Parsha Q&A - Parshas Ki Savo

Parshas Ki Savo

For the week ending 21 Elul 5758 / 11 - 12 September 1998

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Sherlox Holmes

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

When did the obligation to bring bikkurim (first fruits) begin?
From which crops must one bring bikkurim?
How does one designate bikkurim?
Who shakes the basket containing the bikkurim?
What does "v'anisa v'amarta" mean (verse 26:5)?
"An Arami tried to destroy my father...." Who was that Arami?
During what period of the year may bikkurim be brought? Until when are the special verses recited?
Someone declaring that he separated terumah and maaser says: "And I didn't forget." What didn't he forget?
What were the Jewish People to do with the 12 stones on Mount Eval?
Six tribes were to stand on Mount Eval, and six on Mount Gerizim. Who and what were in the middle?
Who "causes the blind to go astray?"
How does one "strike another secretly?"
Eleven curses were spoken on Mount Eval. What is the significance of this number?
Why is the word "ashteros" used in reference to sheep?
How is the manner of expressing the curses in Parshas Bechukosai more severe than in this week's Parsha?
What is meant by "the Jewish People will become a proverb?"
"And there you will serve other gods...." What does this mean?
"In the morning you shall say, 'If only it were (last) evening' and in the evening you will say, 'If only it were (this) morning.' (28:67)" Why?
To which tribe did Moshe give the Torah first?
How long does it take to understand the depth of wisdom of one's Torah-teacher?

Solution Contents	Sherlox Holmes World and the Misleading Mystery "Inspiration," said world famous detextive Sherlox Holmes, "is like lightning on a dark road. It comes from above, it strikes unex pectedly, and when it does, we must capture it in our memory; then, even when it's faded, it can guide us along life's dark way." "Speaking of lighting up the way," said Watstein, "I'm in the dark about this verse. The verse says: Cursed is one who misleads a blind person on the way (Devarim 27:18). Rashi explains that 'misleading a blind person' is not literal, but rather that it refers to giving bad advice to a person who is 'blind' regarding a cer- tain matter." "What don't you understand?" asked Sherlox. "What prompts Rashi to give a figurative explana tion of 'misleading a blind person?' Why can't the verse be taken literally: Cursed is someone who misdirects a blind person, that is, someone whose vision is physi cally impaired?" "Wouldn't that limit the verse to a very specific case?" asked Sherlox. "What of it? The surrounding verses (ibid. 17,19) are also limited to specific cases: Cursed is one who moves back his neighbor's boundary marker... Cursed is one who distorts the judgment of a stranger, orphan or widow... These verses refer to very specific sins, yet Rashi doesn't feel compelled to offer figurative expla- nations, such as: 'Moving a boundary marker' means any type of theft; or, 'a stranger' means one who is a stranger to the judicial system. Rashi offers no such interpretations. So why here does Rashi do so?" "To answer that," said Sherlox, "we need a little inspiration on the way."

Solution
Contents

Sherlox Holmes World and the Misleading Mystery

"Inspiration," said world famous detextive Sherlox Holmes, "is like lightning on a dark road. It comes from above, it strikes unex pectedly, and when it does, we must capture it in our memory; then, even when it's faded, it can guide us along life's dark way."

"Speaking of lighting up the way," said Watstein, "I'm in the dark about this verse. The verse says: Cursed is one who misleads a blind person on the way (Devarim 27:18). Rashi explains that 'misleading a blind person' is not literal, but rather that it refers to giving bad advice to a person who is 'blind' regarding a cer- tain matter."

"What don't you understand?" asked Sherlox.

"What prompts Rashi to give a figurative explana tion of 'misleading a blind person?' Why can't the verse be taken literally: Cursed is someone who misdirects a blind person, that is, someone whose vision is physi cally impaired?"

"Wouldn't that limit the verse to a very specific case?" asked Sherlox.

"What of it? The surrounding verses (ibid. 17,19) are also limited to specific cases: Cursed is one who moves back his neighbor's boundary marker... Cursed is one who distorts the judgment of a stranger, orphan or widow... These verses refer to very specific sins, yet Rashi doesn't feel compelled to offer figurative expla- nations, such as: 'Moving a boundary marker' means any type of theft; or, 'a stranger' means one who is a stranger to the judicial system. Rashi offers no such interpretations. So why here does Rashi do so?"

"To answer that," said Sherlox, "we need a little inspiration on the way."

I Did Not Know That!

"And you shall take from the first of every fruit of the earth...and place (them) in the basket." (Devarim 26:2)

By Torah law, bikkurim (first fruits) have no minimum amount which one must give. The Sages, however, required that one give a sixtieth of his crop as bikkurim (Rambam Hilchos Bikkurim 2:17). This amount, one out of sixty, is hinted in the above verse "and place in the basket." The Hebrew word for basket - teneh - has the numerical value of 60.

(Heard in the name of the Vilna Gaon)

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

When did the obligation to bring bikkurim (first fruits) begin?
26:1 - After the Land was conquered and divided.
From which crops must one bring bikkurim?
26:2 - The seven species for which Eretz Yisrael is praised.
How does one designate bikkurim?
26:2 - When he sees the first fruit ripen on a tree, he binds a piece of straw around it to mark it as bikkurim.
Who shakes the basket containing the bikkurim?
26:4 - The kohen places his hands under the hands of the one bringing it, and they wave the basket together.
What does "v'anisa v'amarta" mean (verse 26:5)?
26:5 - Speak loudly.
"An Arami tried to destroy my father...." Who was that Arami?
26:5 - Lavan.
During what period of the year may bikkurim be brought? Until when are the special verses recited?
26:11 - Bikkurim are brought from Shavuos until Channuka. The verses are recited only until Succos.
Someone declaring that he separated terumah and maaser says: "And I didn't forget." What didn't he forget?
26:13 - To bless Hashem.
What were the Jewish People to do with the 12 stones on Mount Eval?
27:2 - Build an altar.
Six tribes were to stand on Mount Eval, and six on Mount Gerizim. Who and what were in the middle?
27:12 - Kohanim, levi'im and the Holy Ark.
Who "causes the blind to go astray?"
27:18 - Any person who intentionally gives bad advice.
How does one "strike another secretly?"
27:24 - By slandering him.
Eleven curses were spoken on Mount Eval. What is the significance of this number?
27:24 - Each curse corresponds to one of the tribes, except for the tribe of Shimon. Since Moshe didn't intend to bless the tribe of Shimon before his death, he did not want to curse them either.
Why is the word "ashteros" used in reference to sheep?
28:4 - Because they "enrich" (m'ashiros) their owners.
How is the manner of expressing the curses in Parshas Bechukosai more severe than in this week's Parsha?
28:23 - In Bechukosai, the Torah speaks in the plural, whereas in this week's Parsha the curses are mentioned in the singular.
What is meant by "the Jewish People will become a proverb?"
28:37 - Whenever someone wants to express the idea of extraordinary suffering they will use the Jewish People as an example.
"And there you will serve other gods...." What does this mean?
28:64 - You will pay taxes to the idol-worshipping priests.
"In the morning you shall say, 'If only it were (last) evening' and in the evening you will say, 'If only it were (this) morning.' (28:67)" Why?
28:67 - Because the curse of each hour will be greater than that of the previous hour.
To which tribe did Moshe give the Torah first?
29:3 - To the tribe of Levi.

How long does it take to understand the depth of wisdom of one's Torah-teacher?
29:8 - 40 years.

Mystery Contents	Solution to Sherlox Holmes "Had the verse been literal," said Sherlox, "it would merely have said: Cursed is one who misleads a blind person. Why does the verse add: Cursed is one who misleads a blind person 'baderech' - on the way? Misleading, by definition, means to mislead someone on the way." "Agreed. The phrase seems superfluous," said Watstein. "But what, then, does baderech - on the way - signify?" "It signifies," said Sherlox, "that the person is not blind in the literal sense, but rather that he is blind on the way; that is, he is blind regarding a certain path of action he wishes to follow." "Subtle," said Watstein. "But I think I understand: To justify the seemingly extra phrase 'on the way,' Rashi says that it refers not to where the blind person is, but rather it refers to the type of blind person he is: i.e., he is blind on the way, blind regarding the path of endeavor upon which he wishes to embark. Have I seen the light, Mr. Holmes?" "You're on the way," said Sherlox. (Based on Maskil L'Dovid; "Sherlox" concept by Reuven Subar)

Mystery
Contents

Solution to Sherlox Holmes

"Had the verse been literal," said Sherlox, "it would merely have said: Cursed is one who misleads a blind person. Why does the verse add: Cursed is one who misleads a blind person 'baderech' - on the way? Misleading, by definition, means to mislead someone on the way."

"Agreed. The phrase seems superfluous," said Watstein. "But what, then, does baderech - on the way - signify?"

"It signifies," said Sherlox, "that the person is not blind in the literal sense, but rather that he is blind on the way; that is, he is blind regarding a certain path of action he wishes to follow."

"Subtle," said Watstein. "But I think I understand: To justify the seemingly extra phrase 'on the way,' Rashi says that it refers not to where the blind person is, but rather it refers to the type of blind person he is: i.e., he is blind on the way, blind regarding the path of endeavor upon which he wishes to embark. Have I seen the light, Mr. Holmes?"

"You're on the way," said Sherlox.

(Based on Maskil L'Dovid; "Sherlox" concept by Reuven Subar)

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 Ki Savo

Parshas Ki Savo

Parsha Questions

Sherlox Holmes World and the Misleading Mystery

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to this Week's Questions

Solution to Sherlox Holmes