Parsha Q&A - Chukas « Ohr Somayach

Parshas Chukas

Outside of Israel, for the week ending 12 Tamuz 5756; 28 & 29 June 1996
In Israel, for the week ending 5 Tamuz 5756; 21 & 22 June 1996

Contents:

Parsha Questions

Bonus Question

I Did Not Know That!

Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

How many non-red hairs disqualify a cow from being a Parah Adumah (red heifer)?
Where is the sprinkling of the waters of the Parah Adumah performed?
Some of the ashes of the Parah Adumah were kept on Har Hamishchah. For what were they used?
A man dies in a tent. What happens to the people and the utensils that are in the tent?
What happens to the one who: a) sprinkles the water concocted from the ashes of the Parah Adumah; b) touches the "water"; c) carries the "water"?
Why was the mitzvah of the Parah Adumah entrusted to Elazar rather than to Aaron?
Why does the Torah stress that all the of congregation came to Midbar Tzin?
Why is Miriam's death taught after the section of the Parah Adumah?
During their journey in the midbar, through who's merit did the Jewish People receive water?
Why did Moshe need to strike the rock a second time?
When Moshe told the King of Edom that the Jewish People would not drink from the well-water, to which well did he refer? What do we learn from this?
The cloud that led the Jewish People in the midbar leveled all the mountains that were in their path except for three. Which three and why?
Why did the entire congregation mourn the death of Aaron?
What disappeared when Aaron died?
Who was "the inhabitant of the South" (21:1) that attacked the Jewish People?
Why did the Jewish People encamp in Arnon, rather than pass through Moav to enter Eretz Canaan?
What miracle took place at the valley of Arnon?
What was the "strength" of Amon that prevented the Jewish People from entering into their land?
Why was Moshe afraid of Og?
Who killed Og?

Answer Contents	Verse 20:23 states that Aaron died on the border of Edom. Rashi says that the Jewish people lost Aaron there because they wanted a closer relationship with the evil Eisav. But verse 20:24 states that Aaron died because of his sin at Mei Meriva. Why does Rashi attribute Aaron's death to a different reason?

About the Red Heifer for purification the Torah states that one should take an animal that has "no blemish, and which has never carried a yoke." (19:2)
If a person feels that he has no faults, then he has never accepted upon himself the yoke of Heaven.

Rav Yaakov Yitchak Hurwitz

Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

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

19:2 - Two.
19:4 - East of Jerusalem in a spot where the Segan can see the entrance of the Hechal.
19:9 - They were used by the Kohen Gadol to purify himself in order that he might prepare other Paros Adumos.
19:14,15 - The people, the metal utensils, and the unsealed earthenware utensils contract tumas meis. The sealed earthenware vessels are unaffected.
19:21 - a) Remains tahor; b) he, but not his clothing, contracts tumah; c) he and his clothing contract tumah.
19:22 (19:3) - Because Aaron was involved in the sin of the golden calf.
To teach that they were all fit to enter Eretz Yisrael, because anyone who had sinned with the spies had already died.
20:1 - To teach that just as sacrifices bring atonement, so too does the death of the righteous.
20:2 - Miriam's.
20:11 - After he hit it the first time, only a few drops came out since he was commanded to speak to the rock.
20:17 - To the well that traveled with the nation in the midbar. This teaches that even if one has adequate provisions, he should purchase goods from his host in order to benefit him.
20:22 - The mountains that were spared were Har Sinai for the giving of the Torah, Har Nevo for Moshe's burial place, and Hor Hahar for Aaron's burial place.
20:29 - Aaron made peace between contending parties including man and wife. Thus when he died, both men and women mourned.
20:29 - The ananei hakavod (clouds of glory) disappeared, since they sheltered the Jewish People in the merit of Aaron.
21:1 - Amalek.
21:13 - Moav refused to let them pass through their land.
21:15 - The Amorites concealed themselves in caves in the mountain on the Moabite side of the valley in order to ambush the Jewish People. When the Jewish People approached, the mountain on the Eretz Canaan side of the valley moved close to the other mountain and the Amorites were crushed between the two mountains.
21:24 - Hashem's command, "Do not harass them (Devarim 2:19)."
21:34 - Og had once been of service to Avraham. Moshe was afraid that this merit would assist Og in battle.
21:35 - Moshe.

Question Contents	When Hashem punishes someone, He takes into consideration the ramifications that the punishment will have on the entire world. Aaron died because of his sin at Mei Meriva. Rashi, however, teaches that the Jewish People deserved to lose Aaron there, because they wished to unite with Edom. Sfas Emes

Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
HTML Design: Michael Treblow

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Parsha Q&A - Chukas

Parshas Chukas

Parsha Questions

I Did Not Know That!

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