118.11.30
ושלום אהבא , Family and
Friends.
שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلام.Peace.SatNam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.Barış.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.
.
.
.
...
This week’s
Parahsah is “Eikev,” however, I have yet to complete the Torah Trivia questions
for this Parashah; so, instead, I am
providing an untraditional “double dose” of the Parshiyot of the past 2 weeks
(Parashah Devarim [2 weeks ago, and Parashah Va’etchanan, 1 week ago) that I
have yet to forward.
Parashah
Va’etchanan includes both the 2nd communication of the “10
Commandments,” as well as the Shema.
The Torah
Trivia question of the Parashah is: “Can
you describe the prominent distinction of sequence that exists between the
initial communication of the ‘10 Commandments’ and the communication of the ‘10
Commandments’ communicated within Parashah Va’etchanan?
The featured
Hebrew terms for this Parashah are: “ברכה,” (“Beracha,” “Blessing”), and “קללה,” which actually appear within the
subsequent Parashah R’eih (Devarim 11:26), yet are also referenced within this
Parashah; another featured Hebrew term
for this Parashah is: “שמע” (“Shema,” “Hear”), within Devarim 6:4.
Admittedly, I
experience some technical difficulties and additional obligations that prolong
my completion of the previous weeks’ Torah Trivia installations. There are a few weeks remaining within this
cycle, and B’ezrat Hashem, I will be able to complete the remaining Parshiyot
for this cycle (and within a “timely” manner).
As the next
cycle approaches, the prospect of doing another year of Torah Trivia seems
somewhat redundant (at least at this point for me to provide). However, I am very much interested in
providing additional considerations for each Parashah. As such, I am considering providing studies
in either 1 or both of 2 areas: 1.) providing a brief vocabulary list of Hebrew
terms (perhaps 12) for each Parashah (basically, an expanded “featured Hebrew
terms”); and/or 2.) providing some form of economic insight
regarding a specific and/or general topic within each Parashah (for
example: what is the contemporary
monetary valuation of the gold utilised to build the Mishkan; how much does the daily offering equate to
contemporary income levels; what is the
valuation of land around Machpelah; and
additionally). I am interested in
receiving your thoughts regarding such endeavours.
,שלום שבת
,ושלום אהבא
Peter
שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلام.Peace.SatNam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.Barış.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.
.
.
.
...
ૐ. אמן
(((Can
you describe the physical components that are specifically described within the
Shema?)))
Very tenuous question to define what
is “physical” from “abstract” particularly with a very tenuous proficiency of
the Hebrew language:
Heart, children, “home”, road, sign,
hand, symbol, forehead, parchments, doorposts, houses, gates
--
Torah Trivia for Parashah 45. Va’etchanan (Questions Only)
1.) Can you describe the plea that Moshe makes
towards Adonai within the opening of Parashah Va’etchanan; as well as the response that Adonai provides?
a.) He
asks for blessings for his sons;
b.)
He asks to see his forefars (forefathers);
c.) He
asks for victory in battle against the Canaanites;
d.) He
asks for prosperity for all Israelis;
and/or,
e.)
He asks to enter into Eretz Israel;
1.) He
receives blessings upon his younger son rather than his elder son;
2.) He is
told to be patient;
3.) He is
told victory only arrives with Faith;
4.) He is
told Israelis will be as numerous as the stars;
and/or,
5.) He is
told he can see Eretz Israel from Mount Pisgah?
2.) Can you describe the tangible objects that
are specifically listed as prohibitions for Israelis to abstain from
worshipping as idols, described within the 2nd Aliyah of
Va’etchanan, before the 2nd provision of the “10 Commandments”
(Devarim 4:15 – 19): a.) fire;
b.) Mount Horeb; c.)
male idols; d.) female idols;
e.) animal statues; f.)
statues of flying creatures;
g.) statues of land animals; h.)
statues of fish; i.) the Sun;
j.) the Moon; k.)
the Stars; and/or, l.) general celestial entities?
3.) Also within Parashah Va’etchanan, Moshe
generally references “the blessing and the curse” of Israelis, including the
description of: 1.) violating the mitzvot commanded by Adonai,
2.) being banished from Eretz Israel,
and 3.) returning again to the worship
of Adonai, and to Eretz Israel; can you
describe the Parashah in which this “blessing and curse” are previously,
similarly explained, and in which Moshe includes the graphic description of
eating the flesh of one’s son and daughter?
4.) Can you describe the Parashah in which Moshe
similarly communicate the “blessing and the curse,” and which concludes with
Moshe proclaiming, “Choose life”?
5.) Can you name the 3 cities of refuge that
Moshe designates within Parashah Va’etchanan, and within whose area each city
is respectively located: a.) Kedesh;
b.) Shechem; c.)
Hebron; d.) Betzer;
e.) Ramoth; and/or, f.)
Golan?
6.) Can you describe which Parashah the “10
Commandments” are initially described?
7.) Can you describe what discrepancy of sequence
exists between the 1st communication of the “10 Commandments,” and
the repetition of the “10 Commandments” within Parashah Va’etchanan?
8.) Can you describe what prominent recitation is
included within Va’etchanan, within the 6th Aliyah (Chapter 6 of
Devarim)?
9.) Within this Parashah, Moshe demands, “Do not
try the LORD your God as you did at Massah” (Devarim 6:16); can you describe what previously happens in
Massah?
10.) Can you describe: א.) the question that Moshe states Israeli
children will ask in the future; as well
as, ב.) the response that is to be provided:
1.)
“Who is Avraham?”;
2.)
“Who is Yaakov?”;
3.)
“Who is Israel?”;
4.)
“Who is Moshe?”; and/or,
5.)
“Why do we have to do all these rules?”;
a.) “Avraham is our forefather, who listens to Adonai and leaves his fatherland.”;
a.) “Avraham is our forefather, who listens to Adonai and leaves his fatherland.”;
b.) “Yaakov is our forefather, who displays Faith
in Adonai and his far, Avraham.”;
c.) “Israel is our forefather, who wrestles with
man and Adonai, and prevails.”;
d.) “Moshe is the man who leads us out of
Egypt.”; and/or,
e.) “Because we say so.” J?
11.) Can you determine which are the 7 nations
that Moshe specifically lists as being driven out of Eretz Israel: a.)
Hittites; b.) Girgashites;
c.) Amorites; d.)
Canaanites; e.) Perizzites;
f.) Hivites; g.)
Jebusites; h.) Edomites;
i.) Ammonites; j.)
Moabites; k.) Midianites;
l.) Yavalites; m.)
Yavanites; n.) Cushites;
o.) Elamites; and/or, p.)
Nebayothites?
12.) Can you describe what prohibitions are
explicitly described regarding Israeli interaction with the nations previously
inhabiting Eretz Israel?
a.)
Israelis are prohibited from completely annihilating the inhabitants;
b.)
Israeli daughters are prohibited from marrying the sons of the
inhabitants;
c.)
Israeli sons are prohibited from marrying the daughters of the
inhabitants;
d.)
Israelis are prohibited from destroying all the altars, pillars, and
sacred trees of the inhabitants; and/or,
e.)
Israelis are prohibited from providing tzedakah to the inhabitants?
Torah Trivia for Parashah 45. Va’etchanan (with Answers)
1.) Can you describe the plea that Moshe makes
towards Adonai within the opening of Parashah Va’etchanan; as well as the response that Adonai provides?
a.) He
asks for blessings for his sons;
b.)
He asks to see his forefars (forefathers);
c.) He
asks for victory in battle against the Canaanites;
d.) He
asks for prosperity for all Israelis;
and/or,
e.)
He asks to enter into Eretz Israel;
1.) He
receives blessings upon his younger son rather than his elder son;
2.) He is
told to be patient;
3.) He is
told victory only arrives with Faith;
4.) He is
told Israelis will be as numerous as the stars;
and/or,
5.) He is
told he can see Eretz Israel from Mount Pisgah?
Answer:
e.) 5.) Moshe asks to enter Eretz Israel, and is told
he can view it from Mount Pisgah:
“I pleaded with the LORD at the time, saying, ‘O
Lord God, who let Your servant see the first works of Your greatness and Your
mighty hand, You whose powerful deeds no (deity) in heaven or on earth can
equal! Let me, I pray, cross over and
see the (benevolent) land on the other side of the (Yordan), that (benevolent)
hill country, and the Lebanon.’ But the
LORD was wrathful with me on your account and would not listen to me. The LORD said to me, ‘Enough! Never speak to Me of this matter again! Go up to the summit of Pisgah and gaze about,
to the west, the north, the south, and the east. Look at it well, for you shall not go across
yonder (Yordan).’” (Devarim 3:23 – 27).
2.) Can you describe the tangible objects that
are specifically listed as prohibitions for Israelis to abstain from
worshipping as idols, described within the 2nd Aliyah of Va’etchanan,
before the 2nd provision of the “10 Commandments” (Devarim 4:15 –
19): a.)
fire; b.) Mount Horeb;
c.) male idols; d.)
female idols; e.) animal statues; f.)
statues of flying creatures;
g.) statues of land animals; h.)
statues of fish; i.) the Sun;
j.) the Moon; k.)
the Stars; and/or, l.) general celestial entities?
Answer: The
answer is: c.) – l.): All the objects, except for a.) fire, and b.)
Mount Horeb, are listed as specific prohibitions; although fire and Mount Horeb are referenced
within the passage, and may also be similarly considered as prohibited objects
to worship:
“For your own sake, therefore, be most
careful—since you saw no shape when the LORD your God spoke to you at Horeb out
of the fire—not to act wickedly and make for yourselves a sculptured image in
any likeness whatever: the form of a man
or a woman, the form of any beast on earth, the form of any winged bird that
flies in the sky, the form of anything that creeps on the ground, the form of
any fish that is in the waters below the earth.
And when you look up to the sky and behold the sun and the moon and the
stars, the whole heavenly host, you must not be lured into bowing down to them
or serving them. These the LORD your God
allotted to other peoples everywhere under heave;” (Devarim 4:15 – 19);
Also, within a subsequent passage, there is also a
reference to the blasphemous worship of deities made of wood and stone:
“There you will serve man made (deities) of wood
and stone, that cannot see or hear or eat or smell.” (Devarim 4:28).
3.) Also within Parashah Va’etchanan, Moshe
generally references “the blessing and the curse” of Israelis, including the
description of: 1.) violating the mitzvot commanded by Adonai, 2.) being banished from Eretz Israel, and
3.) returning again to the worship of
Adonai, and to Eretz Israel; can you
describe the Parashah in which this “blessing and curse” are previously,
similarly explained, and in which Moshe includes the graphic description of
eating the flesh of one’s son and daughter?
Answer: The passage is included within Parashah
Bechukotai:
“You shall eat the flesh of your sons
and the flesh of your daughters.”
(Vayikra 26:29).
4.) Can you describe the Parashah in which Moshe
similarly communicate the “blessing and the curse,” and which concludes with
Moshe proclaiming, “Choose life”?
Answer: Moshe makes this proclamation towards the end
of Parashah Nitzavim:
“I call heaven and earth to witness against you
this day: I have put before you life and
death, blessing and curse. Choose
life—if you and your offspring would live—”
(Devarim 30:19).
The “blessing and curse” are also similarly
communicated within the proceeding Parshiyot:
Re’eh, Ki Tavo, and within Eikev (where the blessing is prominently
described and there is less emphasis upon the curse).
5.) Can you name the 3 cities of refuge that
Moshe designates within Parashah Va’etchanan, and within whose area each city
is respectively located: a.) Kedesh;
b.) Shechem; c.)
Hebron; d.) Betzer;
e.) Ramoth; and/or, f.)
Golan?
Answer:
The answer is: d.) Betzer (of the
Reuvenis); e.)
Ramoth (of the Gaddis); and, f.) Golan (of the Manassis); Kedesh (of the Naphtalis), Shechem (of the
Ephraimis), and Hebron (of the Yudis), are described within the Tanakh (Yoshua
20:7);
“Then (Moshe) set aside three cities on the east
side of the (Yordan) to which a manslayer could escape, one who unittingly slew
a fellow man without having been hostile to him in the past; he could flee to one of these cities and
live: Bezer, in the wilderness of the
Tableland, belong to the (Reuvenites);
Ramoth, in Gilead, belonging to the Gadites; and Golan, in Bashan, belonging to the
Manassites.” (Devarim 4:41 – 43).
“So they set aside Kedesh in the hill country of
Naphtali in Galilee, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and
Kiriath-arba—that is, Hebron—in the hill country of (Yudah).” (Yoshua 20:7).
6.) Can you describe which Parashah the “10
Commandments” are initially described?
Answer: The “10 Commandments” are initially described
within Parashah Yitro (Shmot 20:1 – 14).
7.) Can you describe what prominent discrepancy
of sequence exists between the 1st communication of the “10
Commandments,” and the repetition of the “10 Commandments” within Parashah
Va’etchanan?
Answer: There is an absence of any discrepancy in
sequence:
From Parashah Va’etchanan:
“I the LORD am your God who brought you out of
the land of Egypt, the house of bondage:
You shall have no other (deities) beside Me.
“You shall not make for yourself a sculptured
image, any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below, or
in the waters below the earth. You shall
not bow down to them or serve them. For
I the LORD your God am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the parents
upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of those who
reject Me, but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those who love
Me and keep My commandments.
“You shall not swear falsely by the name of the
LORD your God; for the LORD will not
clear one who swears falsely by (Adonai’s) name.
“Observe (Shabbat) and keep it holy, as the LORD
your God has commanded you. Six days you
shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is (Shabbat) of the LORD
your God; you shall not do any work—you,
your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your ox or your ass, or
any of your cattle, or the stranger in
your settlements, so that your male and female slave may rest as you do. Remember that you were a slave in the land of
Egypt and the LORD your God freed you from there with a mighty hand and an
outstretched arm; therefore the LORD
your God has commanded you to observe (Shabbat).
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD
your God has commanded you, that you may long endure, and that you may fare
well, in the land that the LORD your God is assigning to you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbour.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not crave your neighbor’s house, or
his field, or his male or female slave, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that
is your neighbor’s.” (Devarim 5:6 – 18).
From Parashah Yitro:
“God spoke all these words, saying:
“I the LORD am your God who brought you out of
the land of Egypt, the house of bondage:
You shall have no other (deities) besides Me.
“You shall not make for yourself a sculptured
image, or any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or on the earth below,
or in the waters under the earth. You
shall not bow down to them or serve them.
For I the LORD your God am an impassioned God, visiting the guilt of the
parents upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generations of
those who reject Me, but showing kindness to the thousandth generation of those
who love Me and keep My commandments.
“You shall not swear falsely by the name of the
LORD your God; for the LORD will not
clear one who swears falsely by (Adonai’s) name.
“Remember (Shabbat) and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your
work, but the seventh day is (Shabbat) of the LORD your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or
daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is
within your settlements. For in six
days, the LORD made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them, and (Adonai)
rested on the seventh day; therefore the
LORD blessed (Shabbat) and hallowed it.
“Honor your father and your mother, that you may
long endure on the land that the LORD your God is assigning to you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your
neighbour.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house: you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or
his male or female slave, or his ox o his ass, or anything that is your
neighbor’s.” (Shmot 20:1 – 14).
8.) Can you describe what prominent recitation is
included within Va’etchanan, within the 6th Aliyah (Chapter 6 of
Devarim)?
Answer: The Shema is included:
“Hear, O Israel!
The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your might. Take to
heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when
you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them
serve as a symbol on your forehead;
inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Devarim 6:4 – 9).
“שמע ישראל
יהוה אלהינו יהוה אחד׃ ואהבת את יהוה אלהיך לבבך ובכל־נפשך ובכל־מאדך׃ והיו הדברים
האלה אשר אנכי מזוך היום על־לבבך׃ ושננתם לבניך ודברת בם בשבתך בביתך ובלכתך בדרך ובשּכבך
ובקומך׃ וקשרתם לאות על־ידך והיו לטטפת בין עיניך׃ וכתבתם על־ממזוזת ביתך ובשעריך׃
9.) Within this Parashah, Moshe demands, “Do not
try the LORD your God as you did at Massah” (Devarim 6:16); can you describe what previously happens in
Massah?
Answer: After
the manna is provided, Israelis complain of the lack of water, and Adonai
commands Moshe to strike the rock to provide water (at Massah Meribah):
“From the wilderness of Sin the whole Israelite
community continued by stages as the LORD would command. They encamped at Rephidim, and there was no
water for the people to drink. The
people quarrelled with (Moshe). ‘Give us
water to drink,’ they said; and (Moshe)
replied to them, ‘Why do you quarrel with me?
Why do you try the LORD?’ But the
people thirsted there for water; and the
people grumbled against (Moshe) and said, ‘Why did you bring us up from Egypt,
to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?’ (Moshe) cried out to the LORD, saying, ‘What
shall I do with this people? Before long
they will be stoning me!’ Then the LORD
said to (Moshe), ‘Pass before the people;
take with you some of the elders of Israel, and take along the rod with
which you struck the Nile, and set out.
I will be standing there before you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock and water will issue from it,
and the people will drink.’ And (Moshe)
did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
The place was named Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites
quarrelled and because they tried the LORD, saying, ‘Is the LORD present among
us or not?’” (Shmot 17:1 – 7).
10.) Can you describe: א.) the question that Moshe states Israeli
children will ask in the future; as well
as, ב.) the response that is to be provided:
1.)
“Who is Avraham?”;
2.)
“Who is Yaakov?”;
3.)
“Who is Israel?”;
4.)
“Who is Moshe?”; and/or,
5.)
“Why do we have to do all these rules?”;
a.) “Avraham is our forefather, who listens to Adonai and leaves his fatherland.”;
a.) “Avraham is our forefather, who listens to Adonai and leaves his fatherland.”;
b.) “Yaakov is our forefather, who displays Faith
in Adonai and his far, Avraham.”;
c.) “Israel is our forefather, who wrestles with
man and Adonai, and prevails.”;
d.) “Moshe is the man who leads us out of Egypt.”; and/or,
e.) “Because we say so.” J?
Answer:
The answer is: 5.) “f.)”: The question pertains to the mitzvot,
however, the commanded response is other than “e.),” and is actually absent
from the listed options; the response is
described as such:
“When, in time to come, your children ask you,
‘What mean the decrees, laws, and rules that the LORD our God has enjoined upon
you?’ you shall say to your children,
‘We were slaves to (Paraoh) in Egypt and the LORD freed us from Egypt with a
mighty hand. The LORD wrought before our
eyes marvellous and destructive signs and portents in Egypt, against (Paraoh)
and all his household; and us (Adonai)
freed from there, that (Adonai) might take us and give us the land that
(Adonai) had promised on oath to our fathers.
Then the LORD commanded us to observe all these laws, to revere the LORD
our God, for our lasting (benefit) and for our survival, as is now the
case. It will be therefore to our merit
before the LORD our God to observe faithfully this whole Instruction, as
(Adonai) has commanded us.’” (Devarim
6:20 – 25).
11.) Can you determine which are the 7 nations
that Moshe specifically lists as being driven out of Eretz Israel: a.) Hittites; b.) Girgashites; c.) Amorites; d.) Canaanites; e.) Perizzites; f.) Hivites; g.) Jebusites; h.) Edomites; i.) Ammonites; j.) Moabites; k.) Midianites; l.) Yavalites; m.) Yavanites; n.) Cushites; o.) Elamites; and/or, p.)
Nebayothites?
Answer: The answer is: a.) – g.);
Hittites are descendants of Canaan (Beresheit
10:15 – 18);
Girgashites are descendants of Canaan
(Beresheit 10:15 – 18);
Amorites are descendants of Canaan
(Beresheit 10:15 – 18)
Canaanites are descendants of Ham (Beresheit
10:6);
Perizzites are described as
pre-Israeli tribes within whose land Avraham and Lot travel (Beresheit 13:7);
Hivites are descendants of Canaan
(Beresheit 10:15 – 18);
Jebusites are descendants of Canaan
(Beresheit 10:15 – 18);
--
Edomites are descendants of Esau (Beresheit
36:1);
Ammonites are descendants of Lot and
his younger daughter (Beresheit 19:38);
Moabites are descendants of Lot and
his elder daughter (Beresheit 19:37);
Midianites are descendants of Avraham
and Keturah (Beresheit 25:1 – 2);
Yavalites are descendants of Cain (Beresheit
4:17 – 20);
Yavanites are descendants of Yefeth (Beresheit
10:2 – 4);
Cushites are descendants of Ham (Beresheit
10:6);
Elamites are descendants of Shem (Beresheit
10:21 – 22);
Nebayothites are descendants of
Ishmael (Beresheit 25:12 – 13);
Although there may be some
overlapping/redundancies, the specific nations described in the proceeding
manner:
“When the LORD your God brings you to the land
that you are about to enter and possess, and (Adonai) dislodges many nations
before you—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites,
Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations much larger than you—and the LORD your
God delivers them to you and you defeat them, you must doom them to
destruction: grant them no terms and
give them no quarter.” (Devarim 7:1 –
2).
12.) Can you describe what prohibitions are
explicitly described regarding Israeli interaction with the nations previously
inhabiting Eretz Israel?
a.)
Israelis are prohibited from completely annihilating the inhabitants;
b.)
Israeli daughters are prohibited from marrying the sons of the
inhabitants;
c.)
Israeli sons are prohibited from marrying the daughters of the
inhabitants;
d.)
Israelis are prohibited from destroying all the altars, pillars, and sacred
trees of the inhabitants; and/or,
e.)
Israelis are prohibited from providing tzedakah to the inhabitants?
Answer:
The answer is b.) and c.): Israeli daughter are prohibited from marrying
the inhabitant sons, and Israeli sons are prohibited from marrying the
inhabitant daughters; Israelis are commanded
to completely annihilate the inhabitants and to destroy all the worship objects
of the inhabitants; and the complete
annihilation of the inhabitants presumably prevents the provision of tzedakah:
“When the LORD your God brings you to the land that
you are about to enter and possess, and (Adonai) dislodges many nations before
you—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and
Jebusites, seven nations much larger than you—and the LORD your God delivers
them to you and you defeat them, you must doom them to destruction: grant them no terms and give them no
quarter. You shall not intermarry with
them: do not give your daughters to
their sons or take their daughters for your sons. For they will turn your children away from Me
to worship other (deities), and the LORD’s anger will blaze forth against you
and (Adonai) will promptly wipe you out.
Instead, this is what you shall do to them: you shall tear down their altars, smash their
pillars, cut down their sacred posts, and consign their images to the
fire.” (Devarim 7:1 – 5).
--
Discussion Questions:
Why
is Moshe so adamant on blaming Israelis for his inability to enter Eretz
Israel? Amidst the tremendous leadership
that Moshe provides in leading Israelis from the bondage of Egypt into the
Promised Land of Eretz Israel, what lessons of responsibility are appropriately
gleaned from his leadership, as well as from his frustration with his
followers? Also, why does Moshe blame
the children of the culprits?
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