Torah
Trivia for Parshah 29. Acharei Mot
(Questions Only)
1.)
Can you describe which of these specific events is/are referenced at the
beginning of this Parshah:
a.) The formation of the golden calf;
b.) Aaron’s failing to eat from the goat of the
purification offering;
c.) The improper offering from Nadav and Avihu;
d.) An improper offering from Aaron; and/or,
e.) Miriam’s and Aaron’s harsh words against Moshe
and Zipporah?
2.)
Can you describe which location(s) Adonai forbids Aaron to enter before
he provides an offering?
a.) The courtyard outside the Mishkan;
b.) The wilderness outside the camp;
c.) The Mishkan;
d.) The inner sanctuary within the Mishkan; and/or,
e.) Aaron’s personal tent;
3.)
Can you describe what Aaron is commanded to wear when offering the
sacrifice prescribed within Acharei Mot?
a.) The ephod;
b.) The purple robe with weavings of cherubim;
c.) The Urim and Thumim;
d.) The turban with the gold plate;
e.) A white linen tunic;
f.)
White linen undergarments;
g.) A white linen sash; and/or,
h.) A white linen turban;
4.)
Can you describe the stated purpose for a.) the sacrifice of the bull; b.)
the sacrifice of the 1st goat; and, c.)
the sacrifice of the 2nd goat?
5.)
Can you match each element/animal being offered with the location(s)
where that element/animal is directly placed?
a.) The 2 goats, together
b.) The aromatic incense
c.) The bull’s blood
d.) The goat’s blood
e.) The live goat
1.)
The entrance of the Mishkan
2.)
The inner sanctuary of the Mishkan
3.)
The Ark of Covenant
4.)
The horns of the altar
5.)
The wilderness
6.)
Can you state which observance Adonai commands children of Israel to
maintain on the 10th day of Tishrei?
Answer: Adonai commands the observance of Yom Kippur
on the 10th Day of Tishrei:
“And this shall be to you a law for all time: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the
month, you shall practice self-denial;
and you shall do no manner of work, neither the citizen nor the alien
who resides among you. For on this day
expiation shall be made for you to purify you of all your sins; you shall be pure before the Lord. It shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for
you, and you shall practice self-denial;
it is a law for all time.”
(Vayikra 16:29 – 31).
7.)
Can you describe the 1 exclusive location where Adonai commands children
of Israel to slaughter animals; and what
charge is placed upon any child of Israel who slaughters an animal
elsewhere?
8.)
Can you describe who is required to slaughter animals exclusively amidst
the Mishkan, and who is forbidden from consuming the blood of animals:
a.) Children of Israel;
b.) Foreigners living amongst Israelites;
c.) Foreigners living outside of Israel;
d.) Wild beasts?
9.)
Can you describe, exclusively within the teachings of this Parshah, and
aside from blood, which part of the body of an animal is explicitly forbidden
to be consumed: a.) bones, b.)
fat, c.) horns, d.) muscles, e.)
organs, f.) hair, g.) hooves, h.)
skin?
10.)
Can you describe which type(s) of relative is/are excluded from the list
of prohibitions, and with whom a man is implicitly permitted to marry and have
sexual intercourse:
a.) His mor (mother);
b.) His stepmor (stepmother);
c.) His sister;
d.) His stepsister;
e.) His tante (aunt);
f.)
His daughter-in-law;
g.) His sister-in-law;
h.) His wife’s daughter;
i.)
His wife’s mor;
j.)
His wife’s sister; and/or,
k.) His cousin?
11.)
Which of the proceeding sexual acts are explicitly prohibited within
this Parshah:
a.) Incest;
b.) Homosexuality (heterophobia);
c.) Bestiality;
d.) Paedophilia;
e.) Polygamy;
f.)
Masturbation;
g.) Celibacy;
h.) Intercourse with a woman amidst the discharge
of her menstrual flow;
i.)
Rape;
and/or,
j.)
Intercourse with another man’s wife?
12.)
Can you describe the number of occasions that Aaron’s name is explicitly
included within the Parshah, and the number of occasions that Moshe’s name is
explicitly included?
Torah
Trivia for Parshah 29. Acharei Mot (with
Answers)
1.)
Can you describe which of these specific events is/are referenced at the
beginning of this Parshah:
f.)
The formation of the golden calf;
g.) Aaron’s failing to eat from the goat of the
purification offering;
h.) The improper offering from Nadav and Avihu;
i.)
An improper offering from Aaron; and/or,
j.)
Miriam’s and Aaron’s harsh words against Moshe
and Zipporah?
Answer: The
specific event that is referenced is:
c.) the improper offering from
Nadav and Avihu, and the subsequent death of these 2 of Aaron’s sons:
“The Lord spoke to (Moshe) after the death of the
two sons of Aaron who died when they dew too close to the presence of the
Lord.” (Vayikra 16:1);
Although, it may also be considered that the
actually communication between Adonai and Moshe is also “technically”
referenced within the beginning of this Parshah, as well.
2.)
Can you describe which location(s) Adonai forbids Aaron to enter before
he provides an offering?
f.)
The courtyard outside the Mishkan;
g.) The wilderness outside the camp;
h.) The Mishkan;
i.)
The inner sanctuary within the Mishkan; and/or,
j.)
Aaron’s personal tent;
Answer:
Adonai forbids Aaron to enter into:
d.) the inner sanctuary of the
Mishkan, before Aaron performs the appropriate offering:
“The Lord said to (Moshe):
“ ‘Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come
at will into the Shrine behind the curtain, in front of the cover that is upon
the ark, lest he die; for I appear in
the cloud over the cover. Thus only
shall Aaron enter the Shrine: with a
bull of the herd for a purification offering and a ram for a burnt
offering.” (Vayikra 16:2 – 3).
3.)
Can you describe what Aaron is commanded to wear when offering the
sacrifice prescribed within Acharei Mot?
i.)
The ephod;
j.)
The purple robe with weavings of cherubim;
k.) The Urim and Thumim;
l.)
The turban with the gold plate;
m.) A white linen tunic;
n.) White linen undergarments;
o.) A white linen sash; and/or,
p.) A white linen turban;
Answer:
Aaron is commanded to wear:
e.) a white linen tunic, f.) white linen undergarments, g.) a white linen sash, and h.) a white linen turban:
“He shall be dressed in a sacral linen tunic, with
linen breeches next to his flesh, and be girt with a linen sash, and he shall
wear a linen turban.” (Vayikra 16:4 –
5).
4.)
Can you describe the stated purpose for a.) the sacrifice of the bull; b.)
the sacrifice of the 1st goat; and, c.)
the sacrifice of the 2nd goat?
Answer:
a.) “Aaron is to offer his own bull of
purification offering, to make expiation for himself and for his
household.” (Vayikra 16:6);
b.) “and he shall place lots upon the two goats,
one marked for the Lord and the other marked for Azazel. Aaron shall bring forward the goat designated
by lot for the Lord, which he is to offer as a purification offering;” (Vayikra 16:8 – 9);
“Thus he shall purge the Shrine of the impurity and
transgression of the Israelites, whatever their sins; and he shall do the same for the Tent of
Meeting, which abides with them in the midst of their impurity.” (Vayikra 16:16);
c.) “the goat designated by lot for Azazel shall
be left standing alive before the Lord, to make expiation with it and to send
it off to the wilderness for Azazel.”
(Vayikra 16:10);
“Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of
the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the
Israelites, whatever their sins, putting them on the head of the goat; and it shall be sent off to the wilderness
through a designated man.” (Vayikra
16:21 – 22).
5.)
Can you match each element/animal being offered with the location(s)
where that element/animal is directly placed?
f.)
The 2 goats, together
g.) The aromatic incense
h.) The bull’s blood
i.)
The goat’s blood
j.)
The live goat
1.)
The entrance of the Mishkan
2.)
The inner sanctuary of the Mishkan
3.)
The Ark of Covenant
4.)
The horns of the altar
5.)
The wilderness
Answer:
a.) 1.):
When together, the 2 goats are brought to the entrance of the Mishkan:
“Aaron shall take the two he-goats and let them
stand before the Lord at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting;” (Vayikra 16:7);
b.) 1.),
2.), and 3.) The aromatic incense is
taken through the entrance of the Mishkan, and into the inner sanctuary, where
it is burned and wafted over the Ark of the Covenant (and arguably continues to
dissipate throughout 5.) the
wilderness):
“he shall take a panful of glowing coals scooped
from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of finely ground aromatic
incense, and bring this behind the curtain.
He shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, so that the cloud
from the incense screens the cover that is over the Ark of the Pact, lest he
die.”
c.) 1.), 2.), 3.), 4.) The blood of the bull is also taken through
the entrance of the Mishkan, into the inner sanctuary, and sprinkled against
the Ark of the Covenant; after which,
the blood is taken and spread along the horns of the altar:
“He shall take some of the blood of the bull and
sprinkle it with his finger over the cover on the east side; and in front of the cover he shall sprinkle
some of the blood with hid finger seven times.”
(Vayikra 16:14);
“he shall take some of the blood of the bull and of
the goat and apply it to each of the horns of the altar;” (Vayikra 16:18);
d.) 1.), 2.), 3.), 4.) The blood of the goat is also taken through
the entrance of the Mishkan, into the inner sanctuary, and sprinkled against
the Ark of the Covenant; after which,
the blood is also taken and spread along the horns of the altar:
“He shall then slaughter the people’s goat of
purification offering, bring its blood behind the curtain, and do with its
blood as he has done with the blood of the bull: he shall sprinkle it over the cover and in
front of the cover.” (Vayikra
16:15); (also, again: Vayikra 16:18);
e.) 5.) The
live goat is set loose within the wilderness:
“Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of
the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and transgressions of the
Israelites, whatever their sins, putting them on the head of the goat; and it shall be sent off to the wilderness
through a designated man. Thus the goat
shall carry on it all their iniquities to an inaccessible region; and the goat shall be set free in the
wilderness.” (Vayikra 16:21 – 22).
6.)
Can you state which observance Adonai commands children of Israel to maintain
on the 10th day of Tishrei?
Answer: Adonai commands the observance of Yom Kippur
on the 10th Day of Tishrei:
“And this shall be to you a law for all time: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the
month, you shall practice self-denial;
and you shall do no manner of work, neither the citizen nor the alien
who resides among you. For on this day
expiation shall be made for you to purify you of all your sins; you shall be pure before the Lord. It shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for
you, and you shall practice self-denial;
it is a law for all time.”
(Vayikra 16:29 – 31).
7.)
Can you describe the 1 exclusive location where Adonai commands children
of Israel to slaughter animals; and what
charge is placed upon any child of Israel who slaughters an animal elsewhere?
Answer:
Adonai commands children of Israel to slaughter animals exclusively
amidst the Mishkan; and anyone who
slaughters an animal away from the Mishkan is considered to be a murder
(“blood-guilty”):
“This is what the Lord has commanded: if anyone of the house of Israel slaughters
an ox, or sheep or goat in the camp, or does so outside the camp, and does not
bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to
the Lord, before the Lord’s Tabernacle, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that
man: he has shed blood; that man shall be cut off from among his
people.” (Vayikra 17:2 – 4).
8.)
Can you describe who is required to slaughter animals exclusively amidst
the Mishkan, and who is forbidden from consuming the blood of animals:
e.) Children of Israel;
f.)
Foreigners living amongst Israelites;
g.) Foreigners living outside of Israel;
h.) Wild beasts?
Answer:
a.) and b.) Children of Israel and foreigners living
amongst children of Israel required to slaughter animals exclusively amidst the
Mishkan, and are prohibited from consuming the blood of animals:
“Say to them further: If anyone of the house of Israel or of the
strangers who reside among them offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice, and
does not bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting to offer it to the
Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people.” (Vayikra 17:8 – 9);
“And if anyone of the house of Israel or of the
strangers who reside among them partakes of any blood, I will set My face
against the person who partakes of the blood, and I will cut him off from among
his kin.” (Vayikra 17:10).
There is an absence of an explicit description
regarding foreigners outside of Israel and wild beasts, however, there is this
mitzvah near the end of the 1st chapter of Beresheit:
“God said, ‘See, I give you every seed-bearing
plant that is upon all the earth, and every tree that has seed-bearing
fruit; they shall be yours for
food. And to all the animals on land, to
all the birds of the sky, and to everything that creeps on earth, in which
there is the breath of life, I give all the green plants for food.’” (Beresheit 1:29 – 30).
9.)
Can you describe, exclusively within the teachings of this Parshah, and
aside from blood, which part of the body of an animal is explicitly forbidden
to be consumed: a.) bones, b.)
fat, c.) horns, d.) muscles, e.)
organs, f.) hair, g.) hooves, h.)
skin?
Answer: The
answer is: i.) within “Acharei Mot,” there is an absence of
any additional parts of the body that are explicitly prohibited from being
consumed; within additional passages of
the Torah, there is a certain, explicit prohibition from consuming: b.)
the fat of an animal (Vayikra 7:23).
10.)
Can you describe which type(s) of relative is/are excluded from the list
of prohibitions, and with whom a man is implicitly permitted to marry and have
sexual intercourse:
a.) His
mor (mother);
b.) His stepmor (stepmother);
c.) His sister;
d.) His stepsister;
e.) His
tante (aunt);
f.)
His daughter-in-law;
g.) His sister-in-law;
h.) His wife’s daughter;
i.)
His wife’s mor;
j.)
His wife’s sister;
k.) His niece;
and/or,
l.)
His cousin?
Answer: A
man is permitted to marry and have sexual intercourse with: l.) his
cousin, and presumably, k.) his niece:
“None of you shall come near anyone of his own
flesh to uncover nakedness: I am the
Lord.
“Your father’s nakedness, that is, the nakedness of
your mother, you shall not uncover; she
is your mother—you shall not uncover her nakedness.
“Do not uncover the nakedness of your father’s
wife; it is the nakedness of your
father.
“The nakedness of your sister—your father’s
daughter or your mother’s, whether born into the household or outside—do not
uncover their nakedness.
“The nakedness of your son’s daughter, or of your
daughter’s daughter—do not uncover their nakedness; for their nakedness is yours.
“The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter,
who has born into your father’s household—she is your sister; do not uncover her nakedness.
“Do not uncover the nakedness of your father’s
sister; she is your father’s flesh.
“Do not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s
sister; for she is your mother’s flesh.
“Do not uncover the nakedness of your father’s
brother: do not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
“Do not uncover the nakedness of your
daughter-in-law: she is your son’s
wife; you shall not uncover her
nakedness.
“Do not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s
wife; it is the nakedness of your
brother.
“Do not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her
daughter; nor shall you marry her son’s
daughter or her daughter’s daughter and uncover her nakedness: they are kindred; it is depravity.
“Do not marry a woman as a rival to her sister and
uncover her nakedness in the other’s lifetime.”
(Vayikra 18:6 – 18);
Whilst a man’s daughter is also “technically” excluded
from being explicitly listed, this prohibition may be considered as rather
obvious; the prohibition regarding a man’s
granddaughter further substantiates the prohibition regarding a man’s
daughter; the explicit prohibition
between a man and his mor (a parent and child) can also be considered as a
prohibition between a man and his daughter.
11.)
Which of the proceeding sexual acts are explicitly prohibited within
this Parshah:
k.) Incest;
l.)
Homosexuality (heterophobia);
m.) Bestiality;
n.) Paedophilia;
o.) Polygamy;
p.) Masturbation;
q.) Celibacy;
r.)
Intercourse with a woman amidst the discharge
of her menstrual flow;
s.) Rape;
and/or,
t.)
Intercourse with another man’s wife?
Answer:
a.) Incest, b.) Homosexuality (heterophobia), c.) Bestiality, h.) Intercourse with a woman amidst the discharge
of her menstrual flow, and j.) Intercourse
with another man’s wife, are each explicitly prohibited within this Parshah:
(Regarding incest:
Vayikra 18:6 – 18, listed above);
“Do not lie with a male as one lies with a
woman; it is an abhorrence.” (Vayikra 18:22);
“Do not have carnal relations with any beast and
defile yourself thereby; and let no
woman lend herself to a beast to mate with it;
it is perversion.” (Vayikra
18:23);
“Do not come
near a woman during her period of impurity to uncover her nakedness.” (Vayikra 18:19);
“Do not have carnal relations with your neighbor’s
wife and defile yourself with her.”
(Vayikra 18:20);
12.)
Can you describe the number of occasions that Aaron’s name is explicitly
included within the Parshah, and the number of occasions that Moshe’s name is
explicitly included?
Answer: Aaron’s name is included on 9 occasions, and
Moshe’s name is included on 5 occasions:
“Aaron”:
(Vayikra 16:1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 23;
Vayikra 17:2);
“Moshe”:
(Vayikra 16:1, 2, 34; Vayikra 17:1; Vayikra 18:1).
--
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
When performing the offering within
this Parshah (also involving the instructions for Yom Kippur), it seems as
though Aaron is commanded to be with or without the ephod, Urim, Thumim, the
formal headdress and gold plate, and additional formal garments previously
described (instead being instructed to wear a white robe, white linen
undergarments, and a white headdress); what
is the significance of this apparent distinction; and what continuity exists between Adam and
Chavah’s “coverings”, Esau’s “earthly” garments, Yosef’s colourful coat, and
Aaron’s ephod and the aggregate of his Priestly attire; and what about the Ark of the Covenant?
What
is the metaphysical and esoteric significance of the aromatic incense offering,
the blood of the bull’s offering (for Aaron and the Kohanim), and the goat’s
blood, all sequentially being exposed and placed upon the Ark of the Covenant,
within the inner sanctuary of the Mishkan;
and what are similar considerations regarding the respective blood of
the bull and goat being placed upon the horns of the altar?
What
tangible purpose does the “scapegoat” provide;
what psychological and/or spiritual benefit is provided within the
consideration of an animal “bearing” or “removing” the sins of Israelites? What psychological and/or spiritual detriment
might this also provide? How does the
practise of the “scapegoat” coincide with the previously described offerings
that are established for Israelites to make atonement for past transgressions?
What
is actually meant within the teaching of the “life” existing within the blood
of an animal, particularly considering the notion that the life of the animal
is “passed” after the animal is sacrificed?
What is the nature of the life within the blood, and how does this compare
with the previous teachings regarding the emission of a man’s semen, and the
menstrual flow of a woman? And how does
this compare with the previous teaching regarding the breath of life being
breathed into Adam; and perhaps Chavah
being derived from Adam’s rib? Amidst
the consideration of life existing within the blood, is it appropriate to spare
the pouring of the blood by preserving the life of the animal?
With
respect to animal sacrifices and consumption of the flesh, how do the
respective practises of Egyptians, Canaanites, and Israelites spiritually and
tangibly compare and contrast with the practises of humanity during the period
of Noach and preceding the flood?
What
is the nature of the confluence (and perhaps dissonance/duplication) amidst the
self-denial during Yom Kippur and the imparting of sins unto the scapegoat?
Does
the mitzvah, that all animal sacrifice (even simply for eating) is to be
conducted at the Mishkan, essentially command the practise of
vegetarianism: considering that the
Mishkan (and presumably, similarly, the reconstructed Temple) can only
accommodate so many animal sacrifices within a given period so that children of
Israel require a regular, “ordinary” diet that is sustained without such animal
meat; is there any legitimacy within the
consideration of animal sacrifices ceasing amidst the inhabitation of Eretz
Israel and the eventual progression away from the actual Mishkan?
What
are the implications amidst the confluence of the mitzvot to abstain from
committing incest (including a man having sexual intercourse with any daughter
of his far) and the fact that Avraham is married with Sarah? How is this apparent contradiction to be
appropriately understood and reconciled?
Is
there any significance and/or intentionality within the proximity of the
respective teachings regarding both animal sacrifices and sexual intercourse?
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