Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Teruma – Shevi’i: The Chatzer – courtyard of the Mishkan (Shabbos, 4th Adar)

📘 Rashi Q&A — Shemot 27:9–19

27:9 — The Courtyard Nettings

Q1. What are “Kela’im” according to Rashi?

A: Nettings that hung like a ship’s sail — crocheted, perforated fabric (not woven).

Q2. How does Onkelos translate “Kela’im”?

A: Sradin — similar to a sieve-like material.

Q3. What does “la-pe’ah ha’achas” mean?

A: “For one side”; the entire side is called a pe’ah.

27:10 — The Pillars and Bases

Q4. How many pillars were on the south side?

A: 20 pillars.

Q5. How far apart were the pillars spaced?

A: Five cubits between each pillar.

Q6. What were the bases made of?

A: Copper.

Q7. What does Rashi say the bases looked like?

A: Blocks called “pals” in Old French, with a copper ring in the center.

Q8. How were the nettings attached to the pillars?

A: The edge of the netting was wound around the blocks and hung on the vav‑shaped hooks of the pillars.

Q9. What are “vavei ha’amudim”?

A: Hooks shaped like the Hebrew letter ו.

Q10. What are “chashukeihem”?

A: Silver bands girding the pillars, though Rashi is unsure whether they wrapped top, middle, or entire pillar.

27:11–13 — North and West Sides

Q11. How many pillars and bases were on the north side?

A: 20 pillars and 20 bases.

Q12. How many pillars and bases were on the west side?

A: 10 pillars and 10 bases.

27:13 — East Side (Entrance)

Q13. Why is the east called “kedem”?

A: Because it is the face of the world; west is “achor” (back).

Q14. How many cubits wide was the east side?

A: 50 cubits.

Q15. How much of those 50 cubits were nettings?

A: Two sets of 15 cubits each, flanking both sides of the entrance.

Q16. How wide was the entrance to the Courtyard?

A: 20 cubits.

27:14–16 — Entrance Details

Q17. How many pillars supported each 15‑cubit netting segment?

A: Three pillars (one every five cubits).

Q18. How many pillars were on the east side altogether?

A: 10 pillars: 3 + 3 + 4 for the entrance screen.

Q19. What material was the entrance Screen made of?

A: Turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool, and twined linen.

Q20. What craftsmanship was used for the Screen?

A: Ma’aseh rokem — needle‑made embroidery.

27:17 — Pillars All Around

Q21. Why does the Torah repeat hooks, bands, and bases here?

A: To teach that all Courtyard pillars (even east + west sides) had silver hooks, silver bands, and copper bases.

27:18 — Courtyard Measurements

Q22. What is the length of the Courtyard?

A: 100 cubits (north–south).

Q23. What does “width 50 by 50” mean?

A: The front (east) section of the Courtyard formed a 50×50 square.

Q24. How do we know the space behind the Mishkan was 20 cubits?

A: The Mishkan was 30 cubits long within the 50‑cubit rear section, leaving 20 cubits behind it.

Q25. How do we know the Mishkan was centered?

A: It was 10 cubits wide in a 50‑cubit span, leaving 20 cubits on each side.

Q26. How tall were the Courtyard walls?

A: Five cubits.

Q27. What part of the structure does “height” refer to?

A: The width of the netted wall hangings.

Q28. Why does the verse repeat “their bases of copper”?

A: To include the bases of the entrance Screen as also being copper.

27:19 — Utensils and Stakes

Q29. What are “kol kli haMishkan” according to Rashi?

A: Tools needed to erect and dismantle the Mishkan, like hammers for stakes.

Q30. What are “y’sedos” (stakes)?

A: Copper pegs used to anchor the Tent sheets and Courtyard nettings so the wind would not lift them.

Q31. Were the stakes driven into the ground or hanging?

A: Rashi suggests they were driven into the ground, based on the verse “a tent whose stakes shall never be removed.”