Parshas Vayikra
Parshas Parah

For the week ending 1 Nissan 5758; 27 & 28 March 1998

This publication is also available in the following formats: Explanation of these symbols

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

1. What two types of sin does an olah atone for?
2. Where was the olah slaughtered?
3. What procedure of an animal-offering can be performed by a non-kohen?
4. Besides the fire brought on the mizbe'ach by the kohanim, where else did the fire come from?
5. At what stage of their development are torim (turtledoves) and bnei yona (young pigeons) unfit as offerings?
6. What is melika?
7. Why are animal innards offered on the altar, while bird innards are not?
8. What is the significance of the Torah describing both the animal and bird offerings as a "satisfying aroma"?
9. Why does the Torah use the term "nefesh" concerning the flour offering?
10. Which part of the free-will minchah offering is burned on the altar?
11. The Torah forbids bringing honey with the minchah. What is meant by "honey"?
12. When does the Torah permit the bringing of leavened bread as an offering?
13. Why is the peace offering called a shlamim? (Give two reasons.)
14. Concerning shlamim, why does the Torah teach about sheep and goats separately?
15. For most offerings the kohen may use a service vessel to apply the blood on the mizbe'ach. For which korban may he apply the blood using only his finger?
16. Who is obligated to bring a chatas?
17. Where were the remains of the bull burnt while in the wilderness? Where were they burnt after the Beis Hamikdash was built?
18. For which sins must one bring a korban oleh v'yored?
19. What two things does a voluntary minchah have that a minchas chatas lacks?
20. What is the minimum value of a korban asham?

Answer Contents	Rashi never just comments; something in the text always impels him to do so. Rashi’s comments are answers to unspoken questions and difficulties arising from a thoughtful reading of the Torah. Therefore, anyone who wants a true understanding of Rashi’s classic Torah commentary must always ask "What’s Bothering Rashi?"
"If a person (adam) amongst you offer an offering..." (Vayikra 1:2) Rashi: "Just like Adam, the first man, never offered offerings from stolen property, since everything belonged to him, so too you shall not bring offerings from stolen property." Why does Rashi need this midrashic explanation? Why not take the verse simply as referring to any man?

I Did Not Know That!

"He shall bring his offering from ... young doves (1:14)."

Only young doves are fit as offerings, whereas adult doves are not. Why? Because grown doves are overprotective and jealous of their mates and stir up needless strife and contention between other birds.

Rabbeinu B'chaya

Recommended Reading List

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

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

1. 1:4 - Neglecting a positive command and violating a negative command which is rectified by a positive command.
2. 1:5 - In the Tabernacle Courtyard (azarah).
3. 1:5 - Ritual slaughter.
4. 1:7 - It descended from heaven.
5. 1:14 - When their plumage becomes a golden color. At that stage the bnei yona are too old and the turim are still too young.
6. 1:15 - Slaughtering a bird offering from the back of the neck using one's fingernail.
7. 1:16 - An animal's food is provided by its owner, so its innards are "kosher." Birds, however, eat food that they scavenge, so their innards are tainted with "theft."
8. 1:17 - The size of the offering is irrelevant as long as your heart is honestly directed toward G-d.
9. 2:1 - Usually, it is a poor person who brings a flour offering. Therefore, Hashem regards it as if he had offered his nefesh (soul).
10. 2:1 - The kometz (fistful).
11. 2:11 - Any sweet fruit derivative.
12. 2:12 - On Shavuos.
13. 3:1 - It brings shalom to the world. Also it creates "peace" between the altar, the kohen, and the owner, since each gets a share.
14. 3:7 - Because they differ with regard to the alya (fat tail). The lamb's alya is burned on the altar but the goat's alya is not.
15. 3:8 - The chatas.
16. 4:2 - One who accidentally transgresses a negative commandment whose willing violation carries with it the penalty of kares (excision).
17. 4:12 - a) Outside the three camps. b) Outside Jerusalem.
18. 5:1-4 - One who refrains from giving evidence when adjured by oath; one who enters the Beis Hamikdash or eats kodesh food after unknowingly contracting tuma (uncleanliness) by touching certain tamei (unclean) things; one who unknowingly violates his oath.
19. 5:11 - Levona and oil.
20. 5:15 - Two shekalim.

Question Contents	Answer to "What’s Bothering Rashi?" The Torah usually uses the Hebrew word Ish to refer to a man, not Adam. This conspicuous change is what calls for a midrashic explanation..
	(Based on Dr. Avigdor Bonchek's book "What's Bothering Rashi?" Feldheim Publishers)

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
HTML 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.

Ohr Somayach's Web site is hosted by TeamGenesis

Copyright © 1998 Ohr Somayach International. Send us Feedback.
Dedication opportunities are available for Parsha Q&A. Please contact us for details.