Parsha Q&A - Parshas Beha'aloscha

Parshas Beha'aloscha

For the week ending 19 Sivan 5758 / 12 - 13 June 1998

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Sherlox Holmes

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

Toward which direction did the wicks of the menorah burn, and why?
From what material and in what manner was the menorah made?
Moshe was commanded to cleanse the levi'im by sprinkling on them "mei chatas." What is "mei chatas"?
Which three "tnufos" (wavings) are in the Parsha?
Why did Hashem claim the firstborn of the Jewish People as His possession?
Why are the words "Bnei Yisrael" repeated five times in verse 8:19?
When a levi reaches the age of 50, which functions may he still perform?
Why was the mitzvah of Pesach Sheni not commanded directly to Moshe?
What similarity is there between the menorah and the trumpets?
What three purposes did trumpet signals serve?
How many tribes marched between the Gershon-Merari detachment and that of Kehas? How was the time differential used?
The tribe of Dan, who traveled last, was called "the gatherer of all the camps." What did they gather?
When the Jewish People entered the Land, who took temporary possession of Jericho?
Which aron is referred to in verse 10:33?
Which two topics are not in their chronological order in the Parsha?
Which tastes did the manna not offer, and why not?
Moshe was commanded to choose 70 elders to help him lead the Jewish People. What happened to the elders who led the Jewish People in Egypt?
What was Moshe's guideline for choosing the seventy elders?
What was the prophecy of Eldad and Medad?
Why did Miriam deserve to have all the people wait for her to recover?

Solution Contents	Sherlox Holmes & The Mystery of the Estranged Wife "I see you've been to the post office, Dr. Watstein," said world famous detextive Sherlox Holmes. "How on earth did you know?" asked Watstein. "There's a tiny fleck of mud on your trousers just above your left knee. Only a vehicle moving at top speed would spatter mud to such a height. But it rained only two hours ago - before that, the roads were completely mud-free. The only scheduled arrival during the last two hours was the postal coach. Besides," said Sherlox, "you're clutching a packet of letters." "True genius! Here's a letter for you from your sister." Sherlox took the letter and read it. "Ah, how good it is when siblings maintain brotherly communication," he said. "Speaking of which," said Watstein, "can you explain the following brotherly dialogue between Miriam and her brother Aharon? 'Miriam and Aharon spoke against Moshe regarding the matter of the Cushite woman whom he had married...' (Numbers 12:1). Rashi comments: 'Regarding the matter of her divorce.' What possible textual justification is there to bring in the idea of divorce? The text speaks only of marriage, not of divorce!" "Watstein, you're asking an excellent question," Sherlox said. Sherlox fell silent and fixed his gaze in the distance, his eyes twitching from side to side as if scanning an imaginary text. Suddenly, his face lit up. "I've got the answer!" he said.

Solution
Contents

Sherlox Holmes & The Mystery of the Estranged Wife

"I see you've been to the post office, Dr. Watstein," said world famous detextive Sherlox Holmes.

"How on earth did you know?" asked Watstein.

"There's a tiny fleck of mud on your trousers just above your left knee. Only a vehicle moving at top speed would spatter mud to such a height. But it rained only two hours ago - before that, the roads were completely mud-free. The only scheduled arrival during the last two hours was the postal coach. Besides," said Sherlox, "you're clutching a packet of letters."

"True genius! Here's a letter for you from your sister."

Sherlox took the letter and read it. "Ah, how good it is when siblings maintain brotherly communication," he said.

"Speaking of which," said Watstein, "can you explain the following brotherly dialogue between Miriam and her brother Aharon? 'Miriam and Aharon spoke against Moshe regarding the matter of the Cushite woman whom he had married...' (Numbers 12:1). Rashi comments: 'Regarding the matter of her divorce.' What possible textual justification is there to bring in the idea of divorce? The text speaks only of marriage, not of divorce!"

"Watstein, you're asking an excellent question," Sherlox said. Sherlox fell silent and fixed his gaze in the distance, his eyes twitching from side to side as if scanning an imaginary text. Suddenly, his face lit up. "I've got the answer!" he said.

I Did Not Know That!

Altogether, at least 21 trumpet sounds were blown in the Beis Hamikdash every day. Three in the morning, to signal that the gates were opened. Nine during the daily tamid offering of the morning. Nine during the daily tamid offering of the afternoon.

In addition: Another nine, on days when there was a mussaf sacrifice. On every erev Shabbos, three sounds were blown in the afternoon to remind people that it was time to stop working. As Shabbos was about to begin, another three sounds were blown.

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

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

8:2 - They leaned toward the middle wick so that people would not say that the kohen lit the menorah for its light.
8:4 - It was made from one solid piece of gold.
8:7 - Water containing ashes of the parah aduma.
8:11 - The wavings of Kehas, Gershon and Merari.
8:17 - Because in Egypt He spared them during makas bechoros.
8:19 - To show Hashem's love for them.
8:25 - He may close the gates of the courtyard of the Mishkan and Beis Hamikdash, may sing during the avoda, and may load the wagons when the Mishkan is to be transported.
9:7 - The people who asked about it were rewarded and merited being the catalyst for the teaching of this mitzvah.
8:4, 10:2 - They were each made from a single, solid block.
10:2-7 - Announcement of the gathering of Bnei Yisrael, the gathering of the nesi'im, and the beginning of a move of the encampment.
10:17-21 - Three tribes: Reuven, Shimon and Gad. In the time it took Kehas to reach the destination, Gershon and Merari set up the Mishkan.
10:25 - They gathered and returned anything lost by people from the other tribes.
10:32 - The children of Yisro.
10:33 - The aron which held the broken pieces of the first tablets, which was taken to the battlefront.
9:1, 10:35,36 - The Pesach sacrifice, and the traveling of the aron.
11:5 - Cucumbers, melons, leeks, onion and garlic - these are harmful to nursing women.
11:16 - They were consumed in the fire at Taverah (11:3).
11:16 - People who were supervisors in Egypt and had pity on Bnei Yisrael at risk to themselves.
11:28 - "Moshe will die and Yehoshua will lead the Jewish People into the Land."
12:15 - Because she waited for Moshe when he was cast into the river.

Mystery Contents	Solution to Sherlox Holmes "As I'm sure you've noticed, Watstein, the text makes clear that Miriam spoke regarding Moshe's wife; but we are left in the dark regarding the nature of her remarks." "Yes, the verse doesn't tell us what Miriam said." "And in the next verse," said Sherlox, "Miriam and Aharon compare their prophetic abilities to that of Moshe: 'And they said: Did the L-rd speak only through Moshe? Did He not also speak through us?' This seems an absolute non sequitur. What does this verse have to do with the previous one?" "I was puzzled by that as well!" said Watstein. "What does their prophetic ability have to do with Moshe's marriage?" "Indeed, Watstein, what is the connection between prophecy and marriage? To answer this, I scoured my memory until I found the only place in the entire Torah text where a connection is made between prophecy and marriage: At the prophetic Sinai experience. There the text says, 'Be ready after a three-day period; one shall not approach one's spouse.' And what is the reason? The reason is: 'For on the third day the L-rd shall descend in the sight of the entire people (Exodus 19 11, 15)'." "Go on," said Watstein. "From those verses we see a clear connection between marriage - or rather the suspension of marriage - and prophecy. That is, the (temporary) separation of spouses is a prerequisite to the experience of prophecy. Hence, Miriam's complaint against Moshe must have been regarding his separation from his wife. Miriam, by pointing to her own prophetic abilities meant to show that one need not be divorced in order to experience prophecy." "Genius, Mr. Holmes. Sheer genius." (Based on Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch)

Mystery
Contents

Solution to Sherlox Holmes

"As I'm sure you've noticed, Watstein, the text makes clear that Miriam spoke regarding Moshe's wife; but we are left in the dark regarding the nature of her remarks."

"Yes, the verse doesn't tell us what Miriam said."

"And in the next verse," said Sherlox, "Miriam and Aharon compare their prophetic abilities to that of Moshe: 'And they said: Did the L-rd speak only through Moshe? Did He not also speak through us?' This seems an absolute non sequitur. What does this verse have to do with the previous one?"

"I was puzzled by that as well!" said Watstein. "What does their prophetic ability have to do with Moshe's marriage?"

"Indeed, Watstein, what is the connection between prophecy and marriage? To answer this, I scoured my memory until I found the only place in the entire Torah text where a connection is made between prophecy and marriage: At the prophetic Sinai experience. There the text says, 'Be ready after a three-day period; one shall not approach one's spouse.' And what is the reason? The reason is: 'For on the third day the L-rd shall descend in the sight of the entire people (Exodus 19 11, 15)'."

"Go on," said Watstein.

"From those verses we see a clear connection between marriage - or rather the suspension of marriage - and prophecy. That is, the (temporary) separation of spouses is a prerequisite to the experience of prophecy. Hence, Miriam's complaint against Moshe must have been regarding his separation from his wife. Miriam, by pointing to her own prophetic abilities meant to show that one need not be divorced in order to experience prophecy."

"Genius, Mr. Holmes. Sheer genius."

(Based on Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch)

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Eli Ballon
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Parsha Q&A - Parshas Beha'aloscha

Parshas Beha'aloscha

Parsha Questions

Sherlox Holmes & The Mystery of the Estranged Wife

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to this Week's Questions

Solution to Sherlox Holmes