📘 Rashi Q&A
Rishon
Q1. What is meant by “וַיְהִי בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי” according to Rashi?
A: It refers to the eighth day of the installation rites, which was 1 Nisan, the day the Tabernacle was erected and the Divine Presence rested there.
Q2. What special distinction did this day have according to Rashi?
A: It received ten crowns, listed in Seder Olam.
Q3. Why were the elders of Israel summoned?
A: To inform them that Aaron was entering the Tabernacle by God’s command, so they would not think he acted on his own.
9:2 — Aaron’s Personal Offerings
Q4. Why was Aaron commanded to take a calf as a sin‑offering?
A: To indicate that God was granting atonement for Aaron’s role in the Golden Calf through a calf.
Q5. What ascent‑offering was Aaron commanded to bring?
A: A ram, unblemished.
9:3–4 — The People’s Offerings
Q6. What sin‑offering was the people commanded to bring?
A: A he‑goat.
Q7. What ascent‑offerings were the people commanded to bring?
A: A calf and a lamb, both in their first year and unblemished.
Q8. What peace‑offerings were the people commanded to bring?
A: A bull and a ram.
Q9. Why were these offerings required specifically on that day?
A: Because God was appearing to them, to let His Divine Presence rest on their handiwork.
Q10. Why does Moses say, “This is what God has commanded you to do”?
A: So that the glory of God would appear to the people.
Q11. Why did Moses tell Aaron, “Approach the Altar”?
A: Because Aaron was embarrassed and afraid to approach the Altar.
Q12. How did Moses encourage Aaron?
A: He said: “Why are you embarrassed? You were chosen for this role!”
Q13. What is meant by “אֶת־חַטָּאתְךָ”?
A: Aaron’s personal sin‑offering, the calf mentioned earlier.
Q14. What is meant by “וְאֶת־עֹלָתֶךָ”?
A: Aaron’s personal ascent‑offering, the ram.
Q15. What is meant by “קָרְבַּן הָעָם”?
A: The people’s offerings: the goat, calf, and lamb.
Q16. What does Rashi note about the word “עֵגֶל” when used without qualification?
A: It always refers to a calf in its first year, as learned from this passage.
Q17. What was unusual about this sin‑offering being burned outside the camp?
A: Normally, a sin‑offering whose blood is applied to the Outer Altar is not burned, except in this case and during the installation days, which were special exceptions by God’s command.
9:12–14 — Aaron’s Ascent‑Offering
Q18. What does “וַיַּמְצִאוּ” mean regarding the blood?
A: Aaron’s sons handed the blood to him, making it ready for application.
Q19. What did Aaron do with the pieces of the ascent‑offering?
A: He burned them on the Altar, including the head.
Q20. Why were the innards and legs washed?
A: To prepare them properly before being burned on the Altar.
9:15 — The People’s Sin‑Offering
Q21. What does “וַיְחַטְּאֵהוּ” mean according to Rashi?
A: Aaron performed all the procedures of a sin‑offering on it.
Q22. What does “כָּרִאשׁוֹן” refer to?
A: It means like Aaron’s own sin‑offering.
9:16 — The People’s Ascent‑Offering
Q23. What does “וַיַּעֲשֶׂהָ כַּמִּשְׁפָּט” mean?
A: Aaron offered it according to the law of a voluntary ascent‑offering, as described earlier in Parashat Vayikra.
Sheiyni
📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 9:17–23
9:17 — The Grain‑Offering
Q1. What does “וַיְמַלֵּא כַפּוֹ” mean according to Rashi?
A: It refers to taking the fistful from the grain‑offering.
Q2. What does “מִלְּבַד עֹלַת הַבֹּקֶר” teach?
A: That all these sacrifices were performed after the daily morning ascent‑offering.
9:18–19 — The People’s Peace‑Offerings
Q3. Which peace‑offerings did Aaron slaughter for the people?
A: The work‑bull and the ram.
Q4. What does Rashi explain about “וְהַמְכַסֶּה”?
A: It means the fat covering the innards.
Q5. Which fats were presented to Aaron?
A:
- The tail
- The fat covering the innards
- The kidneys
- The diaphragm with part of the liver
9:20 — Placing the Fats
Q6. What does Rashi explain about placing the fats on the breasts?
A: After the waving, the priest who waved gave them to another priest to burn them, so that the breast and thigh, which were above the fat during waving, were now below.
9:21 — Waving the Portions
Q7. Which parts did Aaron wave before God?
A: The breasts and the right hind midleg.
Q8. Why does the verse say Aaron waved them “as Moshe had commanded”?
A: To show that Aaron performed the service exactly according to Moshe’ instruction.
9:22 — The Priestly Blessing
Q9. How did Aaron bless the people according to Rashi?
A: Using the Priestly Blessing:
“May God bless you… May God shine… May God be partial….”
Q10. From where did Aaron descend after blessing the people?
A: From atop the Altar.
9:23 — Entering the Tent of Meeting
Q11. Why did Moshe and Aaron enter the Tent of Meeting together? (first explanation)
A: So that Moshe could teach Aaron the rite of the incense.
Q12. How does Rashi prove that their entry was related to service?
A: Just as descending the Altar required a blessing, so entering the Tent was also connected to the service.
9:23 — Aaron’s Distress and Prayer
Q13. What distressed Aaron after all the offerings were brought?
A: That the Divine Presence had not yet descended.
Q14. What did Aaron fear was the reason for this delay?
A: That God was angry with him because of the Golden Calf.
Q15. What did Aaron say to Moshe in his distress?
A: “Is this what you have done to me, that I entered the service at your bidding and was embarrassed?”
Q16. What did Moshe do in response?
A: He entered with Aaron and prayed for mercy.
Q17. What happened as a result of their prayer?
A: The Divine Presence descended for Israel.
9:23 — Blessing the People Again
Q18. What blessing did Moshe and Aaron give when they came out?
A: “May the pleasantness of the presence of God, our God, be upon us… May the Divine Presence rest on your handiwork.”
Q19. Why was this blessing necessary according to Rashi?
A: Because during the seven days of installation, the Divine Presence did not appear, and the people felt ashamed.
Q20. What reassurance did Moshe give the Israelites?
A: That Aaron, through his service, would bring about the manifestation of the Divine Presence, proving that God had chosen him.
Shelishi
📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 9:24; 10:1–11
9:24 — Fire from Heaven
Q1. What does “וַיָּרֹנּוּ” mean according to Rashi?
A: As Onkelos translates it: they praised.
Q2. How did the people react when the fire descended?
A: They praised G-d and fell upon their faces, prostrating themselves.
10:1 — The Act of Nadav and Avihu
Q3. What did Nadav and Avihu bring before G-d?
A: A foreign fire—incense that G-d had not commanded.
10:2 — The Cause of Their Death
Q4. What explanation does Rabbi Eliezer give for their death?
A: They ruled on a halachic matter (offering incense) in the presence of their teacher Moses.
Q5. What explanation does Rabbi Yishmael give for their death?
A: They entered the Sanctuary after drinking wine.
Q6. How does Rashi support Rabbi Yishmael’s explanation?
A: Because immediately afterward, G-d warns against entering the Sanctuary after drinking wine.
10:3 — G-d Sanctified through the Near Ones
Q7. Where had G-d spoken previously about being sanctified through His honored ones?
A: In the verse: “There I will convene with the Israelites, and it will be sanctified through My glory.”
Q8. How does Rashi reinterpret “בִּכְבֹדִי”?
A: Do not read “through My glory”, but “through My honored ones (בִּמְכֻבָּדַי)”.
Q9. What did Moses say to Aaron about Nadav and Avihu?
A: That Moses thought the Sanctuary would be sanctified through himself or Aaron, but now saw that Nadav and Avihu were even greater.
Q10. What does “בִּקְרֹבַי” mean according to Rashi?
A: Through My chosen and intimate ones.
Q11. What does “וְעַל־פְּנֵי כָל־הָעָם אֶכָּבֵד” teach?
A: When G-d judges the righteous, He becomes feared, exalted, and praised before all the people.
10:3 — Aaron’s Silence
Q12. What does “וַיִּדֹּם אַהֲרֹן” indicate?
A: Aaron was silent and accepted G-d’s judgment.
Q13. What reward did Aaron receive for his silence?
A: He merited that G-d spoke directly to him, regarding intoxication by wine.
10:4–5 — Removal of the Bodies
Q14. Who were Misha’el and Eltzafan?
A: Sons of Uzi’el, Aaron’s uncle.
Q15. Why did Moses tell them to remove the bodies?
A: So as not to diminish the joy of the dedication of the Tabernacle.
Q16. What does Rashi learn from “בְּכֻתֳּנֹתָם”?
A: That their garments were not burned—only their souls were consumed, by fire entering their nostrils.
10:6 — Mourning Restrictions
Q17. What does “אַל־תִּפְרָעוּ” mean according to Rashi?
A: Do not let your hair grow.
Q18. What principle does Rashi derive regarding mourners?
A: A mourner is normally forbidden to cut hair, but Aaron and his sons were told not to mourn so as not to disturb G-d’s joy.
Q19. What is implied by “וְלֹא תָמֻתוּ”?
A: That if they did mourn, they would be liable to death.
Q20. What does Rashi derive from “וַאֲחֵיכֶם כָּל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל”?
A: That all Israel must mourn when Torah scholars die.
10:7 — Remaining in the Courtyard
Q21. Why were Aaron and his sons forbidden to leave the Courtyard?
A: Because G-d’s anointing oil was upon them.
10:8–9 — Warning Against Intoxication
Q22. What does “יַיִן וְשֵׁכָר” mean?
A: Wine in an intoxicating manner.
Q23. To what situations does the prohibition apply?
A: Not only entering the Tent of Meeting, but also approaching the Altar.
Q24. How does Rashi learn that approaching the Altar is included?
A: By comparing it to the verse about washing hands and feet, where approaching the Altar is equated with entering the Tent.
10:10 — Distinguishing Holy and Profane
Q25. What does “וּלֲהַבְדִּיל” teach?
A: That intoxicated service invalidates the priest’s service.
10:11 — Teaching Torah
Q26. What does “וּלְהוֹרֹת” teach according to Rashi?
A: That an intoxicated person is forbidden to render halachic decisions.
Q27. Does such a person incur the death penalty?
A: No—only priests who serve while intoxicated incur death, not scholars who rule while intoxicated.
Revi’i
📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 10:12–15
10:12 — “The Survivors”
Q1. What does “הַנּוֹתָרִים” (“the surviving ones”) mean according to Rashi?
A: Survivors from death.
Q2. What startling teaching does Rashi derive from calling Eleazar and Itamar “survivors”?
A: That they too had been sentenced to die because of the sin of the Golden Calf.
Q3. From where does Rashi prove that Aaron’s sons were under a death decree?
A: From the verse: “God was extremely furious with Aaron, threatening to destroy him,” where “destruction” means eradication of offspring.
Q4. How was this decree partially averted?
A: Moses’ prayer reduced the punishment by half.
10:12 — Eating While Onen
Q5. Why does Moses command them to eat the grain‑offering despite their mourning?
A: Even though an onen normally may not eat sacrifices, God explicitly commanded them to eat in this case.
Q6. Which grain‑offerings does Rashi say are meant here?
A:
- The grain‑offering of the eighth day of installation
- The grain‑offering brought by Nachshon for the dedication of the Altar
10:12 — “Eat Them as Matzot”
Q7. Why does the Torah need to say “eat them as unleavened loaves”?
A: Because this was a one‑time, communal grain‑offering, unlike offerings of later generations, and might have been thought to follow different rules.
Q8. What does Rashi conclude from this clarification?
A: That it follows the same rules as all other grain‑offerings.
10:13 — Portions of the Priests
Q9. What does “וְחָק־בָּנֶיךָ” teach according to Rashi?
A: That sons receive portions of sacrificial meat, but daughters do not.
Q10. What does “כִּי כֵן צֻוֵּיתִי” emphasize?
A: That they were commanded to eat despite being onenim.
10:14 — Where the Portions Are Eaten
Q11. Why does the verse say to eat the breast and thigh “in a pure place”?
A: To contrast them with sacrifices of superior holiness, which must be eaten in a holy place (the Courtyard).
Q12. Where may these portions be eaten according to Rashi?
A: Anywhere within the Israelite camp that is ritually pure.
Q13. What major halachic principle does Rashi derive here?
A: That sacrifices of lesser holiness may be eaten throughout Jerusalem.
10:14 — Sons and Daughters
Q14. How does Rashi explain “you and your sons and your daughters”?
A:
- Sons receive a portion by right
- Daughters do not, but may eat if given from their father’s portion
Q15. How does Rashi reject the idea that daughters receive portions directly?
A: The verse later specifies: “your portion and your sons’ portion”, excluding daughters.
10:15 — Waving and Raising
Q16. What do “שׁוֹק הַתְּרוּמָה” and “חֲזֵה הַתְּנוּפָה” mean?
A: The hind midleg and the breast that are raised and waved.
Q17. How are “waving” and “raising” performed?
A:
- Waving: forward and backward
- Raising: upward and downward
Q18. Why does the Torah assign raising to the thigh and waving to the breast?
A: We do not know, since both were actually waved and raised.
10:15 — Placement on the Fats
Q19. What does Rashi derive from “עַל אִשֵּׁי הַחֲלָבִים”?
A: That the fats must be underneath the breast and thigh during the waving.
Q20. Where does Rashi say the full reconciliation of the verses is explained?
A: In Parashat Tzav et Aharon.
Chamishi
📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 10:16–20
Q1. Which sin‑offering goat is referred to by “שְׂעִיר הַחַטָּאת” according to Rashi?
A: The goat of Rosh Chodesh, one of three sin‑offering goats brought that day.
Q2. What were the three sin‑offering goats brought on that day?
A:
- The goat of the installation rites
- The goat donated by Nachshon
- The goat of Rosh Chodesh
Q3. Which of these was burned?
A: Only the goat of Rosh Chodesh.
Q4. Why do the sages say it was burned?
A:
- Some say because a ritually defiled entity touched it
- Others say because Aaron and his sons were onenim, and this sacrifice applied to all generations
Q5. Why were the other two goats eaten despite their mourning?
A: Because they were one‑time offerings, and Aaron relied on Moses’ instruction: “eat them as unleavened loaves.”
Q6. What does the double phrase “דָּרֹשׁ דָּרַשׁ” indicate?
A: Moses made two inquiries.
Q7. What were the two questions Moses asked?
A:
- Why was this sin‑offering burned?
- Why were the other two eaten?
Q8. Why does the verse say Moses was angry with Eleazar and Itamar?
A: Out of respect for Aaron, Moses directed his anger toward the sons, though he was mainly upset with Aaron.
Q9. What does “לֵאמֹר” mean here according to Rashi?
A: “Respond to my questions.”
Q10. How does Rashi explain Moses’ question about eating “in the holy place”?
A: Moses was asking whether the goat had been taken outside the Courtyard, which would disqualify it.
Q11. How did Aaron and his sons answer this concern?
A: They told him it had not been taken outside.
Q12. What further question did Moses then ask?
A: If it was not taken outside, why was it not eaten?
Q13. What does “לָשֵׂאת אֶת־עֲוֹן הָעֵדָה” teach according to Rashi?
A: That the priests’ eating of the sacrifice brings atonement for the community.
Q14. What proof does Rashi give that this goat was the Rosh Chodesh offering?
A: Because it atoned for the sin of the community, unlike the other two goats.
10:18 — Blood Not Brought Inside
Q15. What argument does Moses make regarding the blood?
A: Since the blood was not brought into the Sanctuary, the goat should not have been burned.
Q16. What does “אָכֹל תֹּאכְלוּ” mean according to Rashi?
A: You should have eaten it, even though you are onenim.
Q17. What does “כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוֵּיתִי” refer to?
A: Moses’ earlier instruction regarding eating the grain‑offering while mourning.
Q18. Why does the verse say “וַיְדַבֵּר אַהֲרֹן”?
A: Because Aaron spoke firmly, though respectfully.
Q19. Why did Eleazar and Itamar themselves not answer Moses?
A: Out of respect—a son should not speak in his father’s presence, nor a disciple before his teacher.
Q20. How do we know Eleazar was capable of answering?
A: Because elsewhere he does speak in the presence of Moses and the leaders.
Q21. What does Aaron mean by “הֵן הַיּוֹם הִקְרִיבוּ”?
A: He was answering Moses’ implied question about officiating while onenim.
Q22. What distinction does Aaron make between himself and his sons?
A:
- Ordinary priests invalidate service if they officiate while onenim
- The High Priest may officiate while an onen
Q23. What does “וַתִּקְרֶאנָה אֹתִי כָּאֵלֶּה” mean?
A: Even if the deceased were other close relatives, for whom Aaron would also be obligated to mourn.
Q24. What does “הַיּוֹם” emphasize in Aaron’s argument?
A: That the prohibition applies on the day of burial, not the following night.
Q25. What is Aaron’s final reasoning?
A: That although one‑time offerings were permitted to be eaten while mourning, offerings prescribed for all generations are not.
Q26. What does “וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינָיו” mean according to Rashi?
A: Moses accepted Aaron’s reasoning.
Q27. What admirable trait does Rashi highlight about Moses here?
A: That he was not ashamed to admit publicly:
“I did not hear it.”