

The above complaint contains all the species that represent the good of the Land of Israel, except for olives and dates. Why didn't they complain about a lack of olives and dates? Because they tasted these flavors in the manna, which tasted like tzapichis b'dvash (cakes of date honey) and leshad hashamen (dough needed with olive oil). For the same reason, the spies brought only grapes, figs and pomegranates, but not olives and dates, for these they tasted in the manna.

(Meshech Chochma)

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

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

How many non-red hairs disqualify a cow as a valid parah adumah?
19:2 - Perfectly red.
How many non-red hairs disqualify a cow as a valid parah adumah?
19:2 - Two.
A man dies in a tent. What happens to the sealed metal and earthenware utensils in the tent?
19:14,15 - The metal utensils are impure for seven days, even if they are sealed. The sealed earthenware vessels are unaffected.
What happens to the one who: a) sprinkles the water mixed with the ashes of the parah adumah; b) touches the water; c) carries the water?
19:21 - a) Remains tahor; b) He, but not his clothing, contracts tumah; c) He and his clothing contract tumah.
Why was the mitzvah of the parah adumah entrusted to Elazar rather than to Aharon?
19:22 - Because Aharon was involved in the sin of the golden calf.
Why does the Torah stress that all of the congregation came to Midbar Tzin?
20:1 - To teach that they were all fit to enter Eretz Yisrael, because anyone who was involved in the sin of the spies had already died.
Why is Miriam's death taught after the section of the parah adumah?
20:1 - To teach that just as sacrifices bring atonement, so too does the death of the righteous.
During their journey in the midbar, through whose merit did the Jewish People receive water?
20:2 - Miriam's.
Why did Moshe need to strike the rock a second time?
20:11 - After he hit it the first time, only a few drops came out since he was commanded to speak to the rock.
When Moshe told the King of Edom that the Jewish People would not drink from the well-water, to which well did he refer? What do we learn from this?
20:17 - To the well that traveled with the nation in the midbar. This teaches that even if one has adequate provisions he should purchase goods from his host in order to benefit the host.
The cloud that led the Jewish People in the midbar leveled all the mountains that were in their path except for three. Which three and why?
20:22 - The mountains that were spared were Har Sinai for the giving of the Torah, Har Nevo for Moshe's burial place, and Hor Hahar for Aharon's burial place.
Why did the entire congregation mourn the death of Aharon?
20:29 - Aharon made peace between contending parties and between spouses. Thus, when he died, everybody mourned.
What disappeared when Aharon died?
20:29 - The ananei hakavod (clouds of glory) disappeared, since they sheltered the Jewish People in the merit of Aharon.
Who was "the inhabitant of the South" (21:1) that attacked the Jewish People?
21:1 - Amalek.
For what two reasons did Hashem punish the people with snakes specifically?
21:6 - The original snake, who was punished for speaking evil, is fitting to punish those who spoke evil about Hashem and about Moshe. And the snake, for whom everything tastes like dust, is fitting to punish those who complained about the manna which changed to any desired taste.
Why did the Jewish People camp in Arnon, rather than pass through Moav to enter Eretz Canaan?
21:13 - Moav refused to let them pass through their land.
What miracle took place at the valley of Arnon?
21:15 - The Amorites concealed themselves in caves in the mountain on the Moabite side of the valley in order to ambush the Jewish People. When the Jewish People approached, the mountain on the Eretz Canaan side of the valley moved close to the other mountain and the Amorites were crushed between the two mountains.
What was the "strength" of Amon that prevented the Jewish People from entering into their land?
21:24 - Hashem's command, "Do not harass them" (Devarim 2:19).
Why was Moshe afraid of Og?
21:34 - Og had once been of service to Avraham. Moshe was afraid that this merit would assist Og in battle.
Who killed Og?
21:35 - Moshe.

Mystery Contents	Solution to Sherlox Holmes Although parents tend to put their children first, the verse should have put the parents first," said Sherlox. "The verse should have said 'The Egyptians did evil la'avoseinu v'lanu - to our fathers and to us.'" "La'avoseinu v'lanu. That has a familiar ring," said Watstein. "Yes, it's from the Passover Hagaddah," said Sherlox. "Here too, had the verse been referring to the oppression of the previous generation, the verse should have gone chronologically, listing the fathers first." "I see," said Watstein. "Since the verse say that the Egyptians did evil 'to us and to our fathers' - since the children come before the fathers - the implication is that the oppression of the children was first, and the oppression of the parents came only as a result." "Precisely, Watstein." (Based on Gur Aryeh)

Mystery
Contents

Solution to Sherlox Holmes

Although parents tend to put their children first, the verse should have put the parents first," said Sherlox. "The verse should have said 'The Egyptians did evil la'avoseinu v'lanu - to our fathers and to us.'"

"La'avoseinu v'lanu. That has a familiar ring," said Watstein.

"Yes, it's from the Passover Hagaddah," said Sherlox. "Here too, had the verse been referring to the oppression of the previous generation, the verse should have gone chronologically, listing the fathers first."

"I see," said Watstein. "Since the verse say that the Egyptians did evil 'to us and to our fathers' - since the children come before the fathers - the implication is that the oppression of the children was first, and the oppression of the parents came only as a result."

"Precisely, Watstein."

(Based on Gur Aryeh)

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Eli Ballon
© 1998 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.

This publication is available via E-Mail

Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

The Ohr Somayach Home Page is hosted by TeamGenesis

Ohr Somayach	Sections	Follow
About Ohr Somayach International Branches Contact Us Donate	Home Explore Judaism Study In Israel Audio

Ohr Somayach

https://ohr.edu

Parsha Q&A - Parshas Chukas

Parshas Chukas

Parsha Questions

Sherlox Holmes

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to this Week's Questions

Solution to Sherlox Holmes