* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary. Parshas Bechukosai For the week ending 20 Iyar 5755 in Israel (27 Iyar 5755)* 19 & 20 May 1955 (26 & 27 May 1995)* *week ending dates for locations outside of Israel ========================================================================== Ohr Somayach has a NEW Internet Address: ohr@jer1.co.il ========================================================================== Parsha Questions 1. To what do the words "bechukosai telechu" (walk in My statutes) refer? 2. When is "rain in its season" (26:4)? 3. What is the blessing of "v'achaltem lachm'chem l'sova" ("and you shall eat your bread until satisfaction" 26:5)? 4. The Torah repeats the promise that "your enemies shall fall before you." What is the meaning of this repetition? 5. What is the blessing, "v'hirbesi eschem" (26:9)? 6. Which "progression" of seven transgressions are taught in chapter 26, and why in that particular order? 7. The Torah threatens punishment if "you walk with Me `keri' (26:21)." What does the word "keri" mean? 8. What was the duration of the Babylonian exile and why that particular number? 9. How many years after entering the Land were the northern tribes exiled? 10. In verse 26:42, the name Yaakov is written with an extra "vav". From whom did Yaakov receive this extra letter and why? 11. In verse 26:42, why is the word "remember" not used in connection with the name of Yitzchak? 12. Why does the Torah say in 26:46 "Toros" (plural) and not "Torah" (singular)? 13. What happens when a poor person dedicates the value of a man to the Beis Hamikdash, and he doesn't have sufficient funds to fulfill his vow? 14. If a man dedicates an ancestral field to the Beis Hamikdash and fails to redeem it before Yovel, what happens to the field? 15. If a person dedicates an ancestral field to the Beis Hamikdash just after Yovel and someone wants to redeem it immediately, at what rate must he pay? 16. When a person dedicates a field that he bought from the original owner of an ancestral field, what happens to that field in Yovel? 17. Where must "Ma'aser Sheini" be eaten? 18. When a person wishes to redeem "Ma'aser Sheini", must he always pay a fifth more than its value? 19. When a person redeems "Ma'aser Sheini", what happens to the food? What happens to the redemption money? 20. How does a person tithe his animals? Bonus QUESTION: The Parsha promises physical reward for keeping mitzvos -- for instance, plentiful food and peace. How is this to be understood in light of the principle that `reward for mitzvos is in the World to Come'? I Did Not Know That! The rebuke in Parshas Bechukosai consists of 390 words, corresponding to the 390 years the ten tribes sinned prior to their exile. Ba'al Haturim ========================================================================== Answers to this Week's Questions All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated 1. 26:3 - Laboring in Torah learning. 2. 26:4 - At times when people are not outside (e.g., Shabbos nights). 3. 26:5 - You will only require a little bread to be completely satisfied. 4. 26:8 - That they shall fall in a supernatural way. 5. 26:9 - That Hashem will make you great physically with an upright stature. 6. 26:14,15 - Not studying Torah, not observing mitzvos, rejecting those who do keep mitzvos, hating Sages, preventing others from keeping mitzvos, denying that Hashem gave the mitzvos, denying the existence of Hashem. They are listed in this order because each transgression begets the next. 7. 26:21 - Irregularly. This refers to mitzvah observance that is inconsistent. 8. 26:35 - 70 years. Because the Jewish People violated 70 Shmita and Yovel years. 9. 26:35 - 390 years. 10. 26:42 - Five places in the Torah Yaakov's name is written with an extra "vav" and in five places the name Eliyahu is missing a "vav". Yaakov took these "vavs" as a pledge that Eliyahu will one day come and announce the redemption of Yaakov's children. 11. 26:42 - Because the image of Yitzchak's ashes [who was prepared to be brought as an offering] upon the altar is always before Hashem. 12. 26:46 - To teach that both the Written Torah and the Oral Torah were given to Moshe on Har Sinai. 13. 27:8 - The poor person goes before the Kohen, who sets the obligation according to the person's ability to pay. 14. 27:16 - It becomes the property of the Kohanim who are on rotation at the beginning of Yovel. 15. 27:17 - At the rate of 50 shekels for each area in which a kor of barley seed can be planted. 16. 27:22 - It returns to the person who originally sold the field. 17. 27:30 - In Jerusalem. 18. 27:31 - No. He only adds a fifth if he is redeeming his own "Ma'aser Sheini". 19. 27:31 - The food becomes permissible to him outside of Jerusalem. The redemption money must be brought to Jerusalem and used to purchase food to be eaten there. 20. 27:32 - He passes them through a door individually and every tenth animal he marks with a rod smeared with red dye. Bonus ANSWER: Hashem's promise to the Jewish People is that if they wish to keep the Torah, He will provide them with the physical means to do so. But, the true reward for mitzvah observance is received in "Olam Haba" -- the World to Come. Rambam, Hilchos Teshuvah 9:1 ========================================================================== What do you do with Parsha Q&A? Shimon in Israel writes: "...Q&A has become a standard part of our Shabbat table conversation, and helps guide the Torah talk at the table." What do you do with Parsha Q&A? 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