X-Keywords: Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1999 18:35:39 +0300 From: Menachem Leibtag Subject: REAY - Questions for self study To: all@tanach.org, parsha@tanach.org, yhe-parsha.ml@vbm-torah.org Reply-to: tsc@bezeqint.net 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 RE'AY / Questions for self-study PART I - QUESTIONS FOR THE 'SHABBOS TABLE' 1. There are four short parshiot from 12:29-13:19 which discuss different types of 'bad influences' on a person. Attempt to identify what is common to all four of these parshiot, as well as what is distinct about each. [Note the word "b'kirbecha" in 13:6,12,13,14.] Can your relate the theme of these parshiot to the overall theme of the main speech of Sefer Devarim? [In other words, how do these mitzvot relate to the establishment of an AM KADOSH?] 2. The second of the above parshiot concludes with "u'biarta ha'rah m'kirbecha" (13:6). Where else is this expression found in this section of the main speech of Sefer Devarim (i.e. within chapters 12->26)? Can you explain why this phrase is repeated so often? Relate your answer to your answer to question #1 above. [btw, if you give up try 17:7,12; 19:19; 21:21; 22:21,22,24; & 24:7] 3. In chapter 16, we find the "shalosh regalim". Read from 16:1- 17 and verify that indeed ONLY the "shalosh regalim" are mentioned in this parsha, and not any other holiday. Is this parsha similar to the parshiot of the chagim in Vayikra 23 (Emor) & Bamidbar 28-29 (Pinchas) or different? If they are the same, why are they repeated? If they are different, what is different? Now compare Devarim chapter 16 with Shmot 23:14-19. Are these parshiot the same or different (as above...)? Can you determine which important details have been added in Sefer Devarim? Can you explain why? How does it relate to the theme of the main speech? Relate especially to Devarim 12:5-16! Based on the above, explain the summary pasuk in 16:16! 4. Read 14:22-23, noting the closing phrase "lmaan tilmad l'YIRA et Hashem..." - i.e. we are commanded to eat MAASER SHENI in Yerushalayim in order that we LEARN TO FEAR GOD. Can you explain how 'eating out' in Yerushalayim would teach someone how to fear God? For an interesting insight, see Rashbam, Ramban, Chizkuni and Ibn Ezra on this phrase in 14:23. PART II - QUESTIONS FOR PREPARATION (for weekly shiur) 1. Read from the beginning of Parshat Re'ay thru 12:2, noting not only how the CHUKIM & MISHPATIM section begins in 12:1, but also how it flows from the end of the chapter 11. Then, scan [don't read, that would take you too long] from chapter 12 until the end of chapter 26, noting that we are dealing with one continuous speech. [note also the 'closing' nature of the end of chapter 26.] Based on this analysis, why would you expect the content of chapter 12 to be important? What is the MAIN topic of chapter 12? How does 12:2-4 relate to this main topic? Do we find this topic again later in this unit? If so, where? [In case you didn't figure it out, note the repetition of the phrase "ha'makom asher yivchar Hashem".] 2. Based on chapter 12 and 14:22-27, 15:19-16:17, 17:8-12, and 26:1-8, what would you say the primary function of "ha'makom asher yivchar Hashem" supposed to be? Why do you think that it is the FIRST primary topic of the CHUKIM & MISHPATIM section of the main speech? 3. Does the Torah inform us of the precise location of this "makom"? If so, where is it supposed to be? If not, why not? [In your answer, be sure to relate to 12:5!] 4. In your opinion, how does this "makom" relate to the Mishkan? Why do your think that the Mishkan is not mentioned in this Parsha (or for that matter, in Sefer Devarim at all!)? [In your answer, try to relate to our introductory shiur regarding WHEN these mitzvot were first given to Moshe Rabeinu (i.e. the story in 5:20-30).] 5. Review Breishit 28:10-22, noting how often the word "MAKOM" is used in these psukim. What is special about this "makom", and according to Yaakov's vow, what is this "makom" destined to become? Relate your answer to the above questions. 6. Note the mitzvah of "mikra bikurim" in 26:1-10. What is the purpose of this mitzvah and where must this mitzvah be performed? Can you relate this once again to the primary theme of the main speech? PART III - PARSHANUT 1. Read once again from 12:1 to 12:4. If you only read up to this point, how would you explain 12:4: "Do not do this to Your God". In other words, what is THIS ("keyn") referring to? 2. Now read 12:5-6. According to simple pshat, should 12:5 be read together with 12:4? [In other words, what does "ki" mean?] Now, how would you explain "keyn" in 12:4? 3. Does your answer in question #1 contradict your answer in question #2? Is it possible to interpret this pasuk in both manners? 4. Now read Rashi on 12:4. [Note the Rashi brings down TWO pirushim.] Based on the above questions, explain both of Rashi's explanations, as well as why he chose to bring down both. 5. Now see Rashbam. Note that he only offers one pirush. Does his pirush correlate with either of Rashi's? If so, which one? Would you consider Rashbam's pirush as the 'simple pshat'? Is this usually Rashbam's approach in his commentary? [See also Ibn Ezra & Chizkuni on 12:4.] 6. Now see Ramban (note that he first quotes Rashi). In what regard does he disagree with Rashi. How would Ramban answer question #3 above?! ===== "A'SER TA'ASER" 7. Review 14:22-29 (and scan chapter 15 as well). In your opinion, how does this topic relate to the previous topics in chapter 14? See Ibn Ezra and Chizkuni on 14:22, noting how they answer this question. 8. What does the phrase "a'ser ta'aser" refer to? Does it refer to something that the Torah has already explained, or does this introduce a new law? Read the Ramban on 14:22-23. It is quite lengthy, but it is a beautiful example of how thorough his pirush is, and how Ramban will go great lengths to support Chazal's halachik understanding of psukim based on pshat as well. 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. 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