Parsha Q&A - Ki Sisa « Ohr Somayach

Parshas Ki Sisa

For the week ending 22 Adar I 5757; 28 February & 1 March 1997

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Contents:

Parsha Questions

Bonus Question

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

How many 'geira' are there in a shekel?
What was the minimum age of military service in the Jewish army?
What were the three different types of terumah donated?
The Jews were counted after Yom Kippur and again after Pesach. Both times they numbered the same amount. How can this be? Didn't some 19 year olds turn 20 during that six month period?
How many ingredients comprise the incense of the Mishkan?
According to Rashi, why are sailors called 'malachim?'
What is the difference between chochma (wisdom), bina (understanding), and da'as (knowledge)?
Shabbos is a 'sign.' What does it signify?
When did the Jewish People begin to give contributions for the building of the Mishkan?
How many books are there in Tanach?
From where did the men take the earrings that they donated to make the calf?
Why did Aaron build the altar for the golden calf by himself?
Why did Moshe break the Tablets?
How can two brothers belong to two different tribes?
Why did Moshe ask that his name be erased from the Torah?
How has the sin of the golden calf affected the Jewish People throughout history?
In verse 33:2, Hashem says that the inhabitants of Eretz Canaan would be driven out of the Land. In that verse, only six of the seven Canaanite nations are mentioned. What happened to the seventh?
How did Hashem show that He forgave the Jewish People?
How did Moshe become wealthy?
How do the light rays shining from Moshe's face show us the powerful effect of sin?

Answer Contents	"The rich man should not give more nor should the poor man give less than a half shekel to atone for their souls." (30:15)." Why shouldn't the rich man give more?

I Did Not Know That!

Hashem said to Moshe, "Whoever sins against Me, I will him erase from My book." (32:33)."

This should be read as a rhetorical question: "Whoever sins against Me, will I erase him from My book?!" Hashem was telling Moshe: "You have asked Me to erase you from My book. But it is not My way to erase a person from My book, even a person who has sinned against Me."

Maharil Diskin

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

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

30:13 - Twenty.
30:14 - Twenty.
30:15 - For the Adanim (sockets), for the purchase of communal sacrifices, and for the building of the Mishkan.
30:16 - Their ages were calculated based on Rosh Hashana, not based on their individual birthdays.
30:34 - Eleven ingredients were used making the incense.
30:35 - Because they stir (malach) the water with their oars.
31:3 - Chochma is knowledge acquired from others. Bina is the deduction of new knowledge from what one has already learned. Da'as is holy inspiration.
31:13 - It is a sign between Hashem and the Jewish People that He has chosen them and a sign to the nations of the world that He has sanctified the Jewish People.
31:18 - The 11th of Tishrei.
31:18 - 24.
32:2,3 - From their ears.
32:5 - He hoped that by building it by himself it would take longer and in the interim Moshe would return.
32:19 - Moshe reasoned: If the Torah forbids those who have estranged themselves from the Torah to partake in even a single commandment (Pesach sacrifice), surely the entire Torah cannot be given to a whole nation who has estranged itself from Hashem!
32:27 - Half-brothers, sharing the same mother.
32:32 - So people shouldn't say "Moshe was unworthy to plead for mercy on behalf of the Jewish people."
32:34 - Whenever Hashem punishes the Jewish People, part of that punishment comes as payment for the sin of the golden calf.
33:2 - The seventh nation, the Girgashites, voluntarily emigrated.
33:14 - He agreed to let His Shechina dwell among them.
34:1 - Moshe carved the Tablets out of precious stone. Hashem commanded Moshe to keep the leftover fragments.
34:35 - Before the sin of the golden calf, the people would not have been afraid to look at the light rays, but after the sin they were afraid.

Question Contents	So that by counting the half shekel coins, they will know how many people there are. Daas Zekenim Miba'alei Hatosfos

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
HTML Design: Michael Treblow
HTML Assistance: Simon Shamoun

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Parsha Q&A - Ki Sisa

Parshas Ki Sisa

Parsha Questions

I Did Not Know That!

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