Parsha Q&A - Parshat Ki Tavo « Ohr Somayach

Parsha Q&A - Parshat Ki Tavo

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Parsha Q&A

Parshat Ki Tavo

For the week ending 16 Elul 5760 / 15 & 16 September 2000
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Kasha
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
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    Parsha Questions

    Answers | Contents
    1. When historically did the obligation to bring bikkurim begin?
    2. Bikkurim are from which crops?
    3. How does one designate bikkurim?
    4. Who shakes the basket containing the bikkurim?
    5. What does "v'anita v'amarta" mean?
    6. Which Arami "tried to destroy my father?"
    7. When during the year may bikkurim be brought? Until when are the special verses recited?
    8. Someone declaring that he separated terumah and ma'aser says: "And I didn't forget." What didn't he forget?
    9. What were the Jewish People to do with the 12 stones on Mt. Eval?
    10. Six tribes stood on Mt. Eval and six on Mt. Gerizim. Who and what were in the middle?
    11. Who "causes the blind to go astray?"
    12. How does one "strike another secretly?"
    13. Eleven curses were spoken on Mt. Eval. What is the significance of this number?
    14. Why are sheep called "ashterot"?
    15. How is the manner of expressing the curses in Parshat Bechukotai more severe than in this week's parsha?
    16. What is meant by "the Jewish People will become a proverb?"
    17. Why did all the curses expressed in 48:16-44 befall the Jewish People?
    18. "In the morning you shall say, 'If only it were (last) evening' and in the evening you will say, 'If only it were (this) morning.'" Why?
    19. To which tribe did Moshe give the Torah first?
    20. How long does it take to understand the depth of one's teacher's wisdom?

    Kasha
    (kasha means "question")

    "You shall take from the first of all the fruit...which Hashem, your God, gives you." (26:2)

    QUESTION: Why does the Torah say that a person who is offering his bikkurim is "taking" rather than "giving"?

    ANSWER: When Hashem "accepts" our offerings, it is a merit for us. Thus, we are actually taking rather than giving.

    Nachal Kedumim

    Do you have a KASHA? Write to [email protected] with your questions on any Parsha!

    I Did Not Know That!

    "And you shall take from the first of every fruit of the earth...and place (them) in the basket." (Devarim 26:2)

    By Torah law, bikurim have no minimum amount which one must give. The Sages, however, required that one give a sixtieth of his crop (Rambam Hilchot Bikurim 2:17). This amount, one out of 60, is hinted in the above verse "and place in the basket." The Hebrew word for basket -- teneh -- has the numerical value of 60.

    Vilna Gaon

    Recommended Reading List

    Sefer Hachinuch
    606-7
    Power of Speech
    611
    Emulating Hashem

    Sforno
    26:17
    Exalting Hashem
    26:18
    The Exalted Jewish People
    27:15
    The Curses
    28:2
    The Blessings
    28:14
    Punishment
    Ramban
    26:3
    The Kohen of Your Day
    27:3
    The Stones
    27:26
    Upholding the Torah
    28:42
    The Fourth Exile

    Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh
    226:11
    Rejoicing with Hashem and the Torah

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

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

    1. When historically did the obligation to bring bikkurim begin?
      26:1 - After the Land was conquered and divided.

    2. Bikkurim are from which crops?
      26:2 - The seven species for which Eretz Yisrael is praised.

    3. How does one designate bikkurim?
      26:2 - When he sees the first fruit ripen on a tree, he binds a piece of straw around it to mark it as bikkurim.

    4. Who shakes the basket containing the bikkurim?
      26:4 - The kohen places his hands under the hands of the one bringing it, and they wave the basket together.

    5. What does "v'anita v'amarta" mean?
      26:5 - Speak loudly.

    6. Which Arami "tried to destroy my father?"
      26:5 - Lavan.

    7. When during the year may bikkurim be brought? Until when are the special verses recited?
      26:11 - Bikkurim are brought from Shavuot until Channuka. The verses are recited only until Succot.

    8. Someone declaring that he separated terumah and ma'aser says: "And I didn't forget." What didn't he forget?
      26:13 - To bless Hashem.

    9. What were the Jewish People to do with the 12 stones on Mt. Eval?
      27:2 - Build an altar.

    10. Six tribes stood on Mt. Eval and six on Mt. Gerizim. Who and what were in the middle?
      27:12 - Kohanim, levi'im and the Holy Ark.

    11. Who "causes the blind to go astray?"
      27:18 - Any person who intentionally gives bad advice.

    12. How does one "strike another secretly?"
      27:24 - By slandering him.

    13. Eleven curses were spoken on Mt. Eval. What is the significance of this number?
      27:24 - Each curse corresponds to one of the tribes, except for the tribe of Shimon. Since Moshe didn't intend to bless the tribe of Shimon before his death, he did not want to curse them either.

    14. Why are sheep called "ashterot"?
      28:4 - Because they "enrich" (m'ashirot) their owners.

    15. How is the manner of expressing the curses in Parshat Bechukotai more severe than in this week's parsha?
      28:23 - In Bechukotai the Torah speaks in the plural, whereas in this week's Parsha the curses are mentioned in the singular.

    16. What is meant by "the Jewish People will become a proverb?"
      28:37 - Whenever someone wants to express the idea of extraordinary suffering they will use the Jewish People as an example.

    17. Why did all the curses expressed in 48:16-44 befall the Jewish People?
      28:47 - Because they did not serve Hashem with gladness when everything was abundant.

    18. "In the morning you shall say, 'If only it were (last) evening' and in the evening you will say, 'If only it were (this) morning.'" Why?
      28:67 - Because the curse of each hour will be greater than that of the previous hour.

    19. To which tribe did Moshe give the Torah first?
      29:3 - To the Tribe of Levi.

    20. How long does it take to understand the depth of one's teacher's wisdom?
      29:8 - 40 years.
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Michael Treblow
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