Torah Trivia Torah Trivia for Parashah 39. Chukkat (118..23)10

Torah Trivia for Parashah 39. Chukkat (Questions Only)

1.)  Can you describe what the characteristics must be possessed by the animal who is sacrificed for the purification offering of the removal of sin, at the beginning of Parashah Chukkat?

2.)  Can you described the number of days a person is unclean after a person becomes ritually unclean by having contacted with a human corpse, and on what days does the person cleanse the person’s self with the purifying water?

3.)  Can you describe what punishment Moshe and Aaron receive after striking the rock to provide water, rather than simply speaking to the rock (as commanded)?

4.)  Can you describe the name that is given to the location where the water is provided from the rock?

Questions 5.) and 6.) pertain to the passage, Bamidbar 20:14 – 21:

5.)  Can you describe which paraphrased statement most accurately depicts the solicitation that Moshe sends to the king of Edom:

          a.)  “Break yourself, fool!  We own this joint.”;

b.)  “Most honourable cousins, we humbly request passage through your land in the most convenient and expedient of manners.”;

c.)  “My dear sires, we shall pay for any materials we usurp during our transverse through your countryside, if you simply provide us the kindness of granting us permission to do so.”;

d.)  “Big Up, Edom.  And much respect.  Looks, kid:  we family.  And we’s on our way to that Promised Land, and we gots to make this shortcut through your block.  What’s up?”;

          e.)  “Baruch Hashem.  May we pass?”;

          f.)  “Nos amigos, puedemos viajar aqui con ustesdes.”?

6.)  Can you describe which paraphrased statement most accurately depicts the response Edom sends to Israelis:

          a.)  “You best recognise, fool.  You outta pocket.”;

b.)  “Most honourable cousins, we graciously refuse your passage through our land within any tangible manner conceivable.”;

c.)  “My dear sires, your proposal is summarily rejected and the connexion between yourselves and our materials is quite impossible as we intend to comprehensively prevent you from approaching anywhere near to our resources.”;

          d.)  “Game recognise game, my dudes.  But check it:  Zero haps.”;

          e.)  “We decline.”;

          f.)  “Si, nos amigos.  Por Supuesto!”?

7.)  Can you state the location where Aaron passes from life, and who is present with him when he passes?

8.)  Can you describe what promise Israelis make to receive Adonai’s help to overcome the Canaanites, within this Parashah:

          a.)  Israelis promise to educate all the Canaanites into becoming a righteous nation;

          b.)  Israelis promise to establish a charitable largess from the material riches of the Canaanites;

c.)  Israelis promise to negotiate a super-regional, multi-tribal treaty, establishing cooperative economic trade, shared infrastructure initiatives, and educational protocols for all citizens;

d.)  Israelis promise to absolutely ignore the Canaanites, and place fingers within the ears whenever seeing a Canaanite approaching;

e.)  Israelis promise to contract the Edomites to enslave the Canaanites, and provide Adonai with 20% of the gain?

9.)  Can you describe what punishment Adonai sends upon Israelis after the 20^th complaint that Israelis make;  and what remedy Adonai provides to help Israelis, after Israelis repent?

10.)  Can you describe who are the respective 3^rd and 4^th armies to oppose Moshe within this Parashah?

11.)  Can you describe the name of the city within which Israel settles after defeating Sichon?

12.)  Can you describe the appropriate sequence of travel locations that Israelis visit during the course of this Parashah:

          a.)  Wilderness of Zin;

          b.)  Camp within Kadesh; 

          c.)  Mai Meribah; 

          d.)  Mount Hor; 

          e.)  Harmah within the Negev; 

          f.)  Sea of Reeds; 

          g.)  Oboth; 

          h.)  Iye Abarim along Moab Border; 

          i.)  Brook of Zered; 

          j.)  Desert Encampment near Amorite Border, off Arnon River; 

          k.)  Well of Beer; 

          l.)  Matanah; 

          m.)  Nachaliel; 

          n.)  Bamoth; 

          o.)  Mount Pisgah within Plain of Moab, Overlooking Yeshimon; 

          p.)  Yahaz; 

          q.)  Area between Arnon River and Jabbok River; 

          r.)  Heshbon; 

          s.)  Yaazer; 

          t.)  Bashan; 

          u.)  Yordan River, across from Yericho, within Western Plains of Moab?

Torah Trivia for Parashah 39.  Chukkat (with Answers)

1.)  Can you describe what the characteristics must be possessed by the animal who is sacrificed for the purification offering of the removal of sin, at the beginning of Parashah Chukkat?

          Answer:  The animal is to be a red cow, without blemish, that abstains from ever working:

          “This is the ritual law that the LORD has commanded:

“Instruct the Israelite people to bring you a red cow without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which no yoke has been laid.  You shall give it to Eleazar the priest.  It shall be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence.”  (Bamidbar 19:2 – 3);

“A man who is pure shall gather up the ashes of the cow and deposit them outside the camp in a pure place, to be kept for water of lustration for the Israelite community.  It is for purification.”  (Bamidbar 19:9).

2.)  Can you described the number of days a person is unclean after a person becomes ritually unclean by having contacted with a human corpse, and on what days does the person cleanse the person’s self with the purifying water?

Answer:  A person is unclean for 7 days, and is to be cleansed with purification water on the 3^rd and 7^th days:

“He who touches the corpse of any human being shall be impure seven days.  He shall purify himself with it on the third day and on the seventh day, and then be pure;  if he fails to purify himself on the third and seventh days, he shall not be pure.”  (Bamidbar 19:11 – 12).

3.)  Can you describe what punishment Moshe and Aaron receive after striking the rock to provide water, rather than simply speaking to the rock (as commanded)?

          Answer:  Moshe and Aaron are prevent from leading Israelis into Eretz Israel:

         

“But the LORD said to (Moshe) and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust Me enough to affirm My sanctity in the sight of the Israelite people, therefore you shall not lead this congregation into the land that I have given them.’”  (Bamidbar 20:12).

4.)  Can you describe the name that is given to the location where the water is provided from the rock?

          Answer:  The location is called, “מריבה מי” (“Mai Meribah”: “Waters of Dispute”):

“Those are the Waters of Meribah—meaning that the Israelites quarrelled with the LORD—through which (Adonai) affirmed (Adonai’s) sanctity.”   (Bamidbar 20:13).

Questions 5.) and 6.) pertain to the passage, Bamidbar 20:14 – 21:

5.)  Can you describe which paraphrased statement most accurately depicts the solicitation that Moshe sends to the king of Edom:

          a.)  “Break yourself, fool!  We own this joint.”;

b.)  “Most honourable cousins, we humbly request passage through your land in the most convenient and expedient of manners.”;

c.)  “My dear sires, we shall pay for any materials we usurp during our transverse through your countryside, if you simply provide us the kindness of granting us permission to do so.”;

d.)  “Big Up, Edom.  And much respect.  Looks, kid:  we family.  And we’s on our way to that Promised Land, and we gots to make this shortcut through your block.  What’s up?”;

          e.)  “Baruch Hashem.  May we pass?”;

          f.)  “Nos amigos, puedemos viajar aqui con ustesdes.”?

Answer:  It may be considered that b.), c.), and d.) each include a specific element within the solicitation that Moshe sends, beginning with the familial reference and request, within b.) and d.), and including the counter proposal to provide compensation for consumed materials, upon an initial rejection, provided in c.);  it may also be considered that e.) and f.) are generally applicable;  (Bamidbar 20:14 – 21).

6.)  Can you describe which paraphrased statement most accurately depicts the response Edom sends to Israelis:

          a.)  “You best recognise, fool.  You outta pocket.”;

b.)  “Most honourable cousins, we graciously refuse your passage through our land within any tangible manner conceivable.”;

c.)  “My dear sires, your proposal is summarily rejected and the connexion between yourselves and our materials is quite impossible as we intend to comprehensively prevent you from approaching anywhere near to our resources.”;

          d.)  “Game recognise game, my dudes.  But check it:  Zero haps.”;

          e.)  “We decline.”;

          f.)  “Si, nos amigos.  Por Supuesto!”?

Answer:  It may be considered that the proceeding answers are correspondingly applicable:  a.), b.), c.), d.), and e.):

“From Kadesh, (Moshe) sent messengers to the king of Edom:  ‘Thus says your brother Israel:  You know all the hardships that have befallen us;  that our ancestors went down to Egypt, that we dwelt in Egypt a long time, and that the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our ancestors.  We cried to the LORD and (Adonai) heard our plea, and (Adonai) sent a messenger who freed us from Egypt.  Now we are in Kadesh, the town on the border of your territory.  Allow us, then, to cross your country.  We will not pass through fields or vineyards, and we will not drink water from wells.  We will follow the king’s highway, turning off neither to the right nor to the left until we have crossed your territory.’

“But Edom answered him, ‘You shall not pass through us, else we will go out against you with the sword.’  ‘We will keep to the beaten track,’ the Israelites said to them, ‘and if we or our cattle drink your water, we will pay for it.  We ask only for passage on foot—it is but a small matter.’  But they replied, ‘You shall not pass through!’  And Edom went out against them in heavy force, strongly armed.  So Edom would not let Israel cross their territory, and Israel turned away from them.”  (Bamidbar 20:14 – 21).

7.)  Can you state the location where Aaron passes from life, and who is present with him when he passes?

Answer:  Aaron passes away on Mount Hor, and Moshe and Aaron’s son, Eleazar, climb up the mountain with him:

“Setting out from Kadesh, the Israelites arrived in a body at Mount Hor.  At Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom, the LORD said to (Moshe) and Aaron, ‘Let Aaron be gathered to his kin:  he is not to enter the land that I have assigned to the Israelite people, because you disobeyed (My) command about the Waters of Meribah.  Take Aaron and his son Eleazar and bring them up on Mount Hor.  Strip Aaron of his vestments and put them on his son Eleazar.  There Aaron shall be gathered unto the dead.’

“(Moshe did as the LORD had commanded.  They ascended Mount Hor in the sight of the whole community.  (Moshe) stripped Aaron of his vestments and put them on his son Eleazar, and Aaron died there on the summit of the mountain.  When (Moshe) and Eleazar came down from the mountain, the whole community knew that Aaron had breathed his last.  All the house of Israel bewailed Aaron thirty days.”  (Bamidbar 20:22 – 29).

8.)  Can you describe what promise Israelis make to receive Adonai’s help to overcome the Canaanites, within this Parashah:

          a.)  Israelis promise to educate all the Canaanites into becoming a righteous nation;

          b.)  Israelis promise to establish a charitable largess from the material riches of the Canaanites;

c.)  Israelis promise to negotiate a super-regional, multi-tribal treaty, establishing cooperative economic trade, shared infrastructure initiatives, and educational protocols for all citizens;

d.)  Israelis promise to absolutely ignore the Canaanites, and place fingers within the ears whenever seeing a Canaanite approaching;

e.)  Israelis promise to contract the Edomites to enslave the Canaanites, and provide Adonai with 20% of the gain?

Answer:  The answer is “f.)”:  an absence of any of the above;  Israelis promise to completely dedicate (“proscribe”) the Canaanites and everything within the cities:

“When the Canaanite, king of Arad, who dwelt in the (Negev), learned that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he engaged Israel in battle and took some of them captive.  Then Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, ‘If You deliver this people into our hand, we will proscribe their towns.’  The LORD heeded Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites, and they and their cities were proscribed.  So that place was named Hormah.”  (Bamidbar 21:1 – 3).

9.)  Can you describe what punishment Adonai sends upon Israelis after the 20^th complaint that Israelis make;  and what remedy Adonai provides to help Israelis, after Israelis repent?

Answer:  Adonai sends poisonous snakes as a punishment;  and Adonai tells Moshe to construct a copper snake atop a pole, as a remedy to the bites of the poisonous snakes:

“They set out from Mount Hor by way of the Sea of Reeds to skirt the land of Edom.  But the people grew restive on the journey, and the people spoke against God and against (Moshe), ‘Why did you make us leave Egypt to die in the wilderness?  There is no bread and no water, and we have come to loathe this miserable food.’  The LORD sent seraph serpents against the people.  They bit the people and many of the Israelites died.  The people came to (Moshe) and said, ‘We sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you.  Intercede with the LORD to take away the serpents from us!’  And (Moshe) interceded for the people.  Then the LORD said to (Moshe), ‘Make a seraph figure and mount it on a standard.  And if anyone who is bitten looks at it, he shall recover.’  (Moshe) made a copper serpent and mounted it on a standard;  and when anyone was bitten by a serpent, he would look at the copper serpent and recover.”  (Bamidbar 21:4 – 9).

10.)  Can you describe who are the respective 3^rd and 4^th armies to oppose Moshe within this Parashah?

Answer:  Basically, the 3^rd and 4^th armies are respectively those of Sichon, King of the Amorites (3^rd), and Og, King of Bashan (4^th);  this is after the Canaanite King of Arad (1^st), and the King of Edom (2^nd);  however, it may be considered that the army of Israel also opposes Moshe on 2 occasions, within this Parashah (with complaints);  and within an esoteric/spiritual manner, it may be considered that the army of Moshe’s own personal ego opposes him when he strikes the rock, disobeying the command from Adonai;  and technically, the armis of Sichon, the Canaanite King of Arad, and the King of Edom, each oppose Israel, rather than Moshe, specifically:

“Israel now sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, ‘Let me pass through your country.  We will not turn off into fields or vineyards, and we will not drink water from wells.  We will follow the king’s highwar until we have crossed your territory.’  But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.  Sihon gathered all his people and went out against Israel in the wilderness.  He came to Jahaz and engaged Israel in battle.”  (Bamidbar 21:21 – 23);

“They marched on and went up the road to Bashan, and King Og of Bashan, with all his people, came out to Edrei to engage them in battle.  But the LORD said to (Moshe), ‘Do not fear him, for I give him and all his people and his land into your hand.  You shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites who dwelt in Heshbon.’  They defeated him and his sons and all his people, until no remnant was left him;  and they took possession of his country.”  (Bamidbar 21:33 – 35).

11.)  Can you describe the name of the city within which Israel settles after defeating Sichon?

          Answer:  The name of the city is Heshbon:

“Israel took all the those towns.  And Israel settled in all the towns of the Amorites, in Heshbon and all its dependencies.

“Now Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against a former king of Moab and taken all his land from him as far as the Arnon.”  (Bamidbar 21:25 – 26).

12.)  Can you describe the appropriate sequence of travel locations that Israelis visit during the course of this Parashah:

          a.)  Wilderness of Zin;

          b.)  Camp within Kadesh; 

          c.)  Mai Meribah; 

          d.)  Mount Hor; 

          e.)  Harmah within the Negev; 

          f.)  Sea of Reeds; 

          g.)  Oboth; 

          h.)  Iye Abarim along Moab Border; 

          i.)  Brook of Zered; 

          j.)  Desert Encampment near Amorite Border, off Arnon River; 

          k.)  Well of Beer; 

          l.)  Matanah; 

          m.)  Nachaliel; 

          n.)  Bamoth; 

          o.)  Mount Pisgah within Plain of Moab, Overlooking Yeshimon; 

          p.)  Yahaz; 

          q.)  Area between Arnon River and Jabbok River; 

          r.)  Heshbon; 

          s.)  Yaazer; 

          t.)  Bashan; 

          u.)  Yordan River, across from Yericho, within Western Plains of Moab?

          Answer:  The appropriate sequence is just as it is initially listed within the question, from a.) through u.):

a.)  Wilderness of Zin:

          b.)  Camp within Kadesh:

“The Isrealites arrived in a body at the wilderness of Zin on the first new moon, and the people stayed at Kadesh.  Miriam died there and was buried there.”  (Bamidbar 20:1);

          c.)  Mai Meribah:

“Those are the Waters of Meribah—meaning that the Israelites quarrelled with the LORD—through which (Adonai) affirmed (Adonai’s) sanctity.”  (Bamidbar 20:13);

          d.)  Mount Hor:

          “Setting out from Kadesh, the Israelites arrived in a body at Mount Hor.”  (Bamidbar 20:22);

          e.)  Harmah within the Negev: 

“When the Canaanite, king of Arad, who dwelt in the Negeb, learned that Israel was coming by way of Atharim, he engaged Israel in battle and took some of them captive.  Then Israel made a vow to the LORD and said, ‘If You deliver this people into our hand, we will proscribe their towns.’  The LORD heeded Israel’s plea and delivered up the Canaanites;  and they and their cities were proscribed.  So that place was named Hormah.”  (Bamidbar 21:1 – 3);

          f.)  Sea of Reeds:

          “They set out from Mount Hor by way of the Sea of Reeds to skirt the land of Edom.”  (Bamidbar 21:4);

          g.)  Oboth:

          “The Israelites marched on and encamped at Oboth.”  (Bamidbar 21:10);

          h.)  Iye Abarim along Moab Border:

“They set out from Oboth and encamped at Iye Abarim, in the wilderness bordering on Moab to the east.”  (Bamidbar 21:11);

          i.)  Brook of Zered:

“From there they set out and encamped at the wadi Zered.”  (Bamidbar 20:12);

          j.)  Desert Encampment near Amorite Border, off Arnon River:

“From there they set out and encamped beyond the Arnon, that is, in the wilderness that extends from the territory of the Amorites.  For the Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.”  (Bamidbar 21:13);

          k.)  Well of Beer:

“And from there to Beer, which is the well where the LORD said to (Moshe), ‘Assemble the people that I may give them water.’”  (Bamidbar 21:16);

          l.)  Matanah;

          m.)  Nachaliel;

          n.)  Bamoth;

          o.)  Mount Pisgah within Plain of Moab, Overlooking Yeshimon:

“And from Midbar to Mattanah, and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the country of Moab, at the peak of Pisgah, overlooking the wasteland.”  (Bamidbar 21:18 – 20);

          p.)  Yahaz:

“But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory.  Sihon gathered all his people and went out against Israel in the wilderness.  He came to Jahaz and engaged Israel in battle.”  (Bamidbar 21:23);

          q.)  Area between Arnon River and Jabbok River:

“But Israel put them to the sword, and took possession of their land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as Az of the Ammonites, for Az marked the boundary of the Ammonites.”  (Bamidbar 21:24);

          r.)  Heshbon:

“Israel took all those towns.  And Israel settled in all the towns of the Amorites, in Heshbon and all its dependencies.”  (Bamidbar 21:25);

          s.)  Yaazer:

“Then (Moshe) sent to spy out Jazer, and they captured its dependencies and dispossessed the Amorites who were there.”  (Bamidbar 21:32);

          t.)  Bashan:

“They marched on and went up the road to Bashan, and King Og of Bashan, with all his people, came out to Edrei to engage them in battle.”  (Bamidbar 21:33);

          u.)  Yordan River, across from Yericho, within Western Plains of Moab;  22:1  

“The Israelites then marched on and encamped in the steppes of Moab, across the (Yordan) from Jericho.”  (Bamidbar 22:1).

--

Discussion Questions:

Beyond the hygienic benefits of separation and cleansing after contact with a corpse, what esoteric meaning and significance exists within the process of purification?  Does a “ritually clean person” constitute anyone from Israel, or is this understood as the function of the כהנים or Levis? 

What is the reason for a ritually clean person needing to bathe after sprinkling the purification water?

What is the nature of the apparent dissonance within the communication between Adonai and Moshe and Aaron regarding the command to “speak to the rock,” and the subsequent action of striking the rock?  Why is there such a severe consequence for this apparently slight distinction;  or is this simply the straw that broke the water-producing rock?

What are the dynamics within the contract that Israelis offer to Adonai in order to defeat the Canaanites:  are Israelis searching for redemption and proof before Adonai, or do Israelis simply want to experience a victory in fighting against the Canaanites?  Does this promise mean to absolutely destroy the cities and inhabitants, or to dedicate all the cities and inhabitants to Adonai;  or both (as in the manner of a purification offering)?

How does the metal image of a poisonous snake exist amidst the prohibition of graven images?  How does this compare with the golden calf?

Beyond the familial connexion and the command to abstain from disturbing the Edomites, what distinctions exist between Edom’s response to Israel, and the respective responses of the Canaanite king of Arad and Sichon, the king of the Amorites?

Do Esau and the Edomites have the same familial obligations to Israelis as Israelis have to the Edomites?  During the Israeli enslavement within Egypt, what responsibility do Edomites have in rescuing Israelis?

--

118.10.23

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 Parashah is Chukkat, and this correspondence is provided to you a week after the fact, so there is another intended “double dose” of Torah Trivia for this week.

Within Parashah Chukkat, Aaron is joined with our fars, and Israelis are confronted by 3 different armies.

The featured Hebrew terms for Parashah Chukkat are:  “מריבה מי” (“Mai Meribah,” “Waters of Dispute”), found in Bamidbar 20:13;  and “והחרמתי” (“V’haCharamti,” “Put under Ban”) which refers to practice of strict self denial regarding the retaining of material riches after a military conquest, found in Bamidbar 21:2.

The featured Torah Trivia question for Parashah Cukkat is:  Can you describe the name of the location where Moshe and Aaron strike the rock to provide Israelis with water?

The Complaint-o-Meter is up to 20 at the end of Parashah Chukkat (18, after Parashah Korach, and 15, after Parashah Shelach Lecha):  with Israelis complaining of the absence of water (Bamidbar 20:2 – 5);  and with Israelis complaining after leaving Mount Hor, and being subsequently punished with poisonous snakes (Bamidbar 21:4 – 5).

Additional Torah study resources include:

USCJ Torah Sparks: http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx;

Orthodox Union: http://www.ou.org/torah/index;

URJ: http://urj.org/learning/torah/;

Masorti Olami: http://masortiworld.org/molami/parashat_hashavua;

Reconstructionist: http://jrf.org/recon-dt;

Chabad: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/jewish/Torah-Portion.htm;  and,

Aish: http://www.aish.com/tp/.

,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

Torah Trivia for Parahah 38; Korach (118.10.11

Torah Trivia for Parashah 38. Korach (Questions Only)

1.)  Can you describe:  a.)  from whom Korach is descended and what relation Korach is to that man, b.)  who are Korach’s co-conspirators;  and, c.) from what tribe(s) Korach’s co-conspirators are respectively descended?

2.)  Can you describe which of these is the most accurate paraphrased response that Moshe provides after Korach’s challenge:

a.)  “Oh, it’s on.  Meet me at dawn.  Then we may see who’s the kahn; and see who’s the pawn.  (and perhaps who is both).”;

          b.)  “Thank you;  I am tired of all this power.  You are welcome to take it.”;

          c.)  “Adonai will select who is in charge.”;

          d.)  “You light yours;  I light mine;  and may the Holiest man win.”;

          e.)  “C’mon, y’all.  This is way too much of this rebellion-type stuff.”;

          f.)  “You people are simply being greedy.”?

3.)  Can you describe how Dathan and Aviram respond to Moshe’s demand to approach the entrance to the משכן:

          a.)  “You’re right.  What are we thinking?  We are previously trippin’.”; 

          b.)  “Psyche.  We’re just kidding about that whole ‘rebellion’ fiasco.”;

          c.)  “Heck no;  we intend to abstain to go.”;

d.)  “Ummm, manana is actually rather inconvenient for us;  in fact, our whole week is very much booked.  How about your people contact our people and we can plan to arrange something within the next couple months.  Super.  Ciao.”;

e.)  “That whole ‘Entrance to the משכן’ scene is soo passé;  so, 1 month ago.  Let’s find that place with the big grapevines and arrange a whole retro-wilderness soiree, with close friends only, of course.”?

4.)  Can you describe how many people rebel against Moshe, Aaron, and Adonai?

5.)  Can you describe:  a.)  where the “showdown” takes place;  and, b.)  where Korach, Dathan, Aviram, and On each respectively meet with punishment?

6.)  Can you describe the different punishments that the rebels respectively experience:

          a.)  Shame that results from hubris;

          b.)  Separation from Israel;

          c.)  Being swallowed by earth;

          d.)  Being burned by fire?

7.)  Can you describe what items are taken from the punished rebels, and what happens with that material:

          a.)  Manna (Is Turned into Quails);

          b.)  Copper Fire Pans (Are Turned into Locomotive Chariots);

          c.)  Swords (Are Turned into Ploughshares);

          d.)  Cows (Are Turned into Smoke);

          e.)  IPhones (Are Turned into Vessels of Votive Offering)

          f.)  Cloth Material of People Living Tents (Are Turned into a Cover for the Altar)?

8.)  Can you describe what Moshe does after Israelis complain, again, and begin dying from the resulting plague that Adonai inflicts?

9.)  Can you describe:  a.)  whose name is inscribed upon Levi’s staff;  b.)  in what manner is the staff transformed;  c.)  how long it takes for the staff to be transformed;  and, d.)  where is the place after its transformation?

10.)  Can you describe what responsibilities are conferred upon Levis (within this Parashah), and what privileges are denied to Levis (all within Parashah Korach)?

11.)  Can you describe which of these items are explicitly listed as provisions for kohanim, and which of these items are explicitly restricted from כהנימ:

          a.)  Grain Offerings;

          b.)  Purification Offerings;

          c.)  Reparation Offerings;

d.)  Elevation Offerings

e.)  Gift Offerings;

f.)  First Oil;

g.)  First Wine;

h.)  First Grain;

          i.)  First-Born Males;

          j.)  Hereditary Land/Property;

12.)  Can you describe how much of a tithe a Levi is commanded to provide to Adonai from amongst the tithes that a Levi receives from Israelis?

Torah Trivia for Parashah 38.  Korach (with Answers)

1.)  Can you describe:  a.)  from whom Korach is descended and what relation Korach is to that man, b.)  who are Korach’s co-conspirators;  and, c.) from what tribe(s) Korach’s co-conspirators are respectively descended?

          Answer:

         

          a.)  Korach is the grand grandson of Levi;

          b.)  Korach’s co-conspirators are:  Dathan, Abiram, and On;

          c.)  Dathan, Abiram, and On are descendants of Reuven;

“Now Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—descendants of (Reuven)—to rise up against (Moshe), together with two hundred and fifty Israelites, chieftains of the community, chosen in the assembly, men of repute.”  (B’midbar 16:1 – 2).

2.)  Can you describe which of these is the most accurate paraphrased response that Moshe provides after Korach’s challenge:

a.)  “Oh, it’s on.  Meet me at dawn.  Then we may see who’s the kahn; and see who’s the pawn.  (and perhaps who is both).”;

          b.)  “Thank you;  I am tired of all this power.  You are welcome to take it.”;

          c.)  “Adonai will select who is in charge.”;

          d.)  “You light yours;  I light mine;  and may the Holiest man win.”;

          e.)  “C’mon, y’all.  This is way too much of this rebellion-type stuff.”;

          f.)  “You people are simply being greedy.”?

          Answer:  It may be considered that the proceeding responses are applicable:  a.);  c.);  d.);  e.);  and, f.);

“When (Moshe) heard this, he fell on his face.  Then he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, ‘Come morning, the LORD will make known who is (Adonai’s) and who is holy, and will grant him access to (Adonai);  (Adonai) will grant access to the one (Adonai) has chosen.  Do this:  You, Korah and all your band, take fire pans, and tomorrow put fire in them and lay incense on them before the LORD.  Then the man whom the LORD chooses, he shall be the hold one.  You have gone too far, sons of Levi!’

“(Moshe) said further to Korah, ‘Hear me, sons of Levi.  It is not enough for you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the community of Israel and given you access to (Adonai), to perform the duties of the LORD’s Tabernacle and to minister to the community and serve them?  Now that (Adonai) has advanced you and all your fellow Levites with you, do you (search for) the priesthood too?  Truly, it is against the LORD that you and all your company have banded together.  For who is Aaron that you should rail against him?’”  (B’midbar 16:4 – 11).

3.)  Can you describe how Dathan and Aviram respond to Moshe’s demand to approach the entrance to the משכן:

          a.)  “You’re right.  What are we thinking?  We are previously trippin’.”; 

          b.)  “Psyche.  We’re just kidding about that whole ‘rebellion’ fiasco.”;

          c.)  “Heck no;  we intend to abstain to go.”;

d.)  “Ummm, manana is actually rather inconvenient for us;  in fact, our whole week is very much booked.  How about your people contact our people and we can plan to arrange something within the next couple months.  Super.  Ciao.”;

e.)  “That whole ‘Entrance to the משכן’ scene is soo passé;  so, 1 month ago.  Let’s find that place with the big grapevines and arrange a whole retro-wilderness soiree, with close friends only, of course.”?

         

          Answer:  The closest accurate response is:  c.):

“(Moshe) sent for Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab;  but they said, ‘We will not come!  Is it not enough that you brought us from a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, that you would also (lead) it over us?  Even if you had brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and given us possession of fields and vineyards, should you gouge out those men’s eyes?  We will not come!’”  (B’midbar 16:12 – 14).

4.)  Can you describe how many people rebel against Moshe, Aaron, and Adonai?

Answer:  In short:  > 254;  the number of rebels is actually, presumably undisclosed;  there is the initial description of there being 250 rebellious leaders, in addition to Dothan, Aviram, and On (which, with Korach, presumably makes 254);  however, these are described as “leaders” (even amidst such “leaders” subsequently being described as Korach’s followers), so there is the consideration that there are additional family members and additional households that are also involved within the rebellion (particularly considering the description of the entire “house of Korach” and his co-conspirators);

“Each of you take his fire pan and lay incense on it, and each of you bring his fire pan before the LORD, two hundred and fifty fire pans;  you and Aaron also bring your fire pans.’  Each of them took his fire pan, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and took his place at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, as did (Moshe) and Aaron.  Korah gathered the whole community against them at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” (B’midbar 16:17 - 19);

          Further (and Listed Above):  B’midbar 16:1 – 2.

5.)  Can you describe:  a.)  where the “showdown” takes place;  and, b.)  where Korach, Dathan, Aviram, and On each respectively meet with punishment?

          Answer:

a.)  The “showdown” with Korach and the rebels occurs at the entrance of the משכן;  Dathan and Aviram refuse to approach the משכן, so the even occurs at the respective tent of both;  there is an absence of the specific location of On, so he may either be at the entrance of the משכן, with Korach, or at his own tent, similar to Dothan and Aviram;

         

“(Moshe) rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, the elders of Israel following him.  He addressed the community, saying, ‘Move away from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing that belongs to them, lest you be wiped out for all their sins.’  So they withdrew from about the abodes of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram.

“Now Dathan and Abiram had come out and they stood at the entrance of their tent, with their wives, their children, and their little ones.”  (B’midbar 16:25 – 27);

         

“And a fire went forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men offering the incense.” (B’midbar 16:35);

And further (and, respectively listed above and below):  B’midbar 16:18 – 19;  B’midbar 16:31 – 34.

6.)  Can you describe the different punishments that the rebels respectively experience:

          a.)  Shame that results from hubris;

          b.)  Separation from Israel;

          c.)  Being swallowed by earth;

          d.)  Being burned by fire?

          Answer:

a.);  b.)  Both shame and separation may be considered as intrinsically existing within the respective punishment of each rebel;  with “separation” being explicitly described within B’midbar 26 – 27 (listed above);

          c.)  The punishment of “earth envelopment” is experienced by Korach’s people;

          d.)  The punishment of “death by fire” is experienced by the 250 men who offer the incense;

         

“Scarcely had he finished speaking all these words when the ground under them burst asunder, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all Korah’s people and all their possessions.  They went down alive into Sheol, with all that belonged to them;  the earth closed over them and they vanquished from the midst of the congregation.  All Israel around them fled at their shrieks, for they said, ‘The earth might swallow us!”  (B’midbar 16:31 – 34).

“And a fire went forth from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men offering the incense.”  (B’midbar 16:35).

7.)  Can you describe what items are taken from the punished rebels, and what happens with that material:

          a.)  Manna (Is Turned into Quails);

          b.)  Copper Fire Pans (Are Turned into Locomotive Chariots);

          c.)  Swords (Are Turned into Ploughshares);

          d.)  Cows (Are Turned into Smoke);

          e.)  IPhones (Are Turned into Vessels of Votive Offering)

          f.)  Cloth Material of People Living Tents (Are Turned into a Cover for the Altar)?

Answer:  The answer is:  a combination b.)  Copper Fire Pans;  and, f.)  Cloth Material from Additional Tents;  with an honour mention to:  e.) technological boom/boon combining with constant, contemporary spiritual awakening (with a reference to “‘crazy’ moving “’riots’ of ‘char’”);  however, the actual collected items are copper fire pans which are transformed into a sheet to cover the altar:

“The LORD spoke to (Moshe), saying:  Order Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the fire pans—for they have become sacred—from among the charred remains and scatter the coals abroad.  Remove the fire pans of those who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and let them be made into hammered sheets as plating for the altar—for once they have been used for offering to the LORD, they have become sacred—and let them serve as a warning to the people of Israel.”  (B’midbar 17:1 – 3).

8.)  Can you describe what Moshe does after Israelis complain, again, and begin dying from the resulting plague that Adonai inflicts?

          Answer:  Moshe gives Aaron an order to make additional incense offering;

“Then (Moshe) said to Aaron, ‘Take the fire pan, and put on it fire from the altar.  Add incense and take it quickly to the community and make expiation for them.  For wrath has gone forth from the LORD:  the plague has begun!”  (B’midbar 17:11);

9.)  Can you describe:  a.)  whose name is inscribed upon Levi’s staff;  b.)  in what manner is the staff transformed;  c.)  how long it takes for the staff to be transformed;  and, d.)  where is the place after its transformation?

          Answer: 

a.)   Aaron’s name is inscribed upon Levi’s staff;

b.)  The staff is transformed by hanging it, unattended;

c.) There is some ambiguity regarding this question;  the process may be instantaneous, however, there is a general, implicit conversation whereby the transformation is directly communicated to previously occur within the span of approximately 1 – 3 days.

d.)  The staff is placed within the משכן in front of the Ark;

“The LORD spoke to (Moshe), saying:  Speak to the Israelite people and take from them—from the chieftains of their ancestral houses—one staff for each chieftain of an ancestral house:  twelve staffs in all.  Inscribe each man’s name on the staff of Levi.  Deposit them in the Tent of Meeting before the Pact, where I meet with you.  The staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout, and I will rid Myself of the incessant mutterings of the Israelites against you.

“(Moshe) spoke thus to the Israelites.  Their chieftains gave him a staff for each chieftain of an ancestral house, twelve staffs in all;  among these staffs was that of Aaron.  (Moshe) deposited the staffs before the LORD, in the Tent of the Pact.  The next day (Moshe) entered the Ten of the Pact, and there the staff of Aaron of the house of Levi had sprouted:  it had brought forth sprouts, produced blossoms, and borne almonds.  (Moshe) then brought out all the staffs from before the LORD to all the Israelites;  each identified and recovered his staff.

“The LORD said to (Moshe), ‘Put Aaron’s staff back before the Pact, to be kept as a lesson to rebels, so that their mutterings against Me may cease, lest they die.’”  (B’midbar 17:16 – 25).

10.)  Can you describe what responsibilities are conferred upon Levis (within this Parashah), and what privileges are denied to Levis (all within Parashah Korach)?

          Answer:

“The LORD said to Aaron:  You and your sons and the ancestral house under your charge shall bear any guilt connect with the sanctuary;  you and your sons alone shall bear any guilt connected with your priesthood.  You shall also associate with yourself your kinsmen the tribe of Levi, your ancestral tribe, to be attached to you and to minister to you, while you and your sons under your charge are before the Tent of the Pact.  They shall discharge their duties to you and to the Tent as a whole, but they must not have any contact with the furnishings of the Shrine or with the altar, lest both they and you die.  They shall be attached to you and discharge the duties of the Tent of Meeting, all the service of the Tent;  but no outsider shall intrude upon you as you discharge the duties connected with the Shrine and the altar, that wrath may not again strike the Israelites.

“I hereby take your fellow Levites from among the Israelites;  they are assigned to you in dedication to the LORD, to do the work of the Tent of Meeting;  while you and your sons shall be careful to perform your priestly duties in everything pertaining to the altar and to what is behind the curtain.  I make your priesthood a service of dedication;  any outsider who encroaches shall be put to death.”  (B’midbar 18:1 – 7).

11.)  Can you describe which of these items are explicitly listed as provisions for kohanim, and which of these items are explicitly restricted from כהנימ:

          a.)  Grain Offerings;

          b.)  Purification Offerings;

          c.)  Reparation Offerings;

d.)  Elevation Offerings

e.)  Gift Offerings;

f.)  First Oil;

g.)  First Wine;

h.)  First Grain;

          i.)  First-Born Males;

          j.)  Hereditary Land/Property;

          Answer: 

The proceeding are all provided to the כהנימ:  a.)  Grain Offerings;  b.)  Purification Offerings;  c.)  Reparation Offerings;  d.)  Elevation Offerings;  e.)  Gift Offerings;  f.)  First Oil;  g.)  First Wine;  and, h.)  First Grain;

          The proceeding are all prohibited from כהנימ:  i.)  First-Born Males;  and, j.)  Hereditary Land/Property;

“The LORD spoke further to Aaron:  I hereby give you charge of My gifts, all the sacred donations of the Israelites;  I grant them to you and to your sons as a perquisite, a due for all time.  This shall be yours from the most holy sacrifices, the gifts:  every such offering that they render to Me as most holy sacrifices, namely, every grain offering, purification offering, and reparation offering of theirs, shall belong to you and your sons.  You shall partake of them as most sacred donations:  only males may eat them;  you shall treat them as consecrated.

“This, too, shall be yours:  the gift offerings of their contributions, all the elevation offerings of the Israelites, I give to you, to your sons, and to the daughters that are with you as a due for all time;  everyone of your household who is pure may eat it.

“All the best of the new oil, wine, and grain—the choice parts that they present to the LORD—I give to you.  The first fruits of everything in their land, that they bring to the LORD, shall be yours;  everyone of your household who is pure may eat them.  Everything that has been proscribed in Israel shall be yours.  The first issue of the womb of every being, man or beast, that is offered to the LORD, shall be yours;  but you shall have the first-born of man redeemed, and you shall also have the firstling of impure animals redeemed.  Take as their redemption price, from the age of one month up, the money equivalent of five shekels by the sanctuary weight, which is twenty gerahs.  But the firstlings of cattle, sheep, or goats may not be redeemed;  they are consecrated.  You shall dash their blood against the altar, and turn their fat into smoke as a gift for a pleasing odor to the LORD.  But their meat shall be yours:  it shall be yours like the breast of elevation offering and like the right thigh.

“All the sacred gifts that the Israelites set aside for the LORD I give to you, to your sons, and to the daughters that are with you, as a due for all time.  It shall be an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD for you and for your offspring as well.  And the LORD said to Aaron:  You shall, however, have no territorial share among them or own any portion in their midst;  I am your portion and you share among the Israelites.”  (B’midbar 18:8 – 20).

12.)  Can you describe how much of a tithe a Levi is commanded to provide to Adonai from amongst the tithes that a Levi receives from Israelis?

          Answer:  A Levi is commanded to provide 10%;

“And the LORD said to Aaron:  You shall, however, have no territorial share among them or own any portion in their midst;  I am your portion and your share among the Israelites.

“And to the Levites I hereby give all the tithes in Israel as their share in return for the services that they perform, the services of the Tent of Meeting.  Henceforth, Israelites shall not trespass on the Tent of Meeting, and thus incur guilt and die:  only Levites shall perform the services of the Tent of Meeting;  others would incur guilt.  It is the law for all time throughout the ages.  But they shall have not territorial share among the Israelites;  for it is the tithes set aside by the Israelites as a gift to the LORD that I give to the Levites as their share.  Therefore I have said concerning them:  They shall have no territorial share among the Israelites.

“The LORD spoke to (Moshe), saying:  Speak to the Levites and say to them:  When you receive from the Israelites their tithes, which I have assigned to you as your share, you shall set aside from them one-tenth of the tithe as a gift to the LORD.  This shall be accounted to you as your gift.  As with the new grain from the threshing floor or the flow from the vat, so shall you on your part set aside a gift for the LORD from all the tithes that you receive from the Israelites;  and from them you shall bring the gift for the LORD to Aaron the priest.  You shall set aside all gifts due to the LORD from everything that is donated to you, form each thing its best portion, the part thereof that is to be consecrated.

“Say to them further:  When you have removed the best part from it, you Levites may consider it the same as the yield of threshing floor or vat.  You and your households may eat it anywhere, for it is your recompense for your services in the Tent of Meeting.  You will incur no guilt through it, once you have removed the best part from it;  but you must not profane the sacred donations of the Israelites, lest you die.”  (B’midbar 18:20 – 32).

--

Discussion Questions:

How are the “envelopment of earth” and Sheol to be appropriately understood?  What does this reveal about traditional, historical, and contemporary Israeli beliefs regarding after-life, Heaven, and hell?

What significance exists within the fact that Korach is from Levi and additional leaders are from Reuven?  What are the implications regarding the perceived intrinsic characteristics (adherence to Israel’s blessings, and respective narratives) of both sons of Israel?

Amidst his rebellion, why does Korach actually comply with Moshe’s demand?

What preceding intrinsic merit/influence do Dathan, Aviram and the rest of rebels have, both before Levis are designated in such a manner, and before the rebellion (particularly to warrant the tax exemption that Moshe communicates);  Moshe references abstaining from even taking a donkey:  does this suggest that impropriety may be otherwise perceived amidst Moshe actually requiring such an offering?  What implications does this have amidst the fact that Moshe does require such from other tribes?  What preceding difference exists amongst Levis (from additional Israeli tribes) to be so designated?  What additional implications does such designation maintain (particularly amidst the implicit suggestion of a perceived acceptability for treating Israelis in a manner that may be considered “less noble/honourable” than Levis and כהנימ)?  And how might this difference exactly prompt Korach, Dathan, and Aviram to rebel against Moshe, Aaron, (and even Adonai), and the כהנימ, amidst the explicit differences between the כהנימ and the Levis?  Within the context of socioeconomic and class competition/rivalry/war, might this be perceived as a coup d’etat staged by the “upper-middle-class”?

What is the purpose within performing the “miracle” of the “blossoming staff”?  Whilst this may strengthen the recognition of Aaron, the כהנימ, and the Levis, with a tangible demonstration of favour, how can this be expected to be convincing amidst the intrinsic forgetfulness and indifference regarding previous, “stronger” miracles?

What exactly are the prohibitions for property ownership amongst the כהנימ?  How does prohibition of property ownership compare with the practise of asceticism within additional traditions?  Is there similar intentionality here, and/or are there significant differences within this socioeconomic spiritual construct?

What legitimacy exists within each individual having the responsibility of a כהנימ, and each individual essentially living, and sustaining a livelihood, directly predicated upon the intrinsic merit and righteousness that the person maintains?  Is it correct that all of us essentially live off of the “offerings” of others?

What is the esoteric, metaphysical, and tangible nature of the inverse relationship between owning inherited land property within Eretz Israel and being able to enter within the Mishkan?

How does the relationship between Israeli and כהנימf influence, and inform upon, the relationship between Israeli and ger?

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118.10.11

ושלום אהבא, Family and Friends.

שלום .नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم .Peace.Sat Nam.صلح .Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن .和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

This week’s Parashah is Korach, about rebellion.

The featured Torah Trivia question for this week is:  What does Moshe command Aaron to do after Israelis complain, again, against Moshe?

The Hebrew term for this Parashah is:  “שקדים” (“shekadim”), which means, “almonds;” and is found within B’midbar 17:23:

“שקדים ויגמל ציץ ויצץ פרח ויצא לוי לבית מטה־אהרן פרח והנה העדות אל־אהל משה ויבא ממחרת ויהי”

“V’yah mimacharat vivah Moshe al ahal hadot v’ana perach mevah Aaron Levit Levi vitzah perach v’tzitz tzitz v’gemal shekadim.”

“The next day Moshe entered the Tent of the Pact, and there the staff of Aaron of the house of Levi had sprouted:  it had brought forth sprouts, produced blossoms, and borne almonds.”

The complaint-o-meter has 3 additional ticks on it, with the complaints from Korach and the rebels (B’midbar 16:3), the defiant response from Dathan and Aviram (B’midbar 16:12 – 14), and the complaints from the community (B’midbar 17:6).

Additional Torah study resources include:

USCJ Torah Sparks: http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx;

Orthodox Union: http://www.ou.org/torah/index;

URJ: http://urj.org/learning/torah/;

Masorti Olami: http://masortiworld.org/molami/parashat_hashavua;

Reconstructionist: http://jrf.org/recon-dt;

Chabad: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/jewish/Torah-Portion.htm;  and,

Aish: http://www.aish.com/tp/.

,שלום שבת

,ושלום אהבא

Peter

שלום .नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم .Peace.Sat Nam.صلح .Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن .和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

Holy Scriptures Study (week 38; Korach) 118.10.23

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. . . .