Questions
for the Shabbos Table contains snippets from the weekly Torah portion. The goal of Questions for the Shabbos Table is
to bring more Torah to English speakers living in Israel and abroad. For some who have recently immigrated to
Israel, there may be the nagging sentiment of being in a foreign country.
Questions for the Shabbos Table is intended to do away with that sentiment, for
you not to be a stranger in a strange land. And for those living abroad, it is
a means to come closer to the Divine.
If however you are living in the
Land, you are already a step closer.
QUESTIONS FOR THE SHABBOS TABLE:
PARSHAT BAMIDBAR, 1:1-4:20
The
Parshah begins with the taking of a military census of all the Tribes except
for the Tribe of Levi. The total number of
fighting men from age 20 to 60 is 603,550.
Each Tribe had its own leader, its own flag and its own family
loyalties. However, although diverse,
they are all grouped in a specific fashion, and they all face the Mishkan, the dwelling
place for Hashem.
It is the Mishkan that unites them. Today, we no longer have a tribal identity. Jews are still a diverse lot. By way of example: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Secular, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Litvish, Chassidic, etc. If you want to know more about Jewish movements, check out the excellent attached work by Sara Metzger. Although diverse, we are still the B’Nai Yisrael.
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My friend Max Naggar from Naharia Israel has
come up with a quiz that relates to Parshat Bamidbar. Attached are his questions.
Take your time and try to answer them. Do
your best. The answers are at the end of
this posting.
1-Why were the Jewish People counted so
frequently?
2-What documents did the people bring when
they were counted?
3-What determined the color of the Tribal
Flags?
4-What is the difference between an
"OT" and a "DEGEL"?
5-What was the signal for the Camp to travel ?
6-What was the sum total of the counting of
the 12-Tribes?
7-Why were Aharon's sons called the sons of
Aharon & Moshe?
8-Why did the Leviim receive MA'ASER Rishon?
9-Which group of people were counted from the
age of one month?
10-Name the first descendant of Levi in
History to be counted as infant?
11-Who assisted Moshe in counting the Leviim?
12-Why did the tribe of Reuben supported
Korach rebellion?
13-Why did the tribes of Yehuda, Yissachar,
and Zevulun become great scholars?
14-Actual number of Leviim was 22,300, but
Torah stated as 22,000, why?
15-Why were the first Born Males redeemed for
5-Shekalim?
16-During what age span is man considered at
his full strength?
17-Who was in charge to cover the Holly
Vessels before transport?
18-What were the main tasks of the Leviim in
the Mishkan?
19-How many times were Bnei Israel counted in
our travels?
20-What is the best way to count the men in a
Minyan?
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The Leviim have replaced the 1st born B'Nai
Yisrael for service in the Mishkan. Originally during the time of the plagues when
the Egyptian first born were slain, Hashem granted the Jewish first born a
special place in their service to God. However, because they participated
in the Sin of the Golden Calf, in contradistinction to the Levites, they lost
their special standing.
How would it have turned out if the first born had not lost their special position?
What would have been the status of the Levites?
The Levites have the burden of
carrying and protecting the Mishkan, the dwelling place of Hashem. At
Hashem’s direction, the where and the when of His choosing the B’nai Yisrael,
that is us, we move.
And for those of us who
have made Aliyah: Don’t think for one moment that it was you alone who decided
it was time to make Aliyah. And don’t think for one moment that there are
not still amongst us, people chosen by Hashem who share the burden of carrying
His Sanctuary.
---------------------------------------------------------
Thursday
evening, May 21, marks the beginning of the new Festival known as Jerusalem
Day. Jerusalem Day ( יום ירושלים) is an Israeli national
holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of
Israeli control over the Old City in the aftermath of the June 1967 Six-Day
War. The day is officially marked by state ceremonies and memorial services.
Religious
Zionists recite special holiday prayers including the Hallel prayer.
Various Jewish groups follow differing practices. Personally, I avoid praying with a group that
do celebrate Jerusalem Day, considering them anti-Zionist.
In opposition to the Jerusalem Day celebration, many Muslims worldwide celebrate Al-Quds Day. Here is a photo of that celebration in Tehran in 2016:
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The men of the Tribe of
Levi, the “Levites” or the “Leveim”, לויים, were counted separately and number 22,300 from
age one month and on up.
The Leviim have replaced
the 1st born B'Nai Yisrael for service in the Mishkan. Originally during the time of the plagues when
the Egyptian first born were slain, Hashem granted the Jewish first born a special place in their service to God.
However, because they participated in the Sin of the Golden Calf, in contradistinction
to the Levites, theylost their special standing.
The
Levites have the burden of carrying and protecting the Mishkan, the dwelling
place of Hashem. At Hashem’s direction, the where and the when of His
choosing the B’nai Yisrael, that is us, we move.
And
for those of us who have made Aliyah: Don’t think for one moment that it was
you alone who decided it was time to make Aliyah. And don’t think for one
moment that there are not still amongst us, people chosen by Hashem who share
the burden of carrying His Sanctuary.
-------------------------------------------------
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
> 1-Why were the Jewish People
counted so frequently?
THEY WERE VERY DEAR TO HASHEM
> 2-What documents did the
people bring when they were counted?
THEY BROUGHT BIRTH RECORDS PROVING TRIBAL
LINEAGE
> 3-What determined the color
of the Tribal Flags?
TRIBE STONES ON THE BREASTPLATE
DETERMINED THE COLORS
> 4-What is the difference
between an "OT" and a "DEGEL"?
OT IS A FLAG COLORED CLOTH, DEGEL IS A
FLAG POLE
> 5-What was the signal for the
Camp to travel ?
CLOUD OVER THE OHEL MOED DEPARTED, &TRUMPET SOUNDED
> 6-What was the sum total of
the counting of the 12-Tribes?
TOTAL COUNT OF THE 12-TRIBES IS 603,550
> 7-Why were Aharon's sons
called the sons of Aharon & Moshe?
BECAUSE MOSHE TAUGHT THEM TORAH
> 8-Why did the Leviim receive
MA'ASER Rishon?
THEY SERVED IN THE MISHKAN IN PLACE OF THE
FIRSTBORNS
> 9-Which group of people were
counted from the age of one month?
THE LEVIIM AND THE FIRST BORNS OF BNEI ISRAEL
> 10-Name the first descendant
of Levi in History to be counted as infant?
LEVI'S DAUGHTER YOCHEVED , WAS BORN
ENTERING EGYPT
> 11-Who assisted Moshe in
counting the Leviim?
HASHEM ASSISTED MOSHE IN COUNTING THE
LEVIIM
> 12-Why tribe of Reuben
supported Korach rebellion?
THEY WERE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS TO KORACH
> 13-Why tribes of Yehuda,
Yissachar, and Zevulun became great scholars?
THEY WERE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS TO MOSHE
RABBENU
> 14-Actual number of Leviim
was 22,300, but Torah stated as 22,000, why?
THE EXTRA 300 WERE THE FIRST BORN LEVIIM
THEMSELVES
> 15-Why was the first Born
Males redeemed for 5-Shekalim?
TO ATONE THE SALE OF YOSEF WHO WAS SOLD
FOR 5-SHEKALIM
> 16-During what age span is
man considered at his full strength?
BETWEEN THE AGES OF 30 AND 50
> 17-Who was in charge to cover
the Holly Vessels before transport?
ONLY THE KOHANIM
> 18-What were the main tasks
of the Leviim in the Mishkan?
MOVERS OF MISHKAN, SINGERS, AND HONORARY
GUARDS
> 19-How many times were Bnei
Israel counted in our travels?
TANACH TALLIES THE TOTAL POPULATION
10-TIMES
> 20-What is the best way to
count the men in a Minyan?
POPULAR CHSTOM TO SAY A PASUK WHICH
CONTAINS 10 WORDS
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