* PARSHA Q&A * In-Depth Questions on the Parsha and Rashi's commentary. Parshas Pekudei For the week ending 6 Adar II 5757 14 & 15 March 1997 =========================================================================== This issue is sponsored by Herschel Kulefsky, Attorney at Law 15 Park Row, New York, NY 10038, 1-212-693-1671 =========================================================================== Ohr Somayach presents: "EVERYTHING you've always wanted to know about Purim... ...but didn't have a URL for it." Now you have it: http://www.ohr.org.il/special/purim/index.htm =========================================================================== Parsha Questions 1. Why is the word Mishkan stated twice in verse 38:21? 2. Why is the Mishkan called the "Mishkan of testimony"? 3. Who was appointed to carry the vessels of the Mishkan in the midbar? 4. Who was the officer in charge of the Levi'im? 5. What is the meaning of the name Betzalel? 6. How many people contributed a half-shekel to the Mishkan? Who contributed? 7. Which material used in the Bigdei Kehuna was not used in the coverings of the sacred vessels? 8. How were the gold threads made? 9. What was inscribed on the stones on the shoulders of the Ephod? 10. What was on the hem of the Me'il? 11. What did the Kohen Gadol wear between the Mitznefes and the Tzitz? 12. What role did Moshe play in the construction of the Mishkan? 13. Which date was the first time that the Mishkan was erected and not dismantled? 14. What was the "tent" which Moshe spread over the Mishkan (40:19)? 15. What "testimony" did Moshe place in the Aron? 16. What function did the Paroches serve? 17. Where was the Shulchan placed in the Mishkan? 18. Where was the Menorah placed in the Mishkan? 19. Who offered the communal sacrifices during the eight days of the dedication of the Mishkan? 20. On which day did both Moshe and Aharon serve as Kohanim? Bonus QUESTION "And the 100 silver kikar were melted for the (100) sockets...one kikar per socket...and the (remaining) 1775 shekelim were fashioned into hooks..." (38:27) Why does the Torah specify exactly what was done with the silver, whereas the Torah is not as specific regarding the gold? I Did Not Know That! The words "as Hashem commanded" appear 18 times regarding the Mishkan's construction. The Sages instituted 18 blessings in the Shemone Esrei prayer to correspond to these 18 commands. Today, when we have no Beis Hamikdash, the 18 blessings of the Shemone Esrei substitute for the sacrifices offered in the Mishkan. Vayikra Rabba 1:18 [thanks to Rabbi Sholem Fishbane] =========================================================================== Recommended Reading List Ramban 38:22 Betzalel's Genius 40:2 Timetable of the Yemei Milu'im Ibn Ezra 38:11 Sunshine and Rain 40:35 Covering the Aron Sforno 40:18 Essence of the Mishkan Ba'al HaTurim 39:27 Storage of the Garments Aderes Eliyahu 39:33 The World of the Mishkan =========================================================================== Answers to this Week's Questions All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated 1. 38:21 - To allude to the Beis Hamikdash that would twice be taken as a "mashkon" (pledge) for the sins of the Jewish People until the nation repents. 2. 38:21 - It was testimony for the Jewish People that Hashem forgave them for the golden calf and allowed His Shechina to dwell among them. 3. 38:21 - The Levi'im. 4. 38:21 - Isamar ben Aharon. 5. 38:22 - "In the shadow of G-d." 6. 38:26 - 603,550. Every man age twenty and over (except the Levi'im). 7. 39:1 - Linen. (See Rashi 31:10). 8. 39:3 - The gold was beaten into thin plates from which threads were cut. (See Rashi 28:6). 9. 39:6, 39:7 - The names of the tribes. 10. 39:24,25 - Woven pomegranates and golden bells. 11. 39:31 - Tefillin. 12. 39:33 - He stood it up. 13. 40:17 - Rosh Chodesh Nissan of the second year in the Midbar. For seven days before this, during the consecration of Aharon and his sons, Moshe erected and dismantled the Mishkan. (Rashi 39:29) 14. 40:19 - The curtain of goat-skin. 15. 40:20 - The Luchos HaBris. 16. 40:21 - It served as a partition for the Aron. 17. 40:22 - On the northern side of the "Ohel Mo'ed," outside the "Paroches." 18. 40:24 - On the southern side of the "Ohel Mo'ed" opposite the "Shulchan." 19. 40:29 - Moshe. 20. 40:31 - On the eighth day of the consecration of the Mishkan. Bonus ANSWER: Because everyone gave exactly half of a silver shekel, the total amount of silver was public knowledge. Therefore, the more relevant question regarding the silver was "How was it used?" The gold, however, had been a free will offering, each person giving as much as he wanted. Therefore, the most relevant question regarding the gold was "How much was donated." Ahavas Yonasan (thanks to Rabbi Sholem Fishbane) =========================================================================== Do you link to us? Let everyone know about the Ohr Somayach Home Page by dropping the following text into the HTML document of YOUR home page: The Ohr Somayach International Home Page =========================================================================== "I'm looking for the E-Mail address of a student at Ohr Somayach..." 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