Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 23:41:43 +0000 Reply-To: ml@virtual.co.il Sender: owner-tsc-all@virtual.co.il Precedence: bulk From: "Menachem Leibtag" To: tsc-all@virtual.co.il, tsc-parsha@virtual.co.il, tsc-par-new@virtual.co.il Cc: yhe-parsha.ml@virtual.co.il Subject: EMOR - Questions for self study ************************************************************* THE TANACH STUDY CENTER/ In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag [http://www.virtual.co.il/torah/tanach/] ************************************************************* PARSHAT EMOR / Questions for self-study PART I - QUESTIONS FOR THE 'SHABBOS TABLE' 1. In chapter 23 - the "moadim" - note how the phrase "chukat olam l'doroteichem..." can be found in the laws of almost every holiday. Review this chapter to verify this, noting the precise phrase for each holiday. [Can you explain what this phrase means, and how it relates to each holiday. Relate as well to Shmot 12:14.] Is this phrase for each holiday identical? If not, which holiday(s) are different? /Relate to the word "moshvoteichem"! Can you explain why? [Relate to what is special about "succot" and the pasuk "ba'sukkot tayshvu shivat yamim..."!!] 2. What is difficult about the last pasuk in chapter 21? [What did Moshe tell Aharon, the Kohanim and Bnei Yisrael?] Relate your answer to 21:16-17, 21:1, & 20:1-2! [What is special about these three headers?] How do these three headers help you understand the last pasuk in chapter 21. Do you think that this summary pasuk could also be considered a conclusion to chapters 18->19 as well? Support your answer. 3. Can you find the logic of the progression of mitzvot in chapters 21 & 22? In doing so, relate to the following questions: How is the law of a KOHEN "tamey" similar to the law of KOHEN "ba'al mum"? How is it different? [Which of these two can eat "kodshim"?] [Can either offer korbanot?] Is the law of KOHEN "ba'al mum" similar to the law of an ANIMAL which is a "ba'al mum"? How is the prohibition against offering an animal less than eight days old similar to the prohibition of a "ba'al mum"? 4. In what manner are the opening psukim to chapter 23 (23:1-4) similar to the opening psukim to Parshat Va'yakhel (Shmot 35:1-4)? What can we learn from this parallel? How do the laws of shabbat relate to building the Mishkan? How do they relate to the "moadim"? ======== PART II - QUESTIONS FOR PREPARATION (for weekly shiur) 1. In Parshat Emor (chapter 23) we find a complete list of the Jewish holidays. Where else in Chumash do we find such a list. [If you give up, relate to Shmot 23:24-20, 34:18-26, Bamidbar chapters 28-29 and Dvarim chapter 16.] 2. In the above parshiot we find many different "chagim" (holidays). Try to organize them into two or three distinct groups. Explain the reason for your division based on how they are presented in Chumash. 3. In what manner is the presentation of the CHAGIM in Parshat Emor different than the other parshiot in Chumash? In what manner is it similar? 4. Note the dates that the Torah uses for each holiday. Are they based on the solar calendar (i.e. the agricultural seasons) or lunar calendar (month/day)? [or both?] Can you explain why? What type of date does the Torah use for those same holidays in the other parshiot of "chagim" (as mentioned above in question #1)? 5. Note that every holiday in Parshat Emor includes the commandment "v'hikravtem ishe l'Hashem". Scan the parsha to see if this is indeed true. [Are any chagim an exception?] What "ishe" (offering) is the Torah referring to - a private korban from each individual or is the commandment directed to the TZIBUR (the entire congregation)? Can you relate this commandment to the description of the chagim in Parshat Pinchas (Bamidbar 28->29)? [After answering this yourself, be sure to see Ramban 23:1] 6. Which specific korbanot are presented in more precise detail in Parshat Emor (scan from 23:1-44). Are these korbanot identical to the korbanot described in Parshat Pinchas or different? Can you explain why? Do the korbanot which are detailed in Parshat Emor share some 'common denominator'? If so, explain what it is and why? 7. Make a table listing all the holidays in this Parshat Emor. For each holiday, note its date (lunar and/or solar) as well as any specific mitzvah recorded in this parsha. As you make your table, make note of either any historical or agricultural aspect relating to any of the chagim. Relate to both the mitzvot which ARE mentioned in Emor, as well as the mitzvot for each holiday which you know from other sources as well. Does the mitzvah to sit in a succah (see 23:42-43) relate to the historical aspect of Succot (i.e. yetziat mitzraim) or to its agricultural aspect (i.e. temporary booths built by the farmers in the field collecting the harvest) - or both? Use the psukim to base you answer. [Relate also to Succah 11b, "succah k'neged ananei kavod or succot mamash".] Does your table help you understand the nature of the lunar and solar dates? [Use the parshiot of the chagim in Sefer Shmot and Sefer Dvarim (chap. 16) to help answer this question.] 8. Which of the chagim are referred to as "moadim" and which are called "shabbatonim" (or "shabbat"), and which chagim are referred to as both? Be sure to note 23:11,15,16,24,32,39!). In your answer, relate to the 'double' description of Succot in 23:33-43, noting the distinction between "moed" and "shabbaton" and their related mitzvot. Use this to explain 23:37-39 and the use of the word "ach". Relate this also to the 'double header' in 23:1-3! 9. In what manner does the final pasuk in chapter 23 complement the opening pasuk of this chapter? 10. Based on our shiurim thus far in Sefer Vayikra, why do you think that chapter 23 is included in this Sefer? [Does it relate to korbanot, to KEDUSHA, etc.?] Be sure to relate to the SPECIFIC mitzvot of the chagim (as well as the general mitzvot) which are detailed in this chapter? PART III - PARSHANUT 1. A major debate exist concerning how to explain the pasuk which defines when we begin counting the OMER -"m'mochorat ha'shabbat" (see 23:11). In your opinion, why does the Torah refer to the first day of chag ha'matzot as "shabbat". Can you relate your answer to the above preparation questions? [Relate to how each of the chagim in some manner or other is referred to as a "shabbat" or "shabbaton".] See Rashi, Ramban, Ibn Ezra & Chizkuni and Mesechet M'nachot 61a. Even though everyone agrees that shabbat is referring to the first day of yom-tov, each commentator offers a different reason why. Try to explain each "parshan" and the reason for the machloket. 2. Read 24:10, how did you translate the opening phrase ["v'yatza ben isha yisraelit"] - i.e. what does "va'yatza" mean? What are the different possibilities? See Rashi - How does he understand this word? What questions bother him based on this understanding? [Relate to all the questions raised by the Midrash.] See Ibn Ezra & Ramban. How do they translate "va'yatze"? Do they both offer the same pirush? [If not, how do they differ?] [Note also how Ibn Ezra later explains the reason for the "smichut parshiot" here!] Finally, see Chizkuni. How does he explain "va'yatza"? In what manner is his pirush totally different than all of the others? Why does he refer to this as "pshat"? b'hatzlacha, menachem