For the week ending 20 April 2019 / 15 Nisan 5779
Parshat Kedoshim
Questions
- Why was Parshat Kedoshim said in front of all the Jewish People?
- Why does the Torah mention the duty to honor one's father before it mentions the duty to honor one's mother?
- Why is the command to fear one's parents followed by the command to keep Shabbat?
- Why does Shabbat observance supersede honoring parents?
- What is "leket?"
- In Shemot 20:13, the Torah commands "Do not steal." What does the Torah add when it commands in Vayikra 19:11 "Do not steal?"
- "Do not do wrong to your neighbor" (19:13). To what "wrong" is the Torah referring?
- By when must you pay someone who worked for you during the day?
- How does Rashi explain the prohibition "Don't put a stumbling block before a sightless person?"
- In a monetary case involving a poor person and a rich person, a judge is likely to wrongly favor the poor person. What rationale does Rashi give for this?
- When rebuking someone, what sin must one be careful to avoid?
- It's forbidden to bear a grudge. What example does Rashi give of this?
- The Torah forbids tattooing. How is a tattoo made?
- How does one fulfill the mitzvah of "hadarta p'nei zaken?"
- What punishment will never come to the entire Jewish People?
- What penalty does the Torah state for cursing one's parents?
- When the Torah states a death penalty but doesn't define it precisely, to which penalty is it referring?
- What will result if the Jewish People ignore the laws of forbidden relationships?
- Which of the forbidden relationships listed in this week's Parsha were practiced by the Canaanites?
- Is it proper for a Jew to say "I would enjoy eating ham?"
Answers
All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated
- 19:2 - Because the fundamental teachings of the Torah are contained in this Parsha.
- 19:3 - Since it is more natural to honor one's mother, the Torah stresses the obligation to honor one's father.
- 19:3 - To teach that one must not violate Torah law even at the command of one's parents.
- 19:3 - Because the parents are also commanded by Hashem to observe Shabbat. Parents deserve great honor, but not at the "expense" of Hashem's honor.
- 19:9 - "Leket" is one or two stalks of grain accidentally dropped while harvesting. They are left for the poor.
- 19:11 - The Torah in Vayikra prohibits monetary theft. In Shemot it prohibits kidnapping.
- 19:13 - Withholding wages from a worker.
- 19:13 - Before the following dawn.
- 19:13 - Don't give improper advice to a person who is unaware in a matter. For example, don't advise someone to sell his field, when in reality you yourself wish to buy it.
- 19:15 - The judge might think: "This rich person is obligated to give charity to this poor person regardless of the outcome of this court case. Therefore, I'll rule in favor of the poor person. That way, he'll receive the financial support he needs without feeling shame.
- 19:17 - Causing public embarrassment.
- 19:18 - Person A asks person B: "Can I borrow your shovel?" Person B says: "No." The next day, B says to A: "Can I borrow your scythe?" A replies: "Sure, I'm not stingy like you are."
- 19:28 - Ink is injected into the skin with a needle.
- 19:32 - By not sitting in the seat of elderly people, and by not contradicting their statements.
- 20:3 - "Karet" -- being spiritually "cut off."
- 20:9 - Death by stoning.
- 20:10 - Chenek (strangulation).
- 20:22 - The land of Israel will "spit them out."
- 20:23 - All of them.
- 20:26 - Yes.
