Vayikra #3- "Vayikra"

In passaic א perek א & ב Hashem tells Moshe to tell the jews that they have to bring karbanot to Hashem. Why does the torah decide to use the word ויקרא and not one of the other synonyms such as "וידבר"? Rashi explains that a word such a ויקרא is a word used to show affection. As extra credit one time I learned that the first Rashi of every sefer shows affection and love towards the jews. I think this is a very nice idea that the torah decides to start each sefer off on the right foot. 
Why else does the torah decide to use the word ויקרא and not one of the other synonyms such as "וידבר"? 

Vayikra #2- Why "Adam"?

In perek 1, pasuk 2, it says “בדַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם אָדָם כִּי יַקְרִיב מִכֶּם קָרְבָּןלַיהֹוָה מִן הַבְּהֵמָה מִן הַבָּקָר וּמִן הַצֹּאן תַּקְרִיבוּ אֶת קָרְבַּנְכֶם:

“ 

Why does it specifically say אָדָם in the pasuk, as opposed to another word that means man?

Rashi says that it is referring to Adam Harishon who never gave korbanot from stolen property, since everything in the world was his. We learn from this that you can’t give korbanot from stolen property and you need to honestly acquire what you give as a korban to Hashem.

Why else would it say אָדָם in the pasuk? What is אָדָם referring to?

Vayikra #1- Blood and Fats?

In this weeks parsha, Vaykira it talks about korbanot. In the pasuk it says "וזרקו את הדם על המזבח סביב...ואת הפדר"

“They shall throw the blood on the altar all around... and the fats.” (1:5,8) But why would the blood and the fats be offered?  Chabad.org says Blood represents excitement like how we should feel toward mitzvot. On the other hand, fat represents laziness how we should be “lazy” or turn away from doing wrong things. Placing these remind us how we should act every day. 

Vayakhel/Pikudei #2- Generous Heart?

In this week's Parsha, (Chapter 35, pasuk 5) Moshe says to the entire Bnie Yisroel קְח֨וּ מֵֽאִתְּכֶ֤ם תְּרוּמָה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה כֹּ֚ל נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ יְבִיאֶ֕הָ אֵ֖ת תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֽשֶׁת

"'Take from yourselves an offering for the Lord; every generous hearted person shall bring it, [namely] the Lord's offering: gold, silver, and copper"

Rashi brings a question: what does Moshe mean by "every generous hearted person"? Can you only bring these materials if you belong in the 'category' of "generous hearted"?

Rashi brings an answer that the person who brings these materials is said to be a נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ because it is his heart in the first place that brought him to be a generous person and bring the materials. what is another reason that a person who brings these materials is called a נְדִ֣יב לִבּ֔וֹ?

Vayakhel Pikudei #1- What's a mishkan

In this weeks parsha, Vayakhkel-Pekude, in chapter 35 ה׳ commands benei Yisrael to start building the mishcan- the tabernacle. The term "mishcan" seems to not be the full name for the tabernacle. The full name is "Mishcan Haeydut", the tabernacle of testimony. What does this mean? Usually a testimony refers to a specific event, what event is this? 

Rashi believe that this testimony refers to ה׳ forgiving Benei Yisrael for their sins of the חטא העגל. The fact that Hashem was present at the time of the building of the Mishcan shows that He excused their sins

Ki Tisa #4- Fiery Coin

Question: In  Passuk 13 perek 30 why does Hashem say  "fiery coin",  why is the coin fiery?

Answer:  Rashi says that Hahsem made the coin a fiery coin because he wanted tp show the good and bad aspects of money.  He used fire because fire can be both help you or destroy something. Just like money,  money can bring friends or family together but it can also destroy a relationship. the fire was Hashem showing Beni Yisroel to use money wisely.      

Ki Tisa #3- Bad thing?

In Shemot perek lamed gimmel passuk daled it says ״וישמע העם את הדבר הרע הזה״. What was the ״דבר הרע״? Rashi says it was that HaShems shechinah would not rest among them and go with them. What else could it have been? 

Ki Tisa #2- חטא העגל- how bad was it?

The Daat Zekenim on 32:1 argues that Bnei Yisroel asked for a replacement for Moshe- not a replacement for God. He proves this quoting a part of 32:1 that says, "כִּי־זֶ֣ה ׀ מֹשֶׁ֣ה הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶֽעֱלָ֙נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְנוּ מֶה־הָ֥יָה לֽוֹ" This means in English, "for that man Moses, who brought us from the land of Egypt—we do not know what has happened to him." 

This idea is so different from how we are usually taught about חטא העגל. What other ways do Mefarshim understand the narrative of חטא העגל?

Some ideas are:

- Why exactly did Bnei Yisroel make the idol? 

- Did Bnei Yisroel intend for it to be an idol?

- What did Bnei Yisroel think happened to Hashem? Did they intend to replace Hashem

- What Bnei Yisroel think happened to Moshe?

- Why did Aharon go along with it?

- Why a calf of all animals?

- Why does the pasuk say כִּי־זֶ֣ה ׀ מֹשֶׁ֣ה? What do we learn from the זֶ֣ה? 

Ki Tisa #1- 1/2 shekel?

In this weeks parsha, parshat Ki- Tisa, Hashem tells Moshe to count Binay Yisroel by each individual donating half a shekel. Chazal ask, why a half shekel? how can this be a proper representation of someones neshama? They give the answer that the reason each person was responsible for a half a shekel is because no person is a complete entity on his own, but rather can only be a "whole thing” when united with another person. What is another reason why Binay Yisroel was commanded to give a half shekel?

Tetzaveh #3- Urim V'tumim?

It says in shemot perek 28 pasuk 30 "וְנָתַתָּ אֶל חשֶׁן הַמִּשְׁפָּט אֶת הָאוּרִים וְאֶת הַתֻּמִּים"

What were the Urim and Tumim that are reffered to in this weeks parsha? Chabad.org says they were the two inscriptions of the Divine name. What are other opinions on what they mean and how they worked?

Tetzaveh #2- Why Bells?

In this week's Parsha, parshat tetzaveh, it talks about all the different clothing that kohanim and the kohen gadol must wear. One of the items that a kohen gadol must see is bells on the me'il. Why we're the bells attatched to the hems of the me'il?

The midrash gives many answers to this question. One is that perhaps, since the kohen gadol was so holy, upon entering the kodesh section of the mishkan the bells would ring, which was a a sign for all the angels who dwelled in the kodesh to fly away. Hashem wanted them to leave because some of these angels were angels of din, criticism, who would attempt to point out even the slightest errors of the kohen gadol. Hashem did not want such a holy man to be treated with disrespect, so He made sure that the angels would leave as soon as the kohen gadol entered. What other purposes could there be to the bells?

Tetzavah #1- Missing Moshe Rabeinu?

In this weeks Parsha, Parshat tetzave, we see that moshe's naem is never mentioned. Rabbi Chanina bar Papa understands the reason Moshe is not mentioned is because Parsha Tezevah usually falls out around the birth and death of Moshe. Moshe was born on a leap year in adar and his birth and death occurred on the same day, the first month of adar. What other reasons could this weeks parsha not have mentioned Moshe's name?

Teruma #4- More precious?

In perek 25 pusukim 3-7 the torah lists the 13 keilim that were donated to build the mishkan. A few of the keilim donated were gold, spices, red dyed ram skins, and shoham stones. Shoham stones were listed second to last which seems strange because they were one of the most important items. So why were they listed second to last? 

A Gemara in Yoma explains that since the jews worked hard to get the other materials they became more special in a way. The shoham stones were carried by a cloud and even though they have more significance to building the mikdash does not mean they were more important. 

source: http://www.aish.com/tp/b/1-min-vort/242061671.html?mobile=yes 

Teruma #3- For Me?

In pasuk bet it says to terumah for me "li". Why does it say "li"? Wouldn't it have been enough to say to take terumah? Rashi says "li" means dedicate for my name. 

Teruma #2- 2 Arons?

The torah commands the keilim to be built using the singular form of the verb. In Perek 25, Pasuk 10, however, Only the Aron is in the plural form According to the Kli Yakar, every Jew should of course be learning Torah all day and night. However, since this is impossible, two Jews can agree that one will learn Torah full time, and another will work to support him and earn a share of his mitzvah. The Aron Kodesh represents Torah learning, and since nobody can study Torah to the maximum capacity on their own, the action describing the building of the Aron is plural. Why else might the Aron be in the plural form?

Teruma #1- Make an Aron?

In Shemot 25:10 the pasuk states וְעָשׂ֥וּ אֲר֖וֹן עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים אַמָּתַ֨יִם וָחֵ֜צִי אָרְכּ֗וֹ וְאַמָּ֤ה וָחֵ֙צִי֙ רָחְבּ֔וֹ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי קֹמָתֽוֹ׃ 

"they shal make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high"

The introduction to the command of building the Aron differs from the commands to build the other vessels. The pasuk states "ועשו ארון”,   

“They are to construct an Ark”. Why is this commandment given in plural? Why does it say "They shal construct" rather than “You should construct”? 

According to Data Zkenim, the reason is because the Aron is so tremendously holy and therefore every Jewish person should feel like he had a part in making the construction possible.