Parshas Ki Sisa

1. How many verses are there in this week’s Parsha? 139
2. Which Haftorah is read for this week’s Parsha? Haftorah: Melachim 1 18:20-39
3. How many mitzvah’s are there in this week’s Parsha? There are Nine Mitzvos in Parshas Ki Sisa. Four positive commands and five negative command.
4. What are the Mitzvos in this week’s Parsha?

Mitzvah 105/Positive 44: For every Jew above age twenty to donate a half Shekel.

Mitzvah 106/Positive 45: For the Kohanim to wash their hands and feet upon entering the Temple and serving Hashem there.

Mitzvah 107/Positive 46: To make the anointing oil in the prescription given by the Torah.

Mitzvah 112/Positive 47: To stop working the land during Shemita.

Mitzvah 108/Negative 62: Not to anoint with the anointing oil anyone other than a Kohen.

Mitzvah 109/Negative 63: Not to make a replica of the anointing oil.

Mitzvah 110/Negative 64: Not to make a replica of the incense.

Mitzvah 111/Negative 65: Not to eat from offerings given to idols.

Mitzvah 113/Negative 66: Not to eat meat and milk that were cooked together.

Rishon

The census taking and Machatzis Hashekel donation

5. What are we commanded to give for the census? All those who are counted are to give a half shekel of the holy shekel.
6. Why did God command Moshe to give 1/2 shekel? “When you take a census of the Jewish people, each man is to give Hashem an atonement of his soul, in order so there should not be a plague amongst them when they are counted.”
7. What was the worth of the half shekel? twenty Geira.
8. Who was the money donated to? It is a donation to Hashem.
9. From what age did people give the half shekel donation? Everyone from twenty years and up is to give the donation to Hashem to atone for their souls.
10. What was the money used for? The money is to be used for the Temple service and be a remembrance for the Jewish people to atone for their souls.

 

The Kiyor

11. What was the Kiyor? A sink and pedestal for washing that was filled with water.
12. What material wasn’t made out of? The Kiyur and its pedestal is to be made of copper?
13. Where was it positioned? It is to be placed between the Ohel Moed and altar.
14. What was it used for? The Kohanim are to use the Kiyor to wash their hands and feet.
15. How often was washing required by the priests? Upon entering the Ohel Moed, or upon doing service on the altar.
16. What punishment would they receive if they do not wash? This needs to be done so they don’t die in their Avoda.

The Shemen Hamishcha

17. What were the ingredients of the anointing oil and how much of each ingredient was taken? Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: Take the following prime spices and make the anointing oil:
    • Pure myrrh, 500 Shekel’s weight.
    • Aromatic cinnamon, 250 shekel’s weight, brought twice [for a total of 500].
    • Cane of aromatic spice, 250 shekels weight
    • The Kiddah root, 500 Shekel’s weight.
    • A Hin of olive oil.
18. What did they do with the ingredients to prepare it for the anointing? The above ingredients are to be mixed by a spice blender and be turned into a sacred anointing oil.
19. What was the oil used to anoint?
    • The Ohel Moed
    • The Aron
    • The Shulchan
    • The Menorah
    • The gold Mizbeiach and all their accessory vessels
    • The copper Mizbeiach, and all their accessory vessels.
    • The Kiyor and its pedestal.
    • Aaron and his sons.
20. What did this anointing accomplish? Through doing so, the vessels will become holy and anything that touches them will become consecrated. Likewise, Aaron and his sons are to be anointed with this oil and they will thus become consecrated to serve me as Kohanim.
21. What regulations and restrictions apply to this oil? Tell the Jewish people that no man may anoint himself with the above oil and no man may make a replica of the above oil.
22. What punishment is given for one who makes a replica of the oil or uses it on a non-priest? Anyone who makes a replica of it or who uses it on a non-Kohen, will be cut off from his nation [i.e. Kareis].

The Ketores

23. What were the ingredients of the Ketores? Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: “Take the following prime spices and make the Ketores:”
    • Nataf/Stacte.
    • Shecheiles/onycha.
    • Chelbana/galbanum
    • Spices and pure frankincense.
24. Which ingredient of the above was the majority? All the above ingredients are to be of equal weight.
25. What did they do with the ingredients to prepare it for incense? The above ingredients are to be mixed by a spice blender and be turned into the Ketores incense. Some of it is to be finely ground.
26. What was done with the Ketores? It was placed in the Ohel Moed.
27. How holy were these incense considered? It shall be to you a holy of holies.
28. Was one allowed to make a replica of this incense? One may not create a replica of the Ketores for the sake of smelling it.
29. What punishment was given for doing so? Under the penalty of Kareis.

Appointment of Betzalel to build the Mishkan

30. Who did God appoint to build the Mishkan? Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: “I have appointed Betzalel the son of Uri.
31. Which tribe was he from? The tribe of Yehuda
32. What was he appointed to do? To perform all the work of building the Mishkan and its accessories. They are to make the Ohel Moed, the Aron, the Kapores, the vessels of the Ohel, the Shulchan, the Menorah, the Ketores altar, the Olah altar, the Kiyor, and all their accessories. They are to make the priestly garments, the anointing oil and Ketores, as I commanded.”
33. What did God give him to have this power? I have filled him with wisdom and understanding to perform all the work.
34. Who else was appointed to help him in the work and from which tribe was he? I have appointed to work with him Ohaliav the son of Achisamach from the tribe of Dan.

Guard the Shabbos

35. Which mitzvah did God tell Moses immediately after the commands of the tabernacle? Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: “Tell the Jewish people that they are to guard the Shabbos.
36. What is the function of the Sabbath? It is a sign and covenant between Me and them for all generations so that they know that I am Hashem who sanctifies you.”
37. What is the punishment for the desecration of Shabbos? One who desecrates the Shabbos is liable for death and is liable for Kareis, to be cut off from the nation.
38. Why are we commanded to rest of Shabbos? One is to work six days and on the seventh day it is to be a complete rest, as in six days the world was created and on the seventh day I rested.

Sheiyni

The Luchos

39. How many tablets were there? After Hashem finished speaking with Moshe on Har Sinai He handed him the two Luchos.
40. What were the tablets made of? Stone
41. How were the tablets written? Which were written by the finger of G-d.

 

The sin of the Eigel

42. Why did the Jewish people decide to make a new God? The nation saw that Moshe delayed descending from the mountain.
43. Who do the Jewish people confront with their request for a new God? And they gathered around Aaron telling him that they need to make a new G-d as a leader, as Moshe’s whereabouts are unknown.
44. How did Aron respond? Aaron told the nation to gather the gold jewelry worn on the ears of their wives and daughters and have it brought to him. The entire nation removed the golden jewelry that was on their ears and brought it to Aaron.
45. What did Aron do with the gold? Aaron took the gold from them and bound it in a scarf and made it into a molten calf.
46. What did they say the calf was responsible for doing? They saw the calf and proclaimed “Israel, these are your G-ds who took you out of Egypt.
47. How did they worship the golden calf and who was responsible for this worship? Aaron saw what was occurring and built an altar in front of the calf. Aaron then proclaimed that the next day would a be a festival for G-d. They arose early the next day and brought offerings on the altar. They sat to eat and drink and got up to sport.
48. How did God respond to Moses when he saw the sin of the Jewish people? Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: Go descend from here as your nation who you took out of Egypt has sinned. They have quickly strayed from the path which I commanded them and have made a molten calf and prostrated themselves to it and sacrificed to it and said that it is the G-d who has taken them out of Egypt.
49. What did God want to do to the Jewish people due to the sin? Hashem then told Moshe that he has seen that the nation is a stubborn nation, and He desires to be left alone to destroy them, and then make a new nation from Moshe.
50. What characteristic did God say the Jewish people have? he has seen that the nation is a stubborn nation.
51. How did Moses respond to God? Moshe pleaded to Hashem not to do such a thing and cause the world to say that He took the Jewish people out of Egypt to destroy them. “Please relent from your anger and reconsider doing evil to the nation. Remember the promises you made to the forefathers Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.”
52. Did Hashem listen to Moshe? As a result of Moshe’s pleas, Hashem retracted from the evil He said He would do to the nation.
53. What did Moshe bring down with him from the mountain? Moshe descended from the mountain with the two Luchos in his hand.
54. How were the words inscribed onto the tablets? The Luchos were inscribed from both sides, from one end to the other, a writing of G-d.
55. How did Moshe find out about what was happening in the camp? Yehoshua heard shouting coming from the people and told Moshe that the sound of battle is in the camp. Moshe replied that it is the sound of blasphemy.
56. What did Moshe do when he saw the golden calf? When Moshe came close and saw the golden calf and the dancing around it he became inflamed with anger and threw the Luchos causing them to break.
57. Where were the Luchos broken? On the bottom of the mountain.
58. What did Moshe do to the calf? Moshe took the calf that they made and burnt it in a fire, grinding it to dust and then scattering it on water. The Jewish people were given this water to drink.
59. Who did Moshe confront about the golden calf and what was his response? Moshe asked Aaron what the nation did to him that brought him to cause such a grave sin. Aaron replied to Moshe that he should not get angry with him, and Moshe knows that the nation is in a bad state. “They told me to make a G-d, as they do not know the whereabouts of Moshe.
60. How was the golden calf may? I simply asked them for gold and they gave it to me and I threw it into the fire and this golden calf rose up.”
61. How were the perpetrators killed and who killed them? Moshe stood at the head of camp and declared “Whoever is for Hashem come to me.” All the Levites came to Moshe. Moshe instructed them, that Hashem commanded that each person should take a sword to his thigh and pass through the gates and kill all the perpetrators, whether it be a friend or relative.
62. How many people died in total by the sword? The Levites did as Moshe instructed and killed 3000 men.
63. What did the Levites receive in turn for killing the perpetrator? Moshe then blessed them for doing so.
64. When did Moshe return to heaven? The next day.
65. How did Moshe plead to God to atone for the Jewish people? Moshe told the nation that they have sinned a great sin and that he will try to ascend back to heaven to achieve atonement. Moshe returned to Hashem and told Him that the nation has sinned a very grave sin and made a gold idol. Moshe then told Hashem “If you would only forgive their sin, but if not, erase me from your book that You have written.”
66. How did Hashem respond? Hashem replied that only the sinners will be erased from his book. Hashem instructed Moshe to go back and lead the people, and told him that an angel will go before them, and He will seek retribution for their sin at a future time of reckoning. Hashem smote the people who made the calf that Aaron made.

Hashem informs Moshe that He will not escort the Jewish people any longer

67. Who from now on would you lead the Jewish people to Israel? Hashem told Moshe to go lead the nation to the promised land and that He will send His angel before them and drive out the Canaanite nations. I will not ascend with you, said Hashem, as you are a stubborn nation and I may annihilate you on the way.
68. What did the Jewish people do when they heard the above news? When the nation heard this bad news, they mourned and did not place their crowns on their heads.
69. How was it for the Jewish people’s benefit that God will no longer lead them? Hashem told Moshe to explain to the people that Him going with them can lead to their annihilation due to their stubbornness.
70. What did the Jewish people lose due to the said? Hashem instructed them to remove the crowns from their heads. The Jewish people thus lost the crowns they received on Mount Chorev.

Moshe distances his tent from the camp

71. Where did Moshe move to after the sin? Moshe took his tent and pitched it outside of the camp and called it the Ohel Moed.
72. How did the nation meet with Moshe from now on? Whoever seeks G-d would come to the Ohel Moed outside of the camp.
73. What did the nation do when Moshe returned to his tent? The nation would stand upon Moshe returning to his tent and look at him until he returned.
74. What happened when Moshe returned to his tent? When Moshe would arrive a pillar of cloud would descend upon it and speak to Moshe. The nation would see the cloud by the entrance of the tent and they would bow down.
75. How would Hashem speak with Moshe? Hashem spoke to Moshe face to face like a friend would speak to a friend and he would then return to the camp.
76. Who remained in Moshe’s tent and did not leave? Yehoshua Ben Nun would not leave the tent.

Shelishi

Moshe pleads to Hashem and Hashem concedes

77. What did Moshe plead to Hashem for? Moshe told Hashem that He had instructed him to lead the people but did not tell him who will escort them. “Now, You have said that I have found favor in your eyes. If this is true, then make Your ways known to me.”
78. In the end, what did Hashem; would He send an angel to lead the Jewish people or would he do so himself? Hashem replied that He will no longer send His angel but that He Himself will escort them.
79. Why was Moshe so adamant that God himself lead them in their travels? Moshe replied to Hashem that if He will not go with them then they should not go onward, as this is the only way that they will know that they have found favor in His eyes, by Hashem traveling with them and setting them apart from all the other nations of the world.

Revi’i

80. What did Moshe ask God to show him? Moshe asked Hashem to be shown His glory.
81. How did Hashem show himself to Moshe? Hashem replied that He will pass all His good before Him, although he cannot see His face, as no man can see G-d’s face and live. Hashem told Moshe that he [i.e. Moshe] will stand by a cleft within a rock and He will place His hand over him, so he is not injured while His glory passes over.
82. Which part of Hashem did Moshe see? “When I remove My hand, you will see My back but not My face.”

Chamishi

Moshe ascends with the second Luchos

83. What was the difference between the first versus the second tablets? Hashem instructed Moshe to carve for himself two tablets, similar to the first ones, and Hashem will write on it the words that were on the original Luchos that were broken.
84. When was Moshe told to ascend Mount Sinai? Hashem told Moshe to be ready in the morning and ascend Mount Sinai.
85. Was anyone allowed or instructed to escort Moshe? Without any other person and wait for Him there. No man or animal shall be in the area.
86. How did Hashem greet Moshe on the mountain? Hashem descended in a cloud and stood with Moshe who called His name.
87. What is the meaning of the 13 attributes of mercy? Hashem then replied with saying the thirteen attributes of mercy, “Hashem, Hashem, Keil Rachum Vechanun Erech Apayim Verav Chesed Viemes, Notzer Chesed La’alafim, Nosei Avon Vapesha Vechatah Venakei” This means: Hashem is a merciful G-d, slow to anger, and abundant in kindness.
88. For how many years does God preserve kindness? He preserves kindness for 2000 years.
89. Does God completely forgive sin? Forgiver of sin, One who absolves but does not absolve completely.
90. For how many generations does God remember a sin of an ancestor? He remembers the sin of a father upon the children and grandchildren, up until the 4^th
91. What did Moshe ask Hashem for after the 13 attributes were recited? Moshe hurried to bow to the ground and prostrated himself, asking Hashem that if he finds favor in His eyes, let Him go with them and forgive their sin.

 

Shishi

92. What did Hashem agree to do for the Jewish people? Hashem agrees to distinguish the Jewish people: Hashem replied that He will make a covenant that He will distinguish the Jewish people from the other nations of the land.

List of Mitzvos

93. What did God command us to do it to the Canaanite nations? Hashem told Moshe that He will drive the Canaanite nations from the land, and that Moshe should beware not to make a treaty with them.
94. What items in their lands were we commanded to destroy? You are to destroy their altars, statues, and trees of idolatry as Hashem is a zealous G-d who will not stand for idolatry.
95. Were we allowed to make a treaty with the Canaanite nations, and why? If you make a covenant with these nations, you may be led astray and join them in their feasts of idolatry. You may come to intermarry, and it will cause your children to stray after their G-ds.
96. In which month are we to celebrate Pesach? Guard the festival of Pesach for seven days and eat Matzos in the month of spring.
97. On top of what was it forbidden to slaughter the Pesach lamb? Do not slaughter the Pesach lamb over Chametz.
98. May one leave leftovers of the Pesach lamb for the next morning? Do not leave its meat leftover until morning.
99. Which firstborn’s belong to God?Every firstborn is Mine, the firstborn male of an ox or sheep.
100. What are the options of redeeming the firstborn donkey? The firstborn donkey is to be redeemed with a sheep, or have its neck broken.
101. How many times a year are we commanded to visit God? The Jewish people shall not come to see Me empty handed. They are to visit Hashem three times a year.
102. What did Hashem promise the Jewish people when they come visit him? Their property will remain protected during their visit.
103. From which activity are we to rest on Shabbos? You are to work for six days and rest on Shabbos from plowing and harvesting.
104. In which season should we celebrate the holiday option of Shavuos? You are to celebrate Shavuos during the time of the wheat harvest.
105. Which mitzvah of Kashrus are we commanded in this week’s Parsha? Do not cook a kid in its mother’s milk.

Shevi’i

Moshe returns with the second Luchos and a shining face

106. For how many days was Moshe with God to receive the second tablets? Moshe was with Hashem for 40 days and nights.
107. What did Moshe eat and drink while he was with God? He did not eat bread or drink water, and he wrote on the Luchos the ten commandments, the words of the covenant.
108. What happened when Moshe came down from the mountain for which reason the Jewish people were afraid to approach him? Moshe descended the mountain with the two Luchos in his hand and he did not know that his face radiated due to that Hashem spoke to him. The Jewish people saw the radiance on Moshe’s face and they feared approaching him.
109. When was Moshe’s mask put on when was it removed? When Moshe completed speaking with them, he placed a mask on his face. When Moshe came to speak with Hashem he would remove the mask until his departure, and then go command the Jewish people that which he was told. The Jewish people would see the radiance on Moshe’s face. Moshe would return the mask to his face until his next meeting with Hashem.

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