Parshas Metzora - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

 מצורעפרשת   

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. Where is there an acronym for Motzee Shem Ra in this week's parsha?

2. (14:4) The Rambam writes (Mishna Torah and Shemoneh Perakim) that one who has failed in a particular middah and now wants to work on fixing it, should first balance it out by going to the other extreme. So, for example, one who had become a big ba’al gaivah and want to now work on suppressing his ego and becoming more humble, he should do things on the opposite extreme of what he had been doing until he is able to find the proper balance in the middle. If so, granted the hyssop is very necessary as part of the metzora’s tahara as Rashi explains, but why the cedarwood? Shouldn’t that specically be left out?

3. Rabbah bar bar Shila says on Daf Beis amud beis in Berachos that if in the passuk of “u'va ha'shemesh v'taheir”, u'va hashemesh=beeas ohro and v'taheir=tahor gavra; then the passuk should have used the word “vayitaheir” to illustrate the active requirement to become tahor instead of the word “tahor” which is a more passive sounding word (even without a kaparah).....Ask a question on this from this week's parsha.

4. (14:34) Why is tzara’as also Hashem’s method of letting people know when there are treasures behind the wall of a house?

Parshas Tazria - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

תזריעפרשת 

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. (12:3) ”Rashi writes that just like man was created after animals, so too were the halachos of birth commanded after halachos of animals (kashrus).” Indeed sometimes the Torah instructs us that the proper order of teaching and responding is A-B A-B: That when two things are said the proper approach is to respond in the same order (See also when Eliezer responded to Lavan/Besuel). However there are also examples where the Torah orders in a A-B B-A format justifying that since the last thing taught is still fresh on the mind we respond to that first. (See Gemara Berachos 2a and Tosfos Bava Kamma 17a). What are the guidelines when to respond in the order of things mentioned and when to respond to the second item first?

2. (13:14) Rashi writes that when a person thinks he has tzara’as he must go to the kohen have it inspected. However, there are two exceptions: A chossen (during sheva berachos) and any person on a Yom Tov. How could we understand this? Why would the Torah push aside a pressing matter for personal happiness? Clearly the person deserves the tzara’as so why consider the fact that the afflicted will suffer on his “personal days”? It’s his own fault!

3. Tzara’as is a physical effect of something non-physical (harmful speech). The truth is that all speech creates realities. Where is that hinted to in the Hebrew word for “speech” and where do we hint to this idea in davening? 

Parshas Shemini - Parsha Stumpers

~ Something to Think About ~

שמיני פרשת  

Parsha Stumpers

By: Daniel Listhaus

1. Rashi (Vayikra 9:1) on the first passuk in this week's parsha comments that Hashem had Moshe call over the elders of B'nei Yisorel to let them know that it was according to Hashem's command that Aharon be the one to assume the position of Kohen Gadol, so that they should not say that Aharon took the position by himself. Was this really a worry? The Kohen Gadol had a very scary job going into the Kodesh HaK'doshim on Yom Kippur. Why would anyone assume this position unless told by Hashem to do so? Why would the elders of Yisroel allow such a possibility to enter their mind?

2. Rashi (Vayikra 9:2) writes that Hashem commanded Aharon to take a calf as a karbon in  order to grant an atonement for partaking in the cheit Ha'Eigel (sin of the golden calf). How could this be a proper atonement for Aharon if we know that there is a principle of ein k'teiger na'aseh sneiger (that one does not get the prosecutor to be the defendant)?

3. Rashi (Vayikra 10:2) offers two explanations as to why Nadav and Avihu received such strict punishment. The second explanation he gives is that really the Torah had never warned the Kohanim yet not to do the avodah after drinking wine. Nonetheless, Hashem used this opportunity as a means of example for future kohanim. However, if the kohanim were never warned at this point yet that doing so was a problem, why is it that Nadav and Avihu were punished for it? 

4. Rashi (Vayikra 10:16) comments that after the episode with Aharon and his remaining two sons eating a karbon improperly (at least according to Moshe's understanding), Moshe turned and displayed anger towards Aharon's sons (Elazar and Isammar). Rashi writes that the reason for this was to spare Aharon's dignity. Since when does Moshe save someone's dignity by not telling them they did something wrong? Moshe should have displayed anger towards Aharon as well in order to show that what he does was wrong!?

5. After Aharon explained their reasoning that eating from that particular karbon was the right thing to do, despite the fact that he was an onein (because Nadav and Avihu had just died), the Passuk (Vayikra 10:20) says that Moshe heard and he approved. Rashi on this passuk comments that Moshe admitted Aharon was right and that he was not embarrassed to say that he had not heard that particular halacha (law).

a.    How could it be, though, that Moshe had not heard of a halacha ?

b.    How could Aharon have made a halachik decision without Moshe? Wasn’t that precisely what Nadav and Avihu had done wrong (according to some opinions) which caused them to be killed?

6. How is it possible to get fleishig  milk?

7. The Gemara (Sanhedrin 17a) says that in order to be appointed as a member of the Sanhedrin, one must know how to deem a sheretz – tahor. What is the point of this if the Torah specifically states that it is tamei ? And what is a way to arrive at the (mistaken) conclusion that a sheretz should be tahor?

8. Where in the Parsha do we see the inyan that it is not respectful to grow one’s hair long or walk around with ripped clothing? (Bonus: Where do we see this concept in Megillas Esther as well?).

9. The midpoint of the Torah, in terms of words, is in this week’s parsha. Where is it and what is special about it?

10. How do you reconcile the concept of ivdu es Hashem b’simcha with the negative commandment against drinking wine before doing the ultimate for of avodas  in the beis Ha’mikdash?

11. What do the simanim regarding kosher animals represent – both by fish and land animals? What lesson could be learned from “vayidom Aharon”?

12. What is the deal with pig?

1.     What is so tricky about pigs?

2.      Which nation is compared to a pig? Why?

3.      Why are pigs called chazir? And which passuk in Ovadiah do we say multiple times a day which alludes to this idea?