Parsha Q&A - Parshas Shmini

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Shmini

For the week ending 24 Nissan 5759 / 9 & 10 April 1999

Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
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    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents

    1. What date was "yom hashmini"?
    2. Which of Aharon's korbanos atoned for the golden calf?
    3. What korbanos did Aharon offer for the Jewish People?
    4. What was unique about the chatas offered during the induction of the Mishkan?
    5. When did Aharon bless the people with the birkas kohanim?
    6. Why did Moshe go into the Ohel Mo'ed with Aharon?
    7. Why did Nadav and Avihu die?
    8. Aharon quietly accepted his sons' death. What reward did he receive for this?
    9. What prohibitions apply to a person who is intoxicated?
    10. Name the three chatas goat offerings that were sacrificed on the day of the inauguration of the Mishkan.
    11. Which he-goat chatas did Aharon burn completely and why?
    12. Why did Moshe direct his harsh words at Aharon's sons?
    13. Moshe was upset that Aharon and his sons did not eat the chatas. Why?
    14. Why did Hashem choose Moshe, Aharon, Elazar, and Isamar as His messengers to tell the Jewish People the laws of kashrus?
    15. What are the signs of a kosher land animal?
    16. How many non-kosher animals display only one sign of kashrus? What are they?
    17. If a fish sheds its fins and scales when out of the water, is it kosher?
    18. Why is a stork called chasida in Hebrew?
    19. The chagav is a kosher insect. Why don't we eat it?
    20. What requirements must be met in order for water to maintain its status of purity?

    I Did Not Know That!

    "Moshe asked: 'Why didn't you eat the sin offering?' Aharon answered: 'Were I to have eaten this day's sin offering, would Hashem approve?' Moshe heard and he approved." (10:17-20)

    Our Sages explain that the above exchange between Moshe and Aharon was actually a halachic dialogue regarding the question: Was Aharon, while mourning for his yet unburied sons, allowed to eat from the special inaugural offerings?

    This is the first place in the Torah text where we find the classic exercise of Torah Sheba'al Peh, the Oral Law, in which reasoning is used to ascertain the halacha.

    (Rabbi Tzaddok Hakohen)

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    9:17
    Relation of Miluim and Shemini Korbanos to Tamid
    10:15
    Heaving and Waving
    Sefer Hachinuch
    149
    Dignity in the House of Hashem
    150
    Respect for the Service

    Answers to this Week's Questions

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

    1. What date was "yom hashmini"?
      9:1 - First of Nissan.

    2. Which of Aharon's korbanos atoned for the golden calf?
      9:2 - The calf offered as a korban chatas.

    3. What korbanos did Aharon offer for the Jewish People?
      9:3,4 - A he-goat as a chatas, a calf and a lamb for an olah, an ox and a ram for shelamim, and a minchah.

    4. What was unique about the chatas offered during the induction of the Mishkan?
      9:11 - It's the only example of a chatas offered on the courtyard mizbe'ach that was burned.

    5. When did Aharon bless the people with the birkas kohanim?
      9:22 - When he finished offering the korbanos, before descending from the mizbe'ach.

    6. Why did Moshe go into the Ohel Mo'ed with Aharon?
      9:23 - For one of two reasons: Either to teach Aharon about the service of the incense, or to pray for the Shechina to dwell with Israel.

    7. Why did Nadav and Avihu die?
      10:2 - Rashi offers two reasons: Either because they gave a halachic ruling in Moshe's presence, or because they entered the Mishkan after drinking intoxicating wine.

    8. Aharon quietly accepted his sons' death. What reward did he receive for this?
      10:3 - A portion of the Torah was given solely through Aharon.

    9. What prohibitions apply to a person who is intoxicated?
      10:9-11 - He may not give a halachic ruling. Also, a kohen is forbidden to enter the Ohel Mo'ed, approach the mizbe'ach, or perform the avoda.

    10. Name the three chatas goat offerings that were sacrificed on the day of the inauguration of the Mishkan.
      10:16 - The goat offerings of the inauguration ceremony, of Rosh Chodesh, and of Nachshon ben Aminadav.

    11. Which he-goat chatas did Aharon burn completely and why?
      10:16 - The Rosh Chodesh chatas: Either because it became tamei, or because the kohanim were forbidden to eat from it while in the state of aninus (mourning).

    12. Why did Moshe direct his harsh words at Aharon's sons?
      10:16 - Out of respect for Aharon, Moshe directed his anger at his sons and not directly at Aharon.

    13. Moshe was upset that Aharon and his sons did not eat the chatas. Why?
      10:17 - Because only when the kohanim eat the chatas are the sins of the owners atoned.

    14. Why did Hashem choose Moshe, Aharon, Elazar, and Isamar as His messengers to tell the Jewish People the laws of kashrus?
      11:2 - Because they accepted the deaths of Nadav and Avihu in silence.

    15. What are the signs of a kosher land animal?
      11:3 - An animal whose hooves are completely split and who chews its cud.

    16. How many non-kosher animals display only one sign of kashrus? What are they?
      11:4,5,6,7 - Four: Camel, shafan, hare, and pig.

    17. If a fish sheds its fins and scales when out of the water, is it kosher?
      11:12 - Yes.

    18. Why is a stork called chasida in Hebrew?
      11:19 - Because it acts with chesed (kindness) toward other storks regarding food.

    19. The chagav is a kosher insect. Why don't we eat it?
      11:21 - We have lost the tradition and are not able to identify the kosher chagav.

    20. What requirements must be met in order for water to maintain its status of purity?
      11:36 - It must be connected to the ground (i.e., a spring or a cistern).
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Eli Ballon
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