Parsha Q&A - Parshat Tetzaveh « Ohr Somayach

Parsha Q&A - Parshat Tetzaveh

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Parsha Q&A

Parshat Tetzaveh

For the week ending 13 Adar I 5760; 18 & 19 February 2000
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Kasha
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page
    • This publication is also available in the following formats: [Text] Explanation of these symbols

    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents

    1. What two precautions were taken to assure the purity of oil for the menorah?
    2. How was Aharon commanded to kindle the menorah?
    3. What does tamid mean in reference to the menorah?
    4. What does kehuna mean?
    5. Name the eight garments worn by the kohen gadol.
    6. To what does Rashi compare the ephod?
    7. In which order were the names of the Tribes inscribed on the ephod?
    8. The stones of the ephod bore the inscription of the names of the sons of Yaakov. Why?
    9. For what sins did the choshen mishpat atone?
    10. What are three meanings of the word mishpat?
    11. What was lacking in the bigdei kehuna in the second Beit Hamikdash?
    12. Which garment's fabric was woven of only one material?
    13. When the kohen gadol wore all his priestly garments, where on his head was the tefillin situated?
    14. What does the word tamid mean in reference to the tzitz? (two answers)
    15. Which garments were worn by a kohen hediot?
    16. During the inauguration of the kohanim, a bullock was brought as a sin offering. For what sin did this offering atone?
    17. Moshe was commanded to wash Aharon and his sons to prepare them to serve as kohanim (29:4). How were they washed?
    18. What was unique about the bull sin-offering brought during the inauguration of the kohanim?
    19. How did the oil used for the meal-offering differ from the oil used for the menorah?
    20. What does the crown on the mizbeach haketoret symbolize?

    Kasha
    (kasha means "question")

    Victor Sommers asked:

    Because Moshe said to Hashem "Erase me from Your book (33:32)," his name was omitted from Parshat Tetzaveh. Why specifically Parshat Tetzaveh? Why not some other Parsha?

    Answer: Originally, Moshe, and not Aharon, was to have been a kohen. But because he originally refused to be the one to lead the Jewish People out of Egypt, Moshe lost this privilege to his brother, Aharon. Since this week's Parsha begins with the command for Aharon and sons to assume the kehuna (priesthood), it is the first place in the Torah where Moshe's punishment of losing the kehuna is apparent. Therefore, the Torah included Moshe's other punishment as well, the punishment for saying "Erase me from Your Book."

    Oznaim L'Torah

    I Did Not Know That!

    The bells on the kohen gadol's tunic were there in order that "their noise be heard when he enters the Sanctuary (28:35)." This teaches that one should never barge into a room, even to one's own house. Rather, one should knock and then enter.

    Yalkut Shimoni (Thanks to Rabbi Sholem Fishbane)

    Recommended Reading List

    RAMBAN
    28:2
    Royal Robes
    28:5
    Trustworthy Treasurers
    28:30
    Divine Communication Through "Urim V'Tumim"
    29:9
    Donning of the Kohen's Garments
    30:1
    The Incense Altar
    MALBIM
    28:4
    Mystical Significance of the Garments

    SEFER HACHINUCH
    98
    The Menorah Lights
    99
    Inspiration from Attire
    102
    Respect from Eating
    103
    Respect from Smelling

    Answers to this Week's Questions

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

    1. What two precautions were taken to assure the purity of oil for the menorah?
      27:20 - The olives were pressed and not ground; and only the first drop was used.
    2. How was Aharon commanded to kindle the menorah?
      27:20 - He was commanded to kindle it until the flame ascended by itself.
    3. What does tamid mean in reference to the menorah?
      27:20 - It means that it should be kindled every night.
    4. What does kehuna mean?
      28:3 - Service.
    5. Name the eight garments worn by the kohen gadol.
      28:4,36,42 - Choshen, ephod, me'il, ketonet, mitznefet, avnet, tzitz, and michnasayim.
    6. To what does Rashi compare the ephod?
      28:6 - A woman's riding garment.
    7. In which order were the names of the Tribes inscribed on the ephod?
      28:10 - In order of birth.
    8. The stones of the ephod bore the inscription of the names of the sons of Yaakov. Why?
      28:12 - So that Hashem would see their names and recall their righteousness.
    9. For what sins did the choshenmishpat atone?
      28:15 - For judicial errors.
    10. What are three meanings of the word mishpat?
      28:15 -
      1. The claims of the litigants
      2. The court's ruling
      3. The court's punishment.
    11. What was lacking in the bigdei kehuna in the second Beit Hamikdash?
      28:30 - The Urim V'Tumim - the "Shem Ha'meforash" placed in the folds of the choshen.
    12. Which garment's fabric was woven of only one material?
      28:31 - The fabric of the me'il was made only of techelet.
    13. When the kohen gadol wore all his priestly garments, where on his head was the tefillin situated?
      28:37 - Between the tzitz and the mitznefet.
    14. What does the word tamid mean in reference to the tzitz? (two answers)
      28:38 -
      1. It always atones, even when not being worn
      2. The kohen gadol must always be aware that he is wearing it.
    15. Which garments were worn by a kohen hediot?
      28:40,42 - Ketonet, avnet, migba'at, and michnasayim.
    16. During the inauguration of the kohanim, a bullock was brought as a sin offering. For what sin did this offering atone?
      29:1 - The sin of the golden calf.
    17. Moshe was commanded to wash Aharon and his sons to prepare them to serve as kohanim (29:4). How were they washed?
      29:4 - They immersed in a mikveh.
    18. What was unique about the bull sin-offering brought during the inauguration of the kohanim?
      29:14 - It is the only external sin-offering that was completely burned.
    19. How did the oil used for the meal-offering differ from the oil used for the menorah?
      29:40 - Oil for the menorah comes only from beaten olives. Oil for meal-offerings may come from either beaten olives or from ground-up olives.
    20. What does the crown on the mizbeach haketoret symbolize?
      30:3 - The crown of kehuna.

    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Michael Treblow

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