Parsha Q&A - Shemini « Ohr Somayach

Parsha Q&A - Shemini

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Shemini

For the week ending 22 Nissan 5758 in Israel and 29 Nissan outside of Israel
17-18 April 1998 in Israel and 24-25 April outside of Israel
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • What's Bothering Rashi?
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • What do you do with Parsha Q&A
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to "What's Bothering Rashi?"
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
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    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. What date was "Yom Hashmini"?
    2. Which of Aharon's korbanos atoned for the golden calf?
    3. What korbanos did Aharon offer for the Jewish People?
    4. What was unique about the Chatas offered during the induction of the Mishkan?
    5. When did Aharon bless the people with the Birkas Kohanim?
    6. Why did Moshe go into the Ohel Mo'ed with Aharon?
    7. Why did Nadav and Avihu die?
    8. Aharon quietly accepted his sons' death. What reward did he receive for this?
    9. What specific prohibitions apply to a person who is intoxicated?
    10. Name the three Chatas goat offerings that were sacrificed on the day of the inauguration of the Mishkan.
    11. Which he-goat Chatas did Aharon burn completely and why?
    12. Why did Moshe direct his harsh words at Aharon's sons?
    13. Moshe was upset that Aharon and his sons did not eat the Chatas. Why?
    14. Why did Hashem choose Moshe, Aharon, Elazar, and Isamar as His messengers to tell the Jewish People the laws of Kashrus?
    15. What are the signs of a kosher land animal?
    16. How many non-kosher animals display only one sign of Kashrus? What are they?
    17. If a fish sheds its fins and scales when out of the water is it kosher?
    18. Why is a stork called chasida in Hebrew?
    19. The chagav is a kosher insect. Why don't we eat it?
    20. What requirements must be met in order for water to maintain it's status of purity?

    Answer
    Contents
    Rashi never just comments; something in the text always impels him to do so. Rashi�s comments are answers to unspoken questions and difficulties arising from a thoughtful reading of the Torah. Therefore, anyone who wants a true understanding of Rashi�s classic Torah commentary must always ask
    "What�s Bothering Rashi?"

    "Moshe said to Aharon: Draw close to the altar and offer your chatas offering and your olah offering .... (Vayikra 9:7)
    Rashi:
    Because Aharon was ashamed to approach (the altar), Moshe said to him: "Why are you ashamed? This is why you were chosen."

    Why isn't Rashi satisfied with the seemingly simple meaning of the verse, that Moshe simply told Aharon to approach the altar and perform the service? What's bothering Rashi?

    I Did Not Know That!

    "But this is what you shall not eat from.…" (11:4-6)

    The phrase for "dividing the hoof" is stated in three different forms in the above verses. They are: "mafris," "yafris" and "hifrisah" which are, respectively, the present, future and past tenses. This is to teach us that if we wish to determine whether a person is tamei (i.e., unworthy), one cannot base the decision only on the present, but must consider the past and future as well. Sometimes, the past may help prevent us from deciding that a person is unworthy; and even if the past and the present show the person to be unworthy, one must still consider the future before determining one's verdict about another person. The Torah is showing us how careful one must be before passing judgment others.

    (Mayanah Shel Torah)

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    9:17
    Relation of Miluim and Shmini Korbanos to Tamid
    10:15
    Heaving and Waving
    Sefer Hachinuch
    149
    Dignity in the House of Hashem
    150
    Respect for the Service

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    Answers to this Week's Questions

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

    1. 9:1 - First of Nissan.
    2. 9:2 - The calf offered as a korban chatas.
    3. 9:3,4 - A he-goat as a chatas, a calf and a lamb for an Olah, an ox and a ram for shlamim, and a minchah.
    4. 9:11 - It's the only example of a chatas offered on the courtyard Mizbe'ach that was burned.
    5. 9:22 - When he finished offering the korbanos, before descending from the Mizbe'ach.
    6. 9:23 - For one of two reasons: Either to teach Aharon about the service of the incense, or to pray for the Shechina to dwell with Israel.
    7. 10:2 - Rashi offers two reasons: Either because they gave a halachic ruling in Moshe's presence, or because they entered the Mishkan after drinking intoxicating wine.
    8. 10:3 - A portion of the Torah was given solely through Aharon.
    9. 10:9-11 - He may not give a halachic ruling. Also, a kohen is forbidden to enter the Ohel Mo'ed, approach the mizbe'ach, or perform the avoda.
    10. 10:16 - The goat offerings of the inauguration ceremony, of Rosh Chodesh, and of Nachshon ben Aminadav.
    11. 10:16 - The Rosh Chodesh Chatas: Either because it became tamei, or because the kohanim were forbidden to eat from it while in the state of aninus (mourning).
    12. 10:16 - Out of respect for Aharon, Moshe directed his anger at his sons and not directly at Aharon.
    13. 10:17 - Because only when the Kohanim eat the chatas are the sins of the owners atoned.
    14. 11:2 - Because they accepted the deaths of Nadav and Avihu in silence.
    15. 11:3 - An animal whose hoofs are completely split and who chews its cud.
    16. 11:4,5,6,7 - Four: Camel, shafan, hare, and pig.
    17. 11:12 - Yes.
    18. 11:19 - Because it acts with chesed (kindness) toward other storks regarding food.
    19. 11:21 - We have lost the tradition and are not able to identify the kosher chagav.
    20. 11:36 - It must be connected to the ground (ie: a spring or a cistern).

    Question
    Contents

    Answer to "What�s Bothering Rashi?"

    If Moshe were merely telling Aharon to perform the service, there would be no need for him to say "approach the altar." The Torah has already specified the procedure for offering a chatas and an olah, so Moshe could merely have said "offer your chatas offering and your olah offering." Therefore, the directive for Aharon to approach the altar seems superfluous and needs Rashi's explanation.
    Gur Aryeh (Concept based on Dr. Avigdor Bonchek's new book "What's Bothering Rashi?" Feldheim Publishers)
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Eli Ballon
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