Shishi
- The Parsha of Shema and Veahavta:
- The Mitzvos of Achdus Hashem, Love, Torah learning, Shema, Tefillin, and Mezuza: “Hear Israel, Hashem is our G-d and Hashem is one. You shall love G-d with all your heart and soul and possessions. These words shall be on your heart and you shall teach it to your children and speak of them at home and on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them to your arm and eyes and write them on the doorposts of your homes and gates.”
- Moshe forewarns Bnei Yisrael not to forget Hashem after they conquer the land:
- “Upon entering the promised land, you will find great cities that you did not build. The homes will be filled with all good, vineyards and olive orchards and you will eat and be satiated. Do not forget Hashem who took you out of Egypt. You shall fear Him and serve Him and swear by His name. You shall not stray after their G-ds, lest Hashem become angry with you and destroy you from the land. Do not test Hashem like you did in Massah. Do the fair and proper in the eyes of G-d.”
- The question of the wise son [i.e. Chacham]:
- “When your son asks you tomorrow as to why we keep these laws, you are to answer him that we were slaves in Egypt and Hashem took us out with miracles and a mighty hand. He did this in order to bring us to the Promised Land where we can keep His commands.”
Q&A on Rashi
📘 Rashi Q&A — Devarim 6:4–25
6:4 — Shema Yisrael
Q1. What does “Hashem is our God, Hashem is One” mean according to Rashi?
- Hashem is presently recognized as our God, but in the future all nations will acknowledge Him as the one true God.
Q2. Which future prophecies does Rashi connect to this verse?
- “All will call upon the Name of Hashem” and “Hashem will be One and His Name One.”
6:5 — Loving Hashem
Q3. What does it mean to love Hashem?
- To fulfill His words out of love rather than merely out of fear.
Q4. Why is serving from love superior?
- A person motivated only by fear may quit when service becomes difficult.
Q5. What does “with all your heart” mean?
- With both inclinations—the good inclination and the evil inclination.
Q6. What is another explanation of “with all your heart”?
- Your heart should not be divided against Hashem.
Q7. What does “with all your soul” mean?
- Even if one must give up life itself for Hashem.
Q8. What does “with all your might” mean?
- With all your possessions.
Q9. Why is this phrase necessary?
- Some people value their wealth even more than their lives.
Q10. What is another explanation of “with all your might”?
- Love Hashem regardless of whatever circumstances He sends, whether pleasant or difficult.
6:6 — Torah Upon the Heart
Q11. What is the expression of love for Hashem?
- Keeping His words upon one’s heart.
Q12. How does Torah study create love of Hashem?
- Through Torah a person comes to know Hashem and follow His ways.
Q13. What does “today” teach?
- Torah should always feel fresh and new.
6:7 — Teaching Torah
Q14. What does “ושננתם” mean?
- Torah should be sharp and fluent in one’s mouth.
Q15. How fluent should it be?
- One should answer questions immediately without hesitation.
Q16. Who are “your children” in this verse?
- Your students.
Q17. How does Rashi prove that students are called children?
- Scripture frequently refers to disciples as children.
Q18. What responsibility does a teacher have?
- To guide students successfully through their learning.
Q19. What does “you shall speak of them” mean?
- Torah should be one’s primary topic of conversation.
Q20. What does “when you lie down and when you rise up” mean?
- The normal times people go to sleep and wake up.
6:8 — Tefillin
Q21. What is “a sign upon your hand”?
- Tefillin shel yad (arm tefillin).
Q22. What are “totafot between your eyes”?
- Tefillin shel rosh (head tefillin).
Q23. Why are they called “totafot”?
- The word combines two foreign words meaning “two” and “two,” alluding to the four Torah sections inside.
6:9 — Mezuzah
Q24. Upon what must these words be written?
- The doorposts of one’s house and gates.
Q25. Why is “doorposts” spelled unusually?
- To indicate that one mezuzah is required.
Q26. What does “your gates” include?
- Gates of courtyards, provinces, and cities.
6:10–12 — Prosperity in the Land
Q27. What blessings would Israel receive?
- Cities, houses, cisterns, vineyards, and olive trees they did not create.
Q28. Why are cisterns called “hewn”?
- Because Eretz Yisrael is rocky and wells are cut from stone.
Q29. What danger accompanies prosperity?
- Forgetting Hashem.
Q30. How is Egypt described?
- The house of slavery.
6:13–15 — Fear and Loyalty
Q31. What three obligations are listed?
- Fear Hashem, serve Him, and swear by His Name.
Q32. When may one swear by Hashem’s Name?
- Only if one truly fears and serves Him.
Q33. Why are nearby idols emphasized?
- Because people see others worshiping them and may be influenced.
Q34. Why must Israel avoid idols?
- Because Hashem is a zealous God who punishes idolatry.
6:16–19 — Trust and Righteous Living
Q35. What does it mean not to test Hashem?
- Do not challenge Him as Israel did at Massah.
Q36. What happened at Massah?
- Israel tested Hashem over water and questioned whether He was among them.
Q37. What must Israel diligently safeguard?
- Hashem’s commandments, testimonies, and statutes.
Q38. What does “the proper and the good” mean?
- Compromise and going beyond the strict letter of the law.
Q39. What reward comes from doing so?
- Success in inheriting the Land and defeating enemies.
6:20–25 — Teaching the Next Generation
6:20
Q40. What happens when a child asks about the mitzvot?
- The parent must explain their meaning and history.
Q41. What does “tomorrow” mean here?
- At some future time.
6:21–23
Q42. What story should be told first?
- The Exodus from Egypt.
Q43. Why did Hashem take Israel out of Egypt?
- In order to bring them into the promised land.
Q44. What signs and wonders should be recalled?
- The miracles and plagues inflicted upon Egypt.
6:24–25
Q45. Why did Hashem command these mitzvot?
- For our benefit, our survival, and our relationship with Him.
Q46. What will be considered righteousness for us?
- Carefully observing all His commandments.
Q47. What does Rashi explain about “ושמרנו”?
- It means learning the laws properly in order to perform them correctly.