For the week ending 28 July 2018 / 16 Av 5778
Parshat Va'etchanan
Questions
- "And I prayed to Hashem at that time." Why "at that time"?
- What characteristic trait is represented by Hashem's "strong hand"?
- What is ha'levanon?
- What did Hashem tell Yehoshua after the battle of Ai?
- What will happen if the Jewish People fail to keep the mitzvot properly?
- How did the decree that Moshe not enter the Land affect him even in death?
- What is hinted by the word v'noshantem?
- Why were the Jewish People exiled two years earlier than indicated by Moshe's prophecy?
- "You'll serve man-made gods." Is this literal?
- Why is east called mizrach?
- "Keep the Shabbat day as I have commanded you." When had Hashem previously commanded us to keep Shabbat?
- Where did the Jewish People first receive the command to honor parents?
- What is meant by "Hashem, our
G-d , Hashem is One"? - What are two meanings of loving Hashem "with all your might"?
- How well-versed must one be in Torah?
- Where does the word totafot come from?
- Who is fit to swear in Hashem's name?
- What does it mean that the Jews are the "smallest nation"?
- When someone serves Hashem with love, how many generations receive reward?
- Why are evil-doers rewarded in this world?
Answers:
- "And I prayed to Hashem at that time." Why "at that time"?
3:23 - Defeating Sichon and Og, whose lands were part of Eretz Canaan, Moshe thought perhaps Hashem had annulled the vow against his entering the Land. - What characteristic trait is represented by Hashem's "strong hand"?
3:24 - His willingness to forgive. - What is ha'levanon?
3:25 - Ha'levanon means the Beit Hamikdash, which makes "white" (lavan), i.e., atones for, the Jewish People. - What did Hashem tell Yehoshua after the battle of Ai?
3:28 - Yehoshua must lead the army into battle. - What will happen if the Jewish People fail to keep the mitzvot properly?
4:9 - The non-Jewish world will regard them as foolish. - How did the decree that Moshe not enter the Land affect him even in death?
4:22 - Even his remains weren't buried in the Land. - What is hinted by the word v'noshantem?
4:25 - The gematria of v'noshantem, 852, hints at the number of years until the first exile. - Why were the Jewish People exiled two years earlier than indicated by Moshe's prophecy?
4:25 - So that the rest of the prophecy "that you shall utterly perish" would not be fulfilled. - "You'll serve man-made gods." Is this literal?
4:28 - No. It means you'll serve others who serve idols. - Why is east called mizrach?
4:41 - It's the direction from which the sun shines (mizrach means shining). - "Keep the Shabbat day as
I have commanded you." When had Hashem previously commanded us to keep Shabbat?
5:13 - Before Matan Torah, at Marah. (Shmot 15:25) - Where did the Jewish People first receive the command to honor parents?
5:16 - At Marah. (Shmot 15:25). - What is meant by "Hashem, our
G-d , Hashem is One"?
6:4 - Hashem, who is now ourG-d , but not [accepted as]G-d of the other nations, will eventually be [accepted as] the one and onlyG-d . - What are two meanings of loving Hashem "with all your might"?
6:5 - 1) With everything you own. 2) Whether Hashem treats you with kindness or harshness. - How well-versed must one be in Torah?
6:7 - If asked a Torah question, one should be able to reply quickly and clearly. - Where does the word totafot come from?
6:8 - Tot means two in Caspi. Fot means two in Afriki. Together they allude to the four sections of tefillin. - Who is fit to swear in Hashem's name?
6:13 - One who serves Hashem and reveres His name. - What does it mean that the Jews are the "smallest nation"?
7:7 - B'nei Yisrael are the humblest nation. - When someone serves Hashem with love, how many generations receive reward?
7:9 - 2,000. - Why are evil-doers rewarded in this world?
7:10 - So that they get no reward in the next world.