Parsha Q&A
Parshas V'zos Habracha
For 5 October 1996/22 Tishrei 5757 in Israel
6 October 1996/23 Tishrei 5757 Outside Israel
Parsha Questions
Answers | Contents- Prior to giving the Torah to the Jewish People, Hashem offered it to other nations. Name two of them.
- In what manner was the Torah written before it was given at Mt. Sinai?
- When the nations oppress the Jewish People, how do the righteous people react?
- Why is Yehuda blessed immediately after Reuven?
- Where is Shimon's blessing found in the Parsha?
- What covenant (bris) did the Tribe of Levi safeguard?
- Why was Binyamin blessed before Yosef?
- Which Tribe received the "best" portion of Eretz Yisrael?
- Why did Yehoshua need to conquer 31 kings if there were only 7 Canaanite nations?
- Who are the "thousands of Menashe"? (33:17)
- What was the partnership between Zevulun and Yissachar?
- Which five tribes were the weakest?
- What three things did the land of Zevulun possess?
- How did Zevulun "call people to the mountain"? (33:19)
- In which direction did Gad's territory extend?
- Why did Gad desire to inherit the land of Sichon and Og?
- In whose territory was the source of the Jordan River?
- Which tribe possessed the Kinneret?
- What was Moshe shown on Mt. Nevo?
- Why was Moshe shown the Land of Israel?
Bonus Question
Answer | Contents
The blessing to Yissachar (33:18) is the shortest one of any of
the tribes, consisting of only two words. Considering that the
Tribe of Yissachar was the most erudite in Torah, shouldn't
Yissachar have received a more elaborate blessing?
I Did Not Know That!
All the righteous converts who would convert to Judaism in the
future also stood at Mount Sinai.
Ba'al HaTurim
Recommended Reading List
- Ramban
- 33:6
- Why not Shimon?
- 33:12
- The Shelter of Binyamin
- Sforno
- 33:6
- Reuven's Blessing
- 33:7
- Shimon's Blessing
- 33:17
- The Kingship of Yosef
- 33:25-6
- The Collective Blessing
Answers to this Week's Questions
Questions | ContentsAll references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated
- 33:2 - Edom and Yishmael.
- 33:2 - Black fire on white fire.
- 33:3 - They continue to cleave to Him.
- 33:7 - Both of them confessed their sin.
- 33:7 - It is hidden in the blessing of Yehuda.
- 33:9 - Bris Mila (circumcision).
- 33:12 - Because the Beis HaMikdash was built in Binyamin's portion, and "more beloved" than the Mishkan which was in Yosef's portion.
- 33:13 - The Tribe of Yosef.
- 33:17 - Since the Land was so desirable, many foreign kings acquired property there.
- 33:17 - The thousands of Midianites slain by Gideon, a descendant of Menashe.
- 33:18 - Zevulun engaged in commerce and provided for Yissachar, who sat and studied Torah. They shared their reward in this world and in the World to Come.
- 33:18 - The Tribes of Zevulun, Gad, Dan, Naftali, and Asher.
- 33:19 - Taris, a type of fish; Chilazon, a mollusk whose blood was needed for the techeles (a blue dye needed for tzitzis); and a type of sand needed for white glass.
- 33:19 - Foreigners who engaged in business with Zevulun would travel to Eretz Yisrael. They would desire to convert after seeing the Jewish People in all their splendor.
- 33:20 - Eastward.
- 33:21 - Because Moshe was to be buried in it.
- 33:22 - The Tribe of Dan.
- 33:23 - The Tribe of Naftali.
- 34:1-3 - All that would happen to the Jewish People and to Eretz Yisrael until the time for the resurrection of the dead.
- 34:4 - So that he could testify before the Avos that Hashem has fulfilled His promise to them.
Answer to Bonus Question
Question | Contents
"Be happy in your tents" (33:18) means to be happy in your
dwelling places in both this world and in the World to Come.
This is a comprehensive blessing. Yissachar merited contentment
in this world that is obtained by those who are diligent in
Torah, and also merited a reward in the World to Come that is
reserved for those who engage in Torah study.
Rabbeinu Bachya
Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
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