- Q: How many Mitzvos are there in Parshas Korach?
A: There are a total of nine Mitzvos in Parshas Korach; five positive commands and four negative commands .
- Q: Name the Mitzvos?
A: Mitzvah 388 is a positive command for the Kohanim and Levites to guard the Mikdash every night, throughout the nights .
A: Mitzvah 392 is a positive command to redeem a firstborn son .
A: Mitzvah 394 is a positive command for the Levites to work in the Temple as guards and singers .
A: Mitzvah 395 is a positive command to separate 10% of the land produce to the Levites .
A: Mitzvah 396 is a positive command for the Levites to separate Teruma from the Maaser that they receive .
A: Mitzvah 389 is a negative command prohibiting the Levites from performing services of the Kohanim or vice versa .
A: Mitzvah 390 is a negative command prohibiting a non-Kohen from performing service in the Mikdash .
A: Mitzvah 391 is a negative command prohibiting leaving the Mikdash unguarded anytime throughout the night .
A: Mitzvah 393 is a negative command prohibiting redeeming the firstborn animal.
- Q: Who confronted Moshe and Aaron in Parshas Korach?
A: Korach, Dasan, Aviram, and On Ben Peles, along with 250 leaders of the Jewish people .
- Q: What was Korach’s claim against Moshe and Aaron?
A: Korach claimed that Moshe and Aaron made themselves the elite of the Jewish people when in truth all the Jewish people are holy .
- Q: How did Moshe react to Korach’s complaint?
A: Moshe heard and fell on his face in reaction to their complaint .
- Q: What did Moshe propose to determine the true leaders of the Jewish people? A: Moshe proposed that all contenders offer Ketores onto the altar, and whoever Hashem chooses will be the holy one .
- Q: What did Moshe admonish the Levites for?
A: Moshe reproached the Levites for not being satisfied with their role as representatives of the Jewish people to serve Hashem in the Mishkan and for demanding to become Kohanim .
- Q: How did Dasan and Aviram respond to Moshe’s summons?
A: Dasan and Aviram refused to come and accused Moshe of taking them out of a land of milk and honey to die in the desert .
- Q: What did Moshe instruct Korach and his congregation regarding the Ketores offering?
A: Moshe instructed Korach and his congregation to stand before Hashem with pans filled with Ketores and offer it before Hashem .
- Q: What happened when Korach gathered his group around Moshe and Aaron? A: The Shechina appeared to the entire congregation .
- Q: What did Moshe and Aaron do when Hashem appeared to the congregation? A: Moshe and Aaron entered the Ohel Moed .
- Q: What did Moshe say to Hashem regarding Dasan and Aviram’s Ketores offering?
A: Moshe asked Hashem not to accept their Ketores offering, stating that he has not taken one donkey from these people and has not done wrong to any of them .
- Q: What did Moshe tell the congregation to do before offering the Ketores?
A: Moshe told Korach and his congregation to stand before Hashem with Aaron and offer the Ketores in their pans .
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe and Aaron to do?
A: Hashem instructed Moshe and Aaron to separate themselves from the congregation as they would be destroyed in a moment .
- Q: What did Moshe instruct the Jewish people to do regarding the tents of Korach, Dasan, and Aviram?
A: Moshe instructed the Jewish people to disperse from the tents of Korach, Dasan, and Aviram and not to touch anything that is theirs .
- Q: What warning did Moshe give to Korach and Dasan?
A: Moshe warned them that if they die like regular men, he is a fraudster, but if the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, it will be a sign that they have started a fight with G-d .
- Q: What happened to Korach and his accomplices?
A: The earth opened its mouth and swallowed their entire families and houses, and all the men who joined Korach, as well as all their property .
- Q: What did the people surrounding the area do when they heard the screams of those who were swallowed?
A: The people surrounding the area began fleeing with fright, fearing that they too would be consumed .
- Q: What happened to the 250 men who offered the Ketores?
A: A fire exited from Hashem and consumed the 250 men who offered the Ketores.
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe to do with the Ketores pans?
A: Hashem instructed Moshe to tell Elazar to gather all the Ketores pans and use them to plate the altar as a sign for the Jewish people .
- Q: What did the congregation claim against Moshe and Aaron the next day?
A: The congregation claimed that Moshe and Aaron killed Hashem’s nation.
- Q: What did Moshe tell Korach and his congregation to do with the Ketores pans?
A: Moshe told Korach and his congregation to place fire in the pan, place the incense on top of the fire, and bring it before the Ohel Moed.
- Q: Why did Hashem send a plague upon the Israelites?
A: The plague was sent because of the discontent and rebellion among the people, as described following the events of Korach’s uprising.
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe to do when the plague began?
A: Hashem told Moshe to remove himself from the congregation because He intended to destroy them instantly.
- Q: How did Moshe and Aaron respond to Hashem’s threat?
A: They prostrated themselves before Hashem, demonstrating humility and intercession on behalf of the people.
- Q: What was Moshe’s solution to stop the plague?
A: Moshe instructed Aaron to quickly offer the Ketores (incense) to atone for the nation and halt the plague.
- Q: What happened when Aaron offered the Ketores?
A: The plague was halted, and no additional deaths occurred beyond those already affected.
- Q: How many people died in the plague?
A: 14,700 people died, in addition to those who perished with Korach and his followers.
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe to do regarding the staffs?
A: Hashem told Moshe to collect a staff from each of the twelve tribes, inscribe each tribe’s name on its staff, and place them in the Ohel Moed.
- Q: Whose name was inscribed on the staff for the tribe of Levi?
A: Aaron’s name was inscribed on the staff representing the tribe of Levi.
- Q: What miracle occurred with Aaron’s staff?
A: Aaron’s staff blossomed and produced almonds overnight.
- Q: What was the purpose of placing the staffs in the Ohel Moed?
A: It was to demonstrate whom Hashem had chosen, ending the people’s complaints about leadership.
- Q: What did Moshe do with the blossomed staff of Aaron?
A: Moshe removed all the staffs from before Hashem and gave each tribe their staff, but the staff of Aaron was preserved as a sign.
- Q: What did Hashem instruct Moshe to do with Aaron’s staff?
A: Hashem told Moshe to place it in the Heichal as a sign for future rebels to prevent further complaints.
- Q: How did the Jewish people react after these events?
A: They despaired, fearing that anyone approaching too close to the Kohanim or the Mishkan would die.
- Q: What new responsibility was given to Aaron and his descendants?
A: Aaron and his children were tasked with preventing unauthorized entry into the Mikdash.
- Q: Who was assigned to assist Aaron in guarding the Mishkan?
A: The tribe of Levi was given to Aaron to assist in guarding and serving at the Mishkan’s borders.
- Q: Could the Levites serve in the Temple’s holiest roles?
A: No, the Levites were to guard the Mishkan’s borders but not serve in the Temple itself; those roles were exclusive to the Kohanim.
- Q: What gifts did Hashem designate for Aaron and the Kohanim?
A: Hashem assigned them the right to eat sacrificial meat, flour offerings, Teruma, Bikurim, Cherem, and Bechor.
- Q: Who could eat the holy sacrifices?
A: Only male Kohanim who were ritually pure could eat these sacrifices, and only in a most holy manner.
- Q: What is Teruma, and who receives it?
A: Teruma is a portion of the best grains, wine, and oil, given by the people to the Kohanim.
- Q: What are Bikurim, and how are they handled?
A: Bikurim are the first produce brought to Hashem, given to the Kohanim and eaten in purity at home.
- Q: What is Cherem, and what happens to it?
A: Cherem, or property set aside for holiness, is given to the Kohanim.
- Q: How are firstborn humans and animals treated?
A: Firstborn humans and impure animals are redeemed, while firstborn of pure animals are offered on the altar; their meat is eaten by the Kohanim.
- Q: What is the redemption price for a firstborn son?
A: Five Shekalim, and this redemption is performed after 30 days.
- Q: What inheritance did Kohanim receive in the land of Israel?
A: The Kohanim did not receive any land inheritance; Hashem declared Himself as their portion.
- Q: What portion did the Levites receive instead of land?
A: The Levites received Maaser (tithes) from the people in exchange for their service.
- Q: What is Maaser, and who gives and receives it?
A: Maaser is a tithe of produce given by the Israelites to the Levites as their inheritance.
- Q: What is Terumas Maaser?
A: Terumas Maaser is a further tithe taken by the Levites from their Maaser and given to the Kohanim.
- Q: After separating Terumas Maaser, what may the Levites do with the remaining Maaser?
A: They may eat it anywhere, with their entire family, as their wages for working in the Ohel Moed.
- Q: What rule did Hashem set to protect Israelites from death near the Ohel Moed?
A: Only the Levites and Kohanim were permitted near the Ohel Moed; Israelites had to refrain from approaching to avoid death.
- Q: Why were these gifts and responsibilities distributed among the Kohanim and Levites?
A: These measures ensured the holiness of the Mishkan, rewarded the Kohanim and Levites for their service, and maintained order and reverence among the people.