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Q&A: Va'etchanan

07/30/2020 12:58:15 PM

Jul30

Rabbi Edward Davis

From the Text
1. What exactly did Moshe ask of Hashem now? (3:25)
2. How does the Torah describe the Jewish experience in Egypt? (4:20)
3. When did Bnei Yisrael first hear about the Mitzvah of Shabbat? (Exodus 16:23-27)
4.  Name Mitzvot that are in the first paragraph of the Shema? (6:4-9)
5. Where is the proper place for us to put the Tefillin of the head? (6:8)

From Rashi
6. How many Hebrew verbs are there that mean “to pray”? (3:23)
7. What three examples does Rashi give for the prohibition of not adding to a Mitzvah? (4:2)
8. Why did Moshe designate the three Cities of Refuge east of the Jordan when he knew that they would not be operational until Bnei Yisrael would designate the three Cities of Refuge west of the Jordan? (4:41)
9. Was it acceptable for Avraham to establish a treaty with Avimelech - giving him part of Eretz Yisrael, the Gaza Strip. (7:2)
10. For those who serve Hashem, Hashem will reward them for 1,000 generations (7:9). Elsewhere the Torah says: for 2,000 generations. Which is right?

From the Rabbis
11. How does the Talmud explain “cling to Hashem...”? (4:4) (Ketuvot 111b)
12. What are the names of the six Cities of Refuge? And in which tribal lands are they? (4:43 and Joshua 20:7)
13. “...and in His Name shall you swear.” (6:13). Is there a Mitzvah to swear in Hashem’s name? (Ramban)

Haftorah.   Isaiah
14. This is the first of seven special Haftorahs between Tisha B’Av and Rosh HaShanah. What are these Haftorahs called?

Relationships
a) Aharon - Calev
b) Miriam - Pinchas
c) Leah - Lavan
d) Sered - Reuven
e) Yosef – Peretz  

ANSWERS FOR PARSHAT VA’ETCHANAN 

1. Moshe asked that he be allowed to cross into the Promised Land and see it (and not continue to be the leader of Bnei Yisrael).
2. An iron furnace (like the ones used to purify gold - Rashi).
3. In Marah, when they first received the Mannah.
4. Belief in Hashem, Learn Torah, Say the Shema daily, Tefillin, and Mezuzah.
5. On the head above the hairline, directly above the space between the eyes.
6. There are ten verbs that mean “to pray.”
7. To have 5 Parshahs in Tefillin, To have 5 agricultural species (with the Lulav and Etrog), To have 5 Tzitzit on the corners of your garment.
8. Moshe said “Any Mitzvah that I can perform, I will do it.”
9. According to Rashi, no, it was not okay. (And in the Midrash as well.)
10. For those who serve Hashem out of love, the reward is for 2,000 generations. For those who serve Hashem out of fear, the reward is for 1,000 generations.
11. If you revere and seek a way to help Torah scholars, Hashem will reward you with life in the World to Come.
12. 1) Betzer (in Reuven), 2) Rammot (in Gad), 3) Golan (in Menasheh), 4) Chevron (in Yehudah), 5) Shechem (in Ephraim), 6) Kedesh (in Naphtali).
13. No, there is no Mitzvah to swear in Hashem’s name. But if you do take an oath, do so only in the name of Hashem.
14. Sheva D’Nechemta, the Seven of Consolation.

Relationships
a) Brothers-in-Law
b) Great Aunt Miriam
c) Father Lavan
d) Uncle Reuven (Sered is the son of Zevulun)
e) Uncle Yosef

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784