- Q: What is the main topic introduced at the very start of Parshas Chukas?
A: The main topic is the commandment of the Parah Adumah and its ritual laws of purification.
- Q: How many mitzvos are found in Parshas Chukas?
A: Three mitzvos: all positive commandments.
- Q: What is the unique requirement for the cow used in the Parah Adumah ritual?
A: It must be perfectly red, unblemished, and never have been used for work.
- Q: Who oversees the ritual of the Parah Adumah, and what is done with it?
A: Elazar Hakohen oversees the process, and the cow is slaughtered and burned outside the camp.
- Q: What is mixed with the ashes of the Parah Adumah during its burning?
A: Cedar wood, hyssop, and a wool crimson string are thrown into the fire.
- Q: What happens to the Kohen who performs the Parah Adumah ritual?
A: The Kohen becomes impure and must immerse himself and his clothing, remaining impure until evening.
- Q: Where are the ashes of the Parah Adumah stored?
A: The ashes are gathered by a pure man and stored in a pure area outside the camp.
- Q: What is the consequence for someone who touches a corpse?
A: They become impure for seven days and must be purified with the Parah Adumah ashes on the third and seventh day.
- Q: What happens to anyone who enters the tent of a corpse?
A: They become impure for seven days, and everything in the tent also becomes impure.
- Q: What is the process of purification for someone who has become impure by touching a corpse?
A: Spring water is poured into a vessel onto the ashes of the cow, and a pure man dips hyssop into the water and sprinkles it on the impure person on the third and seventh day.
- Q: What is the punishment for entering the Temple while still impure?
A: The person receives Kareis (spiritual excision).
- Q: What is the significance of Miriam’s passing in the desert of Tzin?
- A: Miriam’s passing led to a drought, causing the people to complain about the lack of water.
- Q: How did Moshe and Aaron respond to the people’s complaints about the drought?
- A: They entered the Ohel Moed and fell on their faces, and Hashem’s glory appeared to them.
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe to do to provide water for the people?
A: Hashem instructed Moshe to speak to the rock in front of the people, and it would give water.
- Q: What did Moshe do instead of speaking to the rock?
A: Moshe hit the rock twice with his staff, and water came out.
- Q: What was Hashem’s response to Moshe and Aaron’s actions with the rock?
A: Hashem told them that because they did not believe in Him and sanctify Him, they would not enter the Promised Land.
- Q: What request did Moshe make to the king of Edom?
- A: Moshe asked for permission to pass through Edom’s land, promising not to pass through fields or vineyards and to pay for any water they drank.
- Q: How did the king of Edom respond to Moshe’s request?
A: The king of Edom refused and threatened to greet the Jewish people with the sword.
- Q: What happened to Aaron on Har Hahar?
A: Aaron passed away on the summit of the mountain after Moshe removed his priestly clothing and dressed Elazar in them.
- Q: How did the Jewish people react to Aaron’s passing?
A: The entire congregation mourned Aaron’s passing for thirty days.
- Q: Who attacked the Jewish people after Aaron’s passing?
A: The Canaanite king of Arad, also known as Amalek, attacked the Jewish people.
- Q: What vow did the Jewish people make to Hashem during the battle with the Canaanites? A: They vowed to consecrate all the city spoils to the Temple if Hashem gave them victory.
- Q: What was the outcome of the battle with the Canaanites?
A: The Jewish people captured the nation and their cities and consecrated them for Hashem.
- Q: What complaint did the Jewish people make during their travels past Har Hahar?
A: They complained about the lack of food and water and expressed their frustration with the insubstantial bread.
- Q: How did Hashem respond to the people’s complaint about food and water?
- A: Hashem sent burning snakes to bite the people, and many died.
- Q: What did the people do after being bitten by the snakes?
A: They confessed their sin to Moshe and asked him to pray to Hashem to remove the snakes.
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe to do to cure the people bitten by the snakes?
A: Hashem instructed Moshe to make a copper snake and place it on a pole, and whoever looked at it would live.
- Q: Where did the Jewish people travel and camp after the incident with the snakes?
A: They traveled and camped in Ovos, Iyei Ha’avarim, the Valley of Zered, and the other side of Arnon.
- Q: What miracle occurred when the Emorites attempted an ambush?
A: The mountains came together and crushed the Emorites in their caves, and the well revealed the miracle to the Jewish people.
- Q: What request did the Jewish people make to Sichon the Emorite king?
A: They asked for permission to pass through his land, promising not to pass through fields or vineyards and to pay for any water they drank.
- Q: How did Sichon respond to the Jewish people’s request?
A: Sichon refused and gathered his nation to wage war against the Jewish people.
- Q: What was the outcome of the battle with Sichon?
A: The Jewish people waged a successful war against Sichon, conquered his cities, and settled in them.
- Q: What happened in the battle of Yaazor?
A: Moshe sent spies to Yaazor, and they conquered the city and drove out the Emorites.
- Q: What did Hashem tell Moshe about the battle with Og, the king of Bashan?
A: Hashem told Moshe not to fear Og, as He would deliver Og, his nation, and his land into their hands.
- Q: What was the outcome of the battle with Og?
A: The Jewish people smote Og and his entire nation, leaving no survivors, and took possession of his land.
- Q: Where did the Jewish people encamp after the battles with Sichon and Og?
A: They encamped in the plains of Moav, opposite the Jordan, near Yericho.
- Q: What is the significance of the Parah Adumah in the Torah?
A: The Parah Adumah is considered the Chok (decree) of the Torah, a commandment beyond human understanding.
- Q: What is the consequence for someone who touches a grave?
A: They become impure for seven days.
- Q: What is the role of the pure man in the Parah Adumah ritual?
A: The pure man gathers the ashes and stores them in a pure area outside the camp.
- Q: What happens to the person who gathers the ashes of the Parah Adumah?
A: They must immerse their clothing and remain impure until evening.
- Q: What is the significance of the Mei Niddah in the purification process?
A: The Mei Niddah is the water mixed with the red heifer ashes used for purification according to Torah law.
- Q: What is the punishment for defiling the Temple by entering while impure?
A: The person will be cut off from their nation.
- Q: What did the Jewish people complain about after Miriam’s passing?
A: They complained about the lack of water and the harsh conditions in the desert.
- Q: How did Hashem instruct Moshe to address the people’s complaint about water?
A: Hashem instructed Moshe to speak to the rock to bring forth water.
- Q: What was the consequence of Moshe hitting the rock instead of speaking to it?
A: Moshe and Aaron were punished by not being allowed to enter the Promised Land.
- Q: What did the Jewish people offer to do in exchange for passage through Edom’s land?
A: They offered to pay for any water they drank.
- Q: What was the Jewish people’s reaction to the Edomites’ refusal to allow passage?
A: They swerved away to a different direction.
- Q: What did the Jewish people vow to Hashem during the battle with the Canaanites?
A: They vowed to consecrate all the city spoils to the Temple if they won the battle.
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe to do to cure the people bitten by snakes?
A: Hashem instructed Moshe to make a copper snake and place it on a pole.
- Q: What was the outcome for those who looked at the copper snake?
A: They lived after being bitten by the snakes.
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