* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary. Parshat Acharei Mot For the week ending 24 Nissan 5760 / 28 & 29 April 2000 ================================== PARSHA QUESTIONS 1. Why does the Torah emphasize that Parshat Acharei Mot was taught after the death of Aharon's sons? 2. What is the punishment for a kohen gadol who inappropriately enters the kodesh kodashim? 3. How long did the first Beit Hamikdash stand? 4. What did the kohen gadol wear when he entered the kodesh kodashim? 5. How many times did the kohen gadol change his clothing and immerse in the mikveh on Yom Kippur? 6. How many times did he wash his hands and feet from the kiyor (copper laver)? 7. The kohen gadol offered a bull chatat to atone for himself and his household. Who paid for it? 8. One of the goats that was chosen by lot went to azazel. What is azazel? 9. Who is included in the "household" of the kohen gadol? 10. For what sin does the goat chatat atone? 11. After the Yom Kippur service, what is done with the four linen garments worn by the kohen gadol? 12. Where were the fats of the chatat burned? 13. Who is solely responsible for attaining atonement for the Jewish People on Yom Kippur? 14. From one point in history, installation of the kohen gadol through anointing was no longer used but was conducted by donning the special garments of that office. From when and why? 15. What is the penalty of karet? 16. Which categories of animals must have their blood covered when they are slaughtered? 17. When a person eats a kosher bird that was improperly slaughtered (a neveilah), at what point does he contract tumah? 18. The Torah commands the Jewish People not to follow the chukim of the Canaanites. What are the forbidden "chukim"? 19. What is the difference between a mishpat and a chok? 20. May a man marry his wife's sister? ================================== BONUS QUESTION Verses 18:1-29 list the prohibitions against immorality. Why do we read this section during the minchah of Yom Kippur? ================================== I DID NOT KNOW THAT! In preparation for Yom Kippur, a second kohen was inducted as kohen gadol in case the first kohen gadol became ineligible. * Ramban ================================== RECOMMENDED READING LIST Ramban 16:21 The Scapegoat 17:2 Meat in the Midbar 17:7 Demons 17:11 Prohibition Against Eating Blood Sefer HaChinuch 184 The Sanctity of the Mishkan 185 Yom Kippur 187 Covering the Blood Sforno 16:30 Repentance 17:7 Demons ================================== ANSWERS TO THIS WEEK'S QUESTIONS All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated 1. Why does the Torah emphasize that Parshat Acharei Mot was taught after the death of Aharon's sons? 16:1 - To strengthen the warning not to enter the kodesh kodashim except on Yom Kippur. 2. What is the punishment for a kohen gadol who inappropriately enters the kodesh kodashim? 16:2 - Death. 3. How long did the first Beit Hamikdash stand? 16:3 - 410 years. 4. What did the kohen gadol wear when he entered the kodesh kodashim? 16:4 - Only the four linen garments worn by an ordinary kohen. 5. How many times did the kohen gadol change his clothing and immerse in the mikveh on Yom Kippur? 16:4 - Five times. 6. How many times did he wash his hands and feet from the kiyor (copper laver)? 16:4 - Ten times. 7. The kohen gadol offered a bull chatat to atone for himself and his household. Who paid for it? 16:6 - The kohen gadol. 8. One of the goats that was chosen by lot went to azazel. What is azazel? 16:8 - A jagged cliff. 9. Who is included in the "household" of the kohen gadol? 16:11 - All the kohanim. 10. For what sin does the goat chatat atone? 16:16 - For unknowingly entering the Beit Hamikdash in the state of tumah. 11. After the Yom Kippur service, what is done with the four linen garments worn by the kohen gadol? 16:23 - They must be put into geniza and not be used again. 12. Where were the fats of the chatat burned? 16:25 - On the outer mizbe'ach. 13. Who is solely responsible for attaining atonement for the Jewish People on Yom Kippur? 16:32 - The kohen gadol. 14. From one point in history, installation of the kohen gadol through anointing was no longer used but was conducted by donning the special garments of that office. From when and why? 16:32 - Anointing ceased during the kingship of Yoshiahu. At that time, the oil of anointing was hidden away. 15. What is the penalty of karet? 17:9 -- One's offspring die and one's own life is shortened. 16. Which categories of animals must have their blood covered when they are slaughtered? 17:13 - Non-domesticated kosher animals and all species of kosher birds. 17. When a person eats a kosher bird that was improperly slaughtered (a neveilah), at what point does he contract tumah? 17:15 - When the food enters the esophagus. 18. The Torah commands the Jewish People not to follow the chukim of the Canaanites. What are the forbidden "chukim"? 18:3 - Their social customs. 19. What is the difference between a mishpat and a chok? 18:4 - A mishpat conforms to the human sense of justice. A chok is a law whose reason is not given to us and can only be understood as a decree from Hashem. 20. May a man marry his wife's sister? 18:18 - Yes, but not during the lifetime of his wife. ================================== ANSWER TO BONUS QUESTION QUESTION: Verses 18:1-29 list the prohibitions against immorality. Why do we read this section during the minchah of Yom Kippur? ANSWER: To teach that even during the holiest day of the year, one must be careful to guard oneself against even the most base abominations. * Mayana Shel Torah ================================== If you like this e-mail please share it with a friend. ================================== Do you know about ALL of Ohr Somayach's e-mail lists? 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