Torah Trivia for Parshah 22. Vayakhel (Questions Only)
1.) Within the “Etz Hayim” Chumash, and additional versions, there is only one Parshah that begins with a chapter that has the same number as the concluding verse within the Parshah that immediately precedes it; what is that Parshah?
2.) What is the first mitzvah that is communicated within Parshah Vayakhel; and what is the specific activity prohibited within this mitzvah?
3.) What additional materials does Moshe instruct the Israelites to contribute, within Vayakhel, that are absent from Adonai’s initial instructions to Moshe, within Terumah: a.) sweetened, ice cold water; b.) skillfully crafted steel; c.) platinum; d.) plutonium; e.) adamantium?
4.) How many “main” items does Moshe list to the Israelites to be crafted, and what are these main items?
5.) Who is it that spins the blue, purple, and crimson yarns (for the Mishkan), as well as the fine line and goats’ hair (for the tent above the Mishkan): a.) all the king’s horses; b.) all the king’s men; and/or c.) all the skilled women?
6.) In which paraphrased manner do the Israelites respond to Moshe’s instructions; and in which paraphrased manner does Moshe respond to this response:
a.) Israelites: “Step back, Jack, that rule is whack; we’re going over to Egypt to fix ourselves a snack.”; and Moshe: “That’s acting like fools, jewels; let’s wise up, be cool, and start building some schools.”;
b.) Israelites: “Umm, that’s a total fail; we need to reboot this whole deal.”; and Moshe: “Compliance is optional, although it is also very much advisable.”;
c.) Israelites: “We receive your offer, and whilst we appreciate the consideration within this proposal, we counter that offer with the proposal to ‘Do whatcha like!’.”; and Moshe: “I receive your counter offer, and whilst there is appreciation for your consideration of that proposal, the initial offer seems to be the prudent course of action for comprehensive prosperity because, after all, ‘We’re all in the same gang!’”;
d.) Israelites: “Thank you, Moshe. Here is everything that we have to provide.”; “My Dear Israelite Brethren: your generosity is very much appreciated, and we must insist that the contributions be stopped because we have way too much.”?
7.) What is the first item that is specifically described as being constructed by the craftspeople; and what additional items are also described as being constructed before the specifically described works of Bezalel are listed?
8.) a.) What colour are the 50 linen/wool loops of the Mishkan’s 2 sets of cloth tapestries (totaling 100 linen/wool loops); b.) what colour are the 50 clasps that connect these 2 sets of cloth tapestries; c.) what colour are the 50 loops fastened to the 2 sets of the goats’ hair tent covering the Mishkan (totaling 100 loops); and, d.) what colour are the 50 clasps that connect this goats’ hair tent covering over the Mishkan?
9.) What are the dimensions for each wood-based plank within the framework of the Mishkan, and how many planks are respectively constructed on the Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern sides of the Mishkan?
10.) What is the first item that Bezalel is specifically described as crafting; what additional items are specifically described as being crafted directly by, or through the direct auspices of, Bezalel)?
11.) Within “Ki Tissa,” Adonai describes conferring Bezalel with heightened skill in working with specific materials:
Within “Vayakhel,” with what specific materials does Bezalel work that are absent from being explicitly described within the previous list found in Ki Tissa?
12.) The women who perform tasks outside of the tent have mirrors that the women donate; from what material are these mirrors made: a.) diamond dust; b.) petrified manna; c.) gold; d.) silver; e.) copper; f.) dolphin tears?
Torah Trivia for Parshah 22. Vayakhel (with Answers)
1.) Within the “Etz Hayim” Chumash, and additional versions, there is only one Parshah that begins with a chapter that has the same number as the concluding verse within the Parshah that immediately precedes it; what is that Parshah?
Answer: That Parshah is “Vayakhel;” it begins on Shemot 35:1, and the preceding Parshah, “Ki Tissa,” concludes with Shemot 34:35; just FYI, coming in as “honourable mentions” include:
“Chayay Sarah”: beginning on Beresheit 23:1, with the preceding “Vayera” concluding on Beresheit 22:24;
“Yitro”: beginning on Shemot 18:1, with the preceding “Bishalla” concluding on Shemot 17:16;
“Mishpatim”: beginning on Shemot 21:1, with the preceding “Yitro” concluding on Shemot 20:23; and,
“Behar”: beginning on Vayikra 25:1, with the preceding “Emor” concluding on Vayikra 24:23.
2.) What is the first mitzvah that is communicated within Parshah Vayakhel; and what is the specific activity prohibited within this mitzvah?
Answer: The first mitzvah that is communicated is that pertaining to the observance of Shabbat; although, arguably, it may be considered that the earlier description of Moshe’s gathering together the tribes of Israel is a preceding mitzvah; the specifically described prohibition within the observance of Shabbat pertains to the utilisation of fire:
“(Moshe) then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them:
“ ‘These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do: On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the sabbath day.” (Shemot 35:1 - 3).
3.) What additional materials does Moshe instruct the Israelites to contribute, within Vayakhel, that are absent from Adonai’s initial instructions to Moshe, within Terumah: a.) sweetened, ice cold water; b.) skillfully crafted steel; c.) platinum; d.) plutonium; e.) adamantium?
Answer: The answer is: “f.)”: an absence of any of the above; the words included within Vayakhel are nearly exact to the words communicated within Terumah:
“...gold, silver, and copper; blue, purple, and crimson yarns, fine linen, and goats’ hair; tanned ram skins, dolphin skins, and acacia wood; oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the aromatic incense; lapis lazuli and other stones for setting, for the ephod and the breastpiece.” (Shemot 35:5 - 9; compared with Shemot 25:3 - 7).
4.) How many “main” items does Moshe list to the Israelites to be crafted, and what are these main items?
Answer: The answer may depend on who is asked; whilst this is other than an accurate means of making such distinctions, there are 9 verses listed in describing the specific items (after the Menorah, the lines seem to get blurring):
1.) the Mishkan: “the Tabernacle, its tent and its covering, its clasps and its planks, its bars, its posts, and its sockets;” (Shemot 35:11);
2.) the Ark: “the ark and its poles, the cover, and the curtain for the screen;” (Shemot 35:12);
3.) the Table: “the table, and its poles and all its utensils; and the bread of the display;” (Shemot 35:13);
4.) the Menorah: “the lampstand for lighting, its furnishings and its lamps, and the oil for lighting;” (Shemot 35:14);
5.) the Altar, Anointing Oil, Incense, and Entrance Curtain: “the altar of incense and its poles; the anointing oil and the aromatic incense; and the entrance screen for the entrance of the Tabernacle;” (Shemot 35:15);
6.) the Altar of Burnt Offering and the Washbasin: “the altar of burnt offering, its copper grating, its poles, and all its furnishings; the laver and its stand” (Shemot 35:16);
7.) the Entrance Curtain, and Surrounding Framework, for the Court: “the hangings of the enclosure, its posts and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court;” (Shemot 35:17);
8.) the Frame for the Mishkan: “the pegs for the Tabernacle, the pegs for the enclosure, and their cords;” (Shemot 35:18)
9.) the Holy Garments for Aaron and His Sons: “the service vestments for officiating in the sanctuary, the sacral vestments of Aaron the priest and the vestments of his sons for priestly service.” (Shemot 35:19).
5.) Who is it that spins the blue, purple, and crimson yarns (for the Mishkan), as well as the fine line and goats’ hair (for the tent above the Mishkan): a.) all the king’s horses; b.) all the king’s men; and/or c.) all the skilled women?
Answer: With love and Peace to Humpty Dumpty, the answer is: “c.)”: all the skilled women:
“And all the skilled women spun with their own hands, and brought what they had spun, in blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and in fine linen. And all the women who excelled in that skill spun the goats’ hair.” (Shemot 35:25 - 26).
6.) In which paraphrased manner do the Israelites respond to Moshe’s instructions; and in which paraphrased manner does Moshe respond to this response:
a.) Israelites: “Step back, Jack, that rule is whack; we’re going over to Egypt to fix ourselves a snack.”; and Moshe: “That’s acting like fools, jewels; let’s wise up, be cool, and start building some schools.”;
b.) Israelites: “Umm, that’s a total fail; we need to reboot this whole deal.”; and Moshe: “Compliance is optional, although it is also very much advisable.”;
c.) Israelites: “We receive your offer, and whilst we appreciate the consideration within this proposal, we counter that offer with the proposal to ‘Do whatcha like!’.”; and Moshe: “I receive your counter offer, and whilst there is appreciation for your consideration of that proposal, the initial offer seems to be the prudent course of action for comprehensive prosperity because, after all, ‘We’re all in the same gang!’”;
d.) Israelites: “Thank you, Moshe. Here is everything that we have to provide.”; “My Dear Israelite Brethren: your generosity is very much appreciated, and we must insist that the contributions be stopped because we have way too much.”?
Answer: The answer is: “d.),” although, elements of each of the versions of Moshe’s response may be considered as being relevant, in some proximate manner:
“So the whole community of the Israelites left (Moshe’s) presence. And everyone who excelled in ability and everyone whose spirit moved him came, bringing to the Lord his offering for the work of the Tent of Meeting and for all its service and for all the sacral vestments.” (Shemot 35:20 - 21);
“Thus the Israelites, all the men and women whose hearts moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord, through (Moshe), had commanded to be done, brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord.” (Shemot 35:29);
“They took over from (Moshe) all the gifts that the Israelites had brought, to carry out the tasks connected with the service of the sanctuary. But when these continued to bring freewill offerings to him morning after morning, all the artisans who were enraged in the tasks of the sanctuary came, each from the task upon which he was engaged, and said to (Moshe), ‘The people are bringing more than is needed for the tasks entailed in the work that the Lord has commanded to be done.’ (Moshe) thereupon had this proclamation made throughout the camp: ‘Let no man or woman make further effort toward gifts for the sanctuary!’ So the people stopped bringing: their efforts had been more than enough for all the tasks to be done.” (Shemot 36:3 - 7)
7.) What is the first item that is specifically described as being constructed by the craftspeople; and what additional items are also described as being constructed before the specifically described works of Bezalel are listed?
Answer: The first item that is specifically described as being constructed by the general craftspeople is the Mishkan, itself, and specifically the ten cloth tapestries:
“Then all the skilled among those engaged in the work made the Tabernacle of ten strips of cloth, which they made of fine twisted linen, blue, purple, and crimson yarns; into these they worked a design of cherubim.” (Shemot 36:8).
There is also description of the construction of the tent over the Mishkan, and the framework of the Mishkan; (Shemot 36:8 - 38)
8.) a.) What colour are the 50 linen/wool loops of the Mishkan’s 2 sets of cloth tapestries (totaling 100 linen/wool loops); b.) what colour are the 50 clasps that connect these 2 sets of cloth tapestries; c.) what colour are the 50 loops fastened to the 2 sets of the goats’ hair tent covering the Mishkan (totaling 100 loops); and, d.) what colour are the 50 clasps that connect this goats’ hair tent covering over the Mishkan?
Answer:
a.) The colour of the 100 linen/wool loops of the Mishkan’s cloth tapestries is blue (Shemot 36:11 - 12);
b.) The colour of the 50 clasps that connect the Mishkan’s 2 cloth tapestry sets is presumably gold (Shemot 36:13);
c.) There is an absence of any colour described (within available English translations) for the loops of the goats’ hair tent covering over the Mishkan (any additional insight is welcome) (Shemot 36:14 - 19); and,
d.) The colour of the 50 clasps that connect the Mishkan’s tent covering is presumably copper (Shemot 36:18);
This same description can also be found within Terumah (Shemot 26:3 - 11).
9.) What are the dimensions for each wood-based plank within the framework of the Mishkan, and how many planks are respectively constructed on the Northern, Southern, Western, and Eastern sides of the Mishkan?
Answer: Each plank is: 10 x 1.5 cubits (500 x 75cm; 15 x 2 ¼’); (Shemot 36:21);
There are 20 planks on the Southern side of the Mishkan (Shemot 36:23);
There are 20 planks on the Northern side of the Mishkan (Shemot 36:25);There are 8 planks on the Western side of the Mishkan (Shemot 36:27 - 28, 30)
And there is an absence of a description of any planks on the Eastern side of the Mishkan (Shemot 26:20 - 34).
10.) What is the first item that Bezalel is specifically described as crafting; what additional items are specifically described as being crafted directly by, or through the direct auspices of, Bezalel)?
Answer: The first item Bezalel is specifically described as crafting is the Ark of the Covenant:
“Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.” (Shemot 37:1 - 5);
Bezalel is also described as constructing:
1.) the Ark Cover (Shemot 37:6 - 9);
2.) the Table for the Bread of Presence (Shemot 37:10 - 16);
3.) the Menorah (Shemot 37:17 - 24);
4.) the Incense Altar (Shemot 37:25 - 29);
5.) the Altar for Burnt Offering (Shemot 38:1 - 7);
6.) the Washbasin (Shemot 38:8); and,
7.) the Enclosure (Shemot 38:9 - 20).
11.) Within “Ki Tissa,” Adonai describes conferring Bezalel with heightened skill in working with specific materials:
“The Lord spoke to (Moshe): See, I have singled out by name, Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of (Yudah). I have endowed him with a (Divine) spirit of skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft; to make designs for work in gold, silver, and copper, to cut stones for setting and to carve wood--to work in every kind of craft.” (Shemot 31:1 - 5); (Similarly within “Vayakhel”: Shemot 35:32 - 33);
Within “Vayakhel,” with what specific materials does Bezalel work that are absent from being explicitly described within the previous list found in Ki Tissa?
Answer:
Whilst all these materials may be categorised as “every kind of craft,” Bezalel works with the proceeding materials which are excluded from being explicitly described within the initial list found in Ki Tissa:
a.) incense ingredients and anointing oil ingredients; (Shemot 37:29);
b.) woven fabric for the courtyard enclosure; (Shemot 38:9 - 18); and,
c.) presumably the wicks for the Menorah are also made from additional material that is unlisted, specifically; (Shemot 37:23);
These passages within Vayakhel may be similarly compared to corresponding passages within Ki Tissa (Shemot 31:6 - 11).
12.) The women who perform tasks outside of the tent have mirrors that the women donate; from what material are these mirrors made: a.) diamond dust; b.) petrified manna; c.) gold; d.) silver; e.) copper; f.) dolphin tears?
Answer: The answer is: “e.)”: the mirrors are made from copper:
“He made the laver of copper and its stand of copper, from the mirrors of the women who performed tasks at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” (Shemot 38:8).
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Discussion Questions:
The Israelites respond to Moshe’s instructions with so many contributions that the craftspeople demand that Moshe instruct the Israelites to stop providing contributions; what elements exist within this nature and act of economic generosity? How can such personal giving be similarly inspired in a continual, and sustainable manner? And, what additional examples of such generosity exist within the Torah and within history?
What characteristic exist within the willingness of Bezalel, Oholiav, and the craftspeople to be dedicated towards completing the work of the construction of all the elements amidst the Mishkan? Is this a “full” commitment, or do the craftspeople have the opportunity taking on “side jobs” to maintain a livelihood and feed families? What may be some additional, historic, and/or contemporary of examples of similar dedication? And what is the nature of economic cooperation between the contributions of the Israelites and the dedication of the craftspeople? Can such economic cooperation exist, in a contemporary, continual manner, as a means of simply sustaining a community, and/or is there the necessity of rallying around a finite, Divinely-inspired/commanded project?
Is the “ability to provide” instruction specifically described as being conferred exclusively upon Oholiab, or to both Bezalel and Oholiab, according to Shemot 35:34?
What lessons may be inferred from the details included within this Parshah?
What significance exists within the fact that the washbasin for the Mishkan is constructed from the mirrors of women?
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