From: Menachem Leibtag To: all@tanach.org, parsha@tanach.org, yhe-parsha.ml@vbm-torah.org Date: Mon, 8 Mar 1999 00:01:39 +0200 Subject: VAYKHEL -PEKUDEI / Questions for self study Reply-to: tsc@isdn.net.il Priority: normal Reply To: Menachem Leibtag Error-To: Listproc Error X-ListMember: cypess@ymail.yu.edu [all@tanach.org] ************************************************************* THE TANACH STUDY CENTER/ In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag [http://www.tanach.org] ************************************************************* PARSHAT VAYAKHEL / PEKUDEI - Questions for self-study PART I - QUESTIONS FOR THE 'SHABBOS TABLE' 1. Carefully compare the structure of the psukim in Shmot 35:1-4 to the structure of Vayikra 23:1-4. What pattern is similar? Why do most all of the commentators (see above) explain "ayleh ha'dvarim" as relating to the Mishkan and NOT shabbat? Is this "pshat"? Why then is "shabbat" the first mitzvah which Moshe tells the people? 2. Why (in your opinion) do Chazal learn from 35:1-3 the halachik definition of what is considered 'work' on shabbat (i.e. any action required to construct the Mishkan)? Relate also to 31:12-17. 3. If Moshe gathers the people (in 35:1) in order to command them with the laws of the Mishkan, why do you think the Torah chooses the word "VAYAKHEL" to describe this gathering? Relate to Shmot 32:1. [What other parallels are there in Vayakhel/Pkudei to chet ha'egel?] Is the mitzvah of "ha'avara" (35:3 /kindling a fire) in any way connected to chet ha'egel? [Relate to 32:4,24.] Is it connected in any way to building the Mishkan or making its vessels? [How did they make the ARON & MENORAH etc.?] 4. Even if we assume that the commandment to build the Mishkan was given before chet ha'egel, should Bnei Yisrael now hear this mitzvah in a manner which relates to the events of chet ha'egel? 5. Scan the Parsha Pekudei and note the last phrase of almost every single "parsha" (using a Tanach Koren is helpful). Can you explain why this phrase is repeated so many times? 6. Read Shmot 35:24-31. How do these psukim relate to the law of "machatzit ha'shekel" as discussed in Shmot 30:11-16? Does 30:16 correspond to 35:27-20? Do either of these sources appear to relate to a 'yearly' giving of the "machatzit ha'shekel". If not, from where to we learn this law? See Rambam Sefer Zmanin Hilchot Shekalim Chapter 1 (and the "rishonim" on the above psukim). 7. In the last chapter of Parshat Pekudei, the Torah describes the events which take place when the Mishkan is assembled on the first of Nisan. Other events which take place on this very same day are recorded in Vayikra 9:1-10:10, and in Bamidbar 7:1-89 and 9:15-23. Quickly review those events as recorded in each Sefer and attempt to explain how each specific event relates to the theme of the Sefer in which it is recorded. Can you explain why the Torah doesn't simply record all these events together in one Sefer? PART II - QUESTIONS FOR PREPARATION (for weekly shiur) PARSHAT VA'YAKHEL 1. Before reading Parshat Vayakhel, review all of the various commandments concerning the Mishkan in Parshiot Terumah/Tzaveh. Organize these commandments in what you think is the most logical building order. Now compare your 'organized' list with the order of the parshiot in Parshat Vayakhel. Did you find any discrepancies? If so, can you explain them? How would you define the order of Parshat Vayakhel? 2. Is the description of how the vessels are made in Vayakhel exactly the same as their description in God's commandment to Moshe in Parshat Terumah? If not, what is different? Can you explain why? 3. Are there any commandments in Terumah/Tzaveh which are not repeated in Vayakhel/Pkudei. If so, which ones? Are those which are 'missing' here repeated somewhere else in Chumash? If so, where? 4. Is there any mention in Parshat Vayakhel concerning the FUNCTION of the various vessels of the Mishkan? If so, where? If not, in your opinion, why not? Is there any mention of the SHCHINA in Vayakhel/Pkudei? If so, where? Why? PARSHAT PEKUDEI 1. Carefully read Shmot 40:34-38. Can you divide these psukim into two groups? If so, explain where they can be divided and why. Is the flow of these psukim logical? 2. Compare 40:34-35 to Shmot 24:15-18. What is parallel and what is different? What is the thematic and textual connection to Har Sinai? Does this parallel allude to a connection to Vayikra 1:1? See Rashbam, Ramban, Chizkuni, Ibn Ezra to Vayikra 1:1. 3. Attempt to relate 40:36-38 to Bamidbar 9:15-18. What is the connection? Does this appear to be a repetition of the same detail? If so, can you explain why? 4. Based on the above questions, what would you say is the relationship between Sefer Shmot and Sifrei Vayikra and Bamidbar? Relate to the main topic of each Sefer. [See Sforno's introduction to Chumash (found in Torat Chaim Sefer Breishit) and his explanation of Sefer Vayikra and Bamidbar.] PART III - PARSHANUT 1. Based on what you remember thus far in Sefer Shmot, what specific mitzvot did Moshe Rabeinu receive on Har Sinai? WHEN did Bnei Yisrael receive these mitzvot? [Support your answer with a pasuk!] [In your answer, relate to mitzvot which Moshe receives on both the first forty days AND the last forty days.] 2. After you answer question #1, read Shmot 34:27-35, paying special attention to pasuk 32. [Did you relate to this pasuk in your answer to question #1. (If not, explain why.)] Which commandments are being referred to in this pasuk? [You can suggest different possibilities.] Now look up the following commentators on 34:32, Rashbam / [Explain the 'unit' he is referring to.] Ramban / [In what way does he differ from Rashbam?] Ibn Ezra /[What "tnayim" is he referring to? In what way does he differ from Ramban?] Sforno/ [Is this the same as Rashbam or different? Explain what is different and why!] Chizkuni / Does Chizkuni answer this question? Why does he bring down the Gemara from Gitin 60a concerning "torah megillah megillah nitna"? [Read this Chizkuni carefully, it is important!] 3. [Don't worry, I realize that the above questions are from Ki-tisa, now we'll see the connection to Vayakhel.] In the first pasuk in Parshat Vayakhel, Moshe tells the people "AYLEH HA'DVARIM..." - What does this phrase mean? In other words, what "dvarim" is Moshe referring to. As usual, you can suggest several possibilities. [Be sure to relate to 35:4 & 35:20.] How does your answer to this question relate to your answer to questions #1 & #2 above? Now look up the following commentaries: Ramban / (see Ramban on the entire pasuk!) How does Ramban relate to 34:32? Sforno / How does Sforno relate to 34:32? Ibn Ezra ("katzar")/ see Gemara Shabbat 70a which he quotes. Why does Ibn Ezra argue with this interpretation? Chizkuni/ Is this the same as Ramban? 4. Recall from Shmot chapter 29 (and Vayikra chapter 8) that a seven day dedication ceremony takes place BEFORE the Mishkan becomes fully 'functional' on the 'eighth' day. In your opinion, do the events which are described in chapter 40 which take place on the first of Nisan correspond to the first day of the seven day miluim ceremony or to the 'eighth' day? Support your answer. After you answer this question, see Ramban and Ibn Ezra. Does your answer to this question affect how you understand on what date Bamidbar chapter 7 begins? [In other words, on what days in the month of Nisan did the NSIIM offer their korbanot?] b'hatzlacha, menachem ********************************************************* To SUBSCRIBE or to UNSUBSCRIBE to this shiur: send e-mail to: lists@tanach.org with the following message in first line of TEXT: join all or leave all ********************************************************* Previous shiurim are available on the TSC WEBSITE: http://www.tanach.org *********************************************************** If you would like to support the TSC Project or dedicate a shiur, please e-mail: ml@tanach.org *********************************************************** Internet & e-mail list hosting for the TSC provided courtesy of: The Yerushalayim Network (http://www.yerushalayim.net) a Centennial Project of the Orthodox Union (http://www.ou.org) *********************************************************** Copyright (c) 1999 Menachem Leibtag. All rights reserved.