Parshas Yisro - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת יתרו

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. What did Yisro hear that no one else did?

2. According to the one who holds that Yisro was attracted by the fact that B'nei Yisroel won the war against Amalek, what was so special about it? Granted they were untrained, but still the B'nei Yisroel had an army of 600,000 men between 20 and 60. Certainly it couldn't have been such a tremendous surprise that they won.

3. Rashi writes that Yisro had 7 names. One of them was Yeser – which became Yisro after he converted. If so, didn't Yisro really only have 6 names at any given time?

4. Yisro is called Choveiv because of his love for the Torah. Why did Yisro receive such a name any more than Moshe, Aharon, or any of Bnei Yisroel in the midbar?

5. (18:2) Rashi sounds good in the broad sense but what specifically was Aharon worried about? Moshe’s wife and children would not have become slaves? Moshe was from shevet Levi?

6. Yisro came over to Moshe and asked “What are you doing?” Moshe responded, “Judging the people and helping them with their questions.” Yisro then clarified and said that he meant why is Moshe the only one judging instead of creating a system of ranks where more people could be helped at a time. What was this conversation between Moshe and Yisro? And why didn't Moshe think of this himself?

7. Where did Yisro get his “da’as Torah” from which seems to have been good enough to match Moshe?

8. (18:21) Where did Yisro get his qualifications from that he suggested be requirements for people to judge k’lal Yisroel?

9. When describing Moshe's two sons the Torah writes “Shem Ha'echad Gershom...” and “Shem Ha'echad Eliezer...” The Torah refers to them both as “The first” even though Gershom was older because Eliezer was named for an earlier event that Moshe experienced. What is the significance behind each of their names? And why did Moshe name his first son for a later event and his second son for the earlier one?

10. The Aseres Hadibros are a Pangrammatic Lipogram (consists of all the letters in Hebrew Aleph Beis except for one). Which letter is missing? Why? [See Parshas Yisro - The Ten Commandments: A Pangrammatic Lipogram]

11. The Aseres Hadibros in this week's parsha are slightly different from the ones found in Parshas Va'eschnan. What are the differences? Why are there differences?

12. (20:5) We see that Hashem is referred to as a “jealous G-d”. How could we understand Hashem’s “jealousy”?

13. There are many examples throughout chumash that one should knock on a door before entering, as to not startle those inside. Where is there an example in this week's parsha?

14. Rashi (18:7) writes that he does not know who bowed to who but when the passuk says “ish”, we figure out that it refers to Moashe....How could Rashi be so sure? Yisro too is called an “ish” by the torah (see Shemos 2:21)?

15. Why in the aseres ha'dibros does Hashem refer to Himself as the one who took us out of Eretz Mitzrayim, and not the One Who created the world?

16. How could Hashem give us such a commandment not to desire something? How is it possible to control our emotions to the point of not having a feeling of wanting something?

17. Why wasn't the Torah given in Eretz Yisroel?

Parshas Bo - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת בא

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. (10:7-11) Pharoah’s advisors told him to let the men go, and Pharaoh himself was willing to let the men go. If so, why did he ask Moshe “mi va’mi ha’hol’chim – who is going?” Why not just tell them at the onset that he as only willing to let the men go?

2. (10:17) Why by this makka did Pharaoh ask Moshe to daven to remove it “from me”?

3. (10:22) Rashi writes that during choshech – the wicked who did not wan to leave mitzrayim were killed. Who were these wicked who did not want to leave and why would they want to stay? Why did their wanting to stay warrant labeling them as reshaim?

4. (10:26) The Torah is unclear what would have happened oif Pharaoh would have let the B’nei Yisroel go? Would they have come back after “they went to serve Hashem”?

5. Why didn't Dasan and Aviram die during makkas choshech ?

6. After Pharoah tells Moshe, “Never come back...”, Moshe says, “You have spoken well, I will never come to you again”. How could Moshe say this? How did he know that Hashem wouldn't command him to back to Pharoah?

7.     Throughout the Torah and Gemara we find many examples where the Hashem or tzadikim go out of the way to ensure that no appearance will be given off that could mislead others to think erroneously. For example, when Hashem was going to destroy s'dom, Avraham argued that if there is even one righteous person, then Hashem must save the whole city because otherwise people will think that Hashem does not rule with justice. Additionally we find this concept a few times in this week's parsha. For example, there is a reference when Pharoah tells Moshe that he sees “ra'ah” will be with them in the midbar (desert)....later in the Torah by the eigel ha'zahav when Hashem was going to wipe out klal yisroel, Moshe argued that Hashem could not do that because then perhaps the Mitzriyim will say that it was  “ra'ah” that did it. Also, there is a famous rashi and gemara berachos regarding Moshe switching the lashon to “כחצות” instead of  "בחצות” to ensure that the mitzriyim would not accuse him of being a liar if the makas bechoros wouldn't occur precisely at midnight. Another example is the gemara in shekalim which discuss that the kohanim could not have cuffs on their pants or have pockets lest them be accused of taking money from the beis hamikdash. It seems from all these examples that even in extreme circumstances we are so careful to make sure to give off a proper appearance even when it means making an exception to dong the right thing. Considering all this, how will we deal with the following rashi in this week's parsha: Rashi mentions that by makas bechoros every house had many people who died. Rashi goes so far as to say that the mitzriyim started saying, “this is not like the other decrees/makkos of Moshe because here he said that only the bechorim would die and yet everyone seems to be dying!” Why in this circumstance did Hashem do the “correct” thing and kill the bechorim despite the fact that it looked like He was killing random mitzriyim? Why suddenly was He not afraid that Moshe would be called a liar? When do we use this principle of remaining נקי and when should we put that aside?

8. In the introduction to meseches s'machos, R' Yochanan says that although Hashem “hit” the bechorim of Mitzrayim at night, they did not really die until the next morning. Where in davening is there a רמז to this?

9. What is significant about the dogs not barking?

10. Who killed the bechorim? Why was it necessary to have something to differentiate between the Jews and mitzriyim more than by any other makkah?

11. How do we know to wear Tefillin on the left hand? What is the significance of wearing it on the left hand?

12. Two of the four parshiyos in out Tefillin could be found in this week's parsha. What are they? And what is so significant about them that they should be in the tefillin alongside Shema?

13. If the reshayim of Bnei Yisroel died during makkas choshech, why didn't Dasan and Aviram die then as well?

Parshas Va'eira - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת וארא

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. (6:12) This week's Parsha contains one of the ten Kal V'chomers found throughout Tanach. The Kal V'chomer seems to be that Moshe said to Hashem, “If B'nei Yisroel won't listen to me, then certainly Phroah will refuse to listen!” The question is that the Torah told us earlier that the reason B'nei Yisroel didn't listen was because they were under stress and hard work. Certainly these concerns did not apply to Pharoah. So what was the Kal V'chomer?

2. Rashi (6:13) writes that because Moshe said “I am of blocked lips”, Hashem required that Aharon be just as vital as the mouthpiece of Moshe. How could that have been the cause if Aharon had already taken this role in last week's parsha?

3. Where is there a proof from this week's parsha to techiyas ha'meisim?

4. (6:25) Rashi writes that one of Yisro’s names came from the fact that he used to prepare Avoda Zarrah. How could we make fun of who Yisro was before he became a geir?

5. (Rashi 7:12) Why did Aharon’s stick have to turn back from snake to stick before swallowing the magicians’ staffs?

6. Rashi says that Moshe didn't bring the מכה of דם or צפרדעים because since the Nile had protected him, it would not be proper for Moshe to hit the Nile. How did the river protect him? If anything, didn't the basket protect him from the river?

7. How far does Hakaras Hatov go? Aharon too benefited from the water and land – for bathing and walking on? Must one even have hakaras hatov for the ground for producing food?

8. (7:17) Rashi writes that Hashem struck the Nile first before the Egyptians because they worshiped the Nile. Why even give any chashivus to the Nile? Just strike the Egyptians and they will realize on their own that the Nile has no power?

9. (Rashi 7:19) What is the chidush in saying that even the water in wooden and stone vessels turned to blood?

10. What is the difference between ma'aseh keshafim and ma'aseh sheidim?

11. Rashi stresses the fact that the frogs were croaking. What is so significant about the croak of the frog? (I mean the sound that it makes, not that when the frogs “croaked”  they were left on the land as opposed to the ערב which were removed so that the Egyptians wouldn't benefit from the hides.)

12. Rashi brings the Medrash which describes that initially only one frog came out of the river, but every time they hit it, more frogs would burst forth. Didn't the Mitzryim start to realize after a few times that they were only causing a bigger disaster? Why didn't they just stop hitting the frogs!!??

13. The Passuk says that after Moshe and Aharon brought the frogs, the Egyptian Magicians were able to make frogs come as well. How was everyone able to tell that those frogs were created by the magicians? Was there a difference in the type of frogs from Moshe and Aharon, and that of the magicians?

14. Why did Pharoah ask that Moshe daven today for the צפרדעים  to be removed tomorrow?

15. The Torah (8:24) states Moshe's concern of shechting the karbon. If they would have Pharoah's permission, why be concerned?

16. Why only by the frogs does it say that Moshe screamed out to Hashem to daven?

17. When is 2 not greater than 1 ?

18. Rashi (9:10) writes that the animals of those who feared Hashem died during the makka (plague) of shechin (boils). Who were the “ones who feared Hashem” and why did the animals deserve to die during the boils if they were saved during the other makkaos?

A “Poem/Riddle on the Parsha” By Daniel Listhaus :

                   In פרק ז Hashem commands,

                   “Tell Aharon to take his staff in his hand.

                   כל מקוה מימיהם  shall turn to blood so red

                   Maybe then Pharoah will get the message through his head.”

                   However, Pharoah, so foolish and stubborn

                   Refused to listen to Moshe and Aharon

                   Instead, he just laughed in their face

                   thinking, 'Ha! I will put them in their place.'

                   “Turn water into blood!” He commanded his חרטומים

                   Who did just that right in front of 'em

                   So, Pharoah's heart continued to grow harder and harder

          The question, though, remains: From where did the חרטומים get their water?

Parshas Shemos - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

פרשת שמות

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. (1:1) Where is there a רמז in the Parsha that one who does Shnayim Mikrah V'echad Targum nicely will merit to be able to do many more shnayim mikrah v'echad targums?

2. (1:2-4) Why isn't Yosef listed among the other shevatim in the beginning of the parsha?

3. (1:8) Onkoles explains that when the Torah mentions that there was a new Pharoah who “didn't know Yosef” that it means that this new Pharoah did not keep Yosef's decrees. Which decrees did Yosef make that this could be referring to?

4. (2:1) Miriam reasoned to her father that he was worse than Pharoah because by separating completely from his wife, he was preventing even girls from being born whereas Pharoah was at least letting the girls live. Was she really right in her argument? Wouldn't taking that chance of having children be considered a safeik sakanas nefashos?

5. (2:3) Rashi writes that there was only tar on the outside of Moshe’s basket so that the tzaddik would not have to smell the foul smell. What made Moshe a tzaddik at this point? He was a baby?!

6. (2:9) Rashi tells us that Batya unknowingly prophesized by saying to Yocheved and Miriam, “Here is what is yours” - referring to Moshe. Why is this important? What is so significant about this “prophecy”?

7. Why was it necessary for Moshe to grow up in the house of Pharaoh?

8. (2:12) Rashi explains that before Moshe killed the Mitzri, he looked into the Mitzri's future to see if any geirim would come out of his descendents...

1.     What did the Mitzri do to that made him Chayav Meesah? If he only hit the Jew, then how could Moshe kill him; and if the Mitzri killed the Jew and was chayav meesah, then why did Moshe have to first look into the Mitzri's future?

2.    How is it possible for Moshe to know what would be in the future? What about bechira?

9.  (2:13) When Rashi tells us who the two Jews were that were hitting each other, he writes “They were Dasan and Aviram; the same ones who left over the manna (in the desert).” Why is it necessary for Rashi to add in this piece of information? What does it have to do with here?

10. Yisro had seven names and seven daughters...what is significant about Yisro and the number seven?

11. Moshe is the third one to find himself by a well in a distant land right before finding a wife.

        a. Who were the first two?

        b. How are each of their stories as to how they found themselves by the well very                  different?

        c. Why does there seem to be a pattern of the experience by the well getting   progressively worse and worse?

        d. What is the significance of the well?

12. Besides for the fact that they both went to a well after running away from home, there are many similarities between Moshe and Yaakov. How many can you find?

13. Hashem saw that Moshe turned to see the burning bush...was this some sort of test? What was so special about the fact that Moshe turned to look at the miracle?

14. Why must one take of his shoes by a place of kedusha?

15. (Rashi 3:12) Why did Hashem never answer Moshe’s second question?

16. What was Hashem's hava amina to tell B'nei Yisroel about both troubles, that Moshe had to argue and say that He should not tell B''nei Yisroel about the one in the future while they were still suffering now? (See Rashi 3:14)

17. The mind and mouth work together to bring ruchniyus into this world. If so, isn't it weird that Moshe who was the one who would bring the Torah from Har Sinai had a speech impediment?

18. By the Shevatim, their mothers seemed to have given them their names. By Moshe's children though, it seems that Moshe did. Why the difference?

19. Why did Moshe run away from the snake? Doesn't the mishna say that if one is davening shemoneh esrei (I.e – talking to Hashem) one cannot interrupt for a snake even wrapped around his leg?

20. (4:9) Hashem gave Moshe three simanim to show, each one in case the one before does not convince them....

1.    Who witnessed these signs? Who were they meant for?

2.    If the third one was the greatest, then why not just show the third sign?

3.    Why did Moshe have to “practice” the first two but not the third?

21. Hashem told Moshe (4:19) to return to Mitzrayim and that Moshe should not worry because those who had wanted to kill him were dead. Rashi learns that “those people” were Dasan and Aviram and they were actually still alive. Rashi explains that they are called “dead” because they became poor...

               

                a. Who cares if they are “called dead”, why should that make Moshe feel                                better?

                   b. How does Rashi know that they became poor as opposed to one of                                    the other things for which a person is titled dead (such as: Having                                     tzaraas, being blind, not having children)?

22. How could Tziporah give Bris Milah to her son if the Gemara Kiddushin (29a) says that Bris Milah is a Mitzva which is optimally done by the father (on 8^th day)?