Questions

Acharei Mot

1. Why does the Torah emphasize that Parshas Acharei Mos was taught after the death of Aaron's sons?
2. What is the punishment for a Kohen Gadol who inappropriately enters the Kodesh Kodashim?
3. How long did the first Beis Hamikdash exist?
4. What did the Kohen Gadol wear when he entered the Kodesh Kodashim?
5. How many times did the Kohen Gadol change his clothing and immerse in the mikveh on Yom Kippur?
6. How many times did he wash his hands and feet from the Kiyor (copper laver)?
7. The Kohen Gadol offered a bull Chatas to atone for himself and his household. Who paid for it?
8. One of the goats that was chosen by lot went to Azazel. What is Azazel?
9. Who is included in the "household" of the Kohen Gadol?
10. For what sin does the goat Chatas atone?
11. After the Yom Kippur service, what is done with the four linen garments worn by the Kohen Gadol?
12. Where were the fats of the Chatas burned?
13. Who is solely responsible for attaining atonement for the Jewish People on Yom Kippur?
14. From one point in history, installation of the Kohen Gadol through anointing was no longer used but was conducted by donning the special garments of that office. From when and why?
15. What is the penalty of kares?
16. Which categories of animals must have their blood covered when they are slaughtered?
17. When a person eats a kosher bird that was improperly slaughtered (a neveilah), at what point does he contract tumah?
18. The Torah commands the Jewish People not to follow the "chukim" of the Canaanites. What are the forbidden "chukim"?
19. What is the difference between "mishpat" and "chok"?
20. May a man marry his wife's sister?

Kedoshim

1. Why was Parshat Kedoshim said in front of all the Jewish People?
2. Why does the Torah mention the duty to honor one's father before it mentions the duty to honor one's mother?
3. Why is the command to fear one's parents followed by the command to keep Shabbat?
4. Why does Shabbat observance supersede honoring parents?
5. What is "leket?"
6. 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?"
7. "Do not do wrong to your neighbor" (19:13). To what "wrong" is the Torah referring?
8. By when must you pay someone who worked for you during the day?
9. How does Rashi explain the prohibition "Don't put a stumbling block before a sightless person?"
10. 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?
11. When rebuking someone, what sin must one be careful to avoid?
12. It's forbidden to bear a grudge. What example does Rashi give of this?
13. The Torah forbids tattooing. How is a tattoo made?
14. How does one fulfill the mitzvah of "hadarta p'nei zaken?"
15. What punishment will never come to the entire Jewish People?
16. What penalty does the Torah state for cursing one's parents?
17. When the Torah states a death penalty but doesn't define it precisely, to which penalty is it referring?
18. What will result if the Jewish People ignore the laws of forbidden relationships?
19. Which of the forbidden relationships listed in this week's Parsha were practiced by the Canaanites?
20. 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

Acharei Mot

1. Why does the Torah emphasize that Parshas Acharei Mos was taught after the death of Aaron's sons?
   16:1 - To strengthen the warning not to enter the Kodesh Kodashim except on Yom Kippur.
2. What is the punishment for a Kohen Gadol who inappropriately enters the Kodesh Kodashim?
   16:2 - Death.
3. How long did the first Beis Hamikdash exist?
   16:3 - 410 years.
4. What did the Kohen Gadol wear when he entered the Kodesh Kodashim?
   16:4 - Only the four linen garments worn by an ordinary Kohen.
5. How many times did the Kohen Gadol change his clothing and immerse in the mikveh on Yom Kippur?
   16:4 - Five times.
6. How many times did he wash his hands and feet from the Kiyor (copper laver)?
   16:4 - Ten times.
7. The Kohen Gadol offered a bull Chatas to atone for himself and his household. Who paid for it?
   16:6 - The Kohen Gadol.
8. One of the goats that was chosen by lot went to Azazel. What is Azazel?
   16:8 - A jagged cliff.
9. Who is included in the "household" of the Kohen Gadol?
   16:11 - All the Kohanim.
10. For what sin does the goat Chatas atone?
    16:16 - For unknowingly entering the Beis Hamikdash in the state of tumah.
11. After the Yom Kippur service, what is done with the four linen garments worn by the Kohen Gadol?
    16:23 - They must be put into geniza and not be used again.
12. Where were the fats of the Chatas burned?
    16:25 - On the outer Mizbe'ach.
13. Who is solely responsible for attaining atonement for the Jewish People on Yom Kippur?
    16:32 - The Kohen Gadol.
14. From one point in history, installation of the Kohen Gadol through anointing was no longer used but was conducted by donning the special garments of that office. From when and why?
    16:32 - Anointing ceased during the kingship of Yoshiahu. At that time, the oil of anointing was hidden away.
15. What is the penalty of kares?
    17:9 - One's offspring die and one's own life is shortened.
16. Which categories of animals must have their blood covered when they are slaughtered?
    17:13 - Non domesticated kosher animals and all species of kosher birds.
17. When a person eats a kosher bird that was improperly slaughtered (a neveilah), at what point does he contract tumah?
    17:15 - When the food enters the esophagus.
18. The Torah commands the Jewish People not to follow the "chukim" of the Canaanites. What are the forbidden "chukim"?
    18:3 - Their social customs.
19. What is the difference between "mishpat" and "chok"?
    18:4 - A "mishpat" conforms to the human sense of justice. A "chok" is a law whose reason is not given to us and can only be understood as a decree from Hashem.
20. May a man marry his wife's sister?
    18:18 - Yes, but not during the lifetime of his wife.

Kedoshim

1. Why was Parshat Kedoshim said in front of all the Jewish People?
   19:2 - Because the fundamental teachings of the Torah are contained in this Parsha.
2. Why does the Torah mention the duty to honor one's father before it mentions the duty to honor one's mother?
   19:3 - Since it is more natural to honor one's mother, the Torah stresses the obligation to honor one's father.
3. Why is the command to fear one's parents followed by the command to keep Shabbat?
   19:3 - To teach that one must not violate Torah law even at the command of one's parents.
4. Why does Shabbat observance supersede honoring 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.
5. What is "leket?"
   19:9 - "Leket" is one or two stalks of grain accidentally dropped while harvesting. They are left for the poor.
6. 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?"
   19:11 - The Torah in Vayikra prohibits monetary theft. In Shemot it prohibits kidnapping.
7. "Do not do wrong to your neighbor" (19:13). To what "wrong" is the Torah referring?
   19:13 - Withholding wages from a worker.
8. By when must you pay someone who worked for you during the day?
   19:13 - Before the following dawn.
9. How does Rashi explain the prohibition "Don't put a stumbling block before a sightless person?"
   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.
10. 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?
    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.
11. When rebuking someone, what sin must one be careful to avoid?
    19:17 - Causing public embarrassment.
12. It's forbidden to bear a grudge. What example does Rashi give of this?
    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."
13. The Torah forbids tattooing. How is a tattoo made?
    19:28 - Ink is injected into the skin with a needle.
14. How does one fulfill the mitzvah of "hadarta p'nei zaken?"
    19:32 - By not sitting in the seat of elderly people, and by not contradicting their statements.
15. What punishment will never come to the entire Jewish People?
    20:3 - "Karet" -- being spiritually "cut off."
16. What penalty does the Torah state for cursing one's parents?
    20:9 - Death by stoning.
17. When the Torah states a death penalty but doesn't define it precisely, to which penalty is it referring?
    20:10 - Chenek (strangulation).
18. What will result if the Jewish People ignore the laws of forbidden relationships?
    20:22 - The land of Israel will "spit them out."
19. Which of the forbidden relationships listed in this week's Parsha were practiced by the Canaanites?
    20:23 - All of them.
20. Is it proper for a Jew to say "I would enjoy eating ham?"
    20:26 - Yes.

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