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Some Questions to Ponder:

1. From all the readings for this Shabbat, what verse or verses touched your heart and fired your imagination?

I was touched by His Eminence’s comments on Tsefet: “Yasher koach for breaking the tablets”. This seems to be a time when breaking the Torah was the right thing to do. A sin for the sake of heaven that had Heaven’s approval.

2. What are the main topics and divisions of the Torah Seder for this Shabbat?

1. Not Drinking Strong Drink 10:8-11

2. Meal Eaten by Aaron and remaining sons in the Holy Place 10:12-15

3. Moshe’ Inquiry 10:16-20

4. Permissible foods

a. Acceptable Land Animals 11:2b-8

b. Acceptable Aquatic life 11:9-12

c. Acceptable Fowl 11:13-19

d. Insects 11:20-23

5. Defilement from and Animal Carcass 11:24-28

6. Swarming or crawling things that are unclean 11:29-38

7. The Carcass of a clean animal improperly slaughtered or death 11:39-40

8. The Swarming things forbidden to eat 11:41-45

9. Conclusion/ Summary 11:46-47

3. What questions were asked of Rashi regarding Vayiqra 10:9?

wine that will lead to intoxication – To what kind of wine is the Torah referring?

when you go into the Tent of Meeting – Does this command refer eclusivey to the Heichal?

4. What questions were asked of Rashi regarding Vayiqra 10:14?

The breast of the waving – To what offering does this refer?

you shall eat in a clean place – What / where is a clean place?

you and your sons and your daughters – Is there a distinction between the portions for the sons vs. the daughters?

5. What questions were asked of Rashi regarding Vayiqra 10:17?

Why did you not eat the sin-offering in the holy place? - But had they eaten it outside the holy place?

For it is a holy of holies – Why did Moshe say these words?

and He has given it to you to gain forgiveness [for the sin of the community] – How is this atonement achieved?

to gain forgiveness for the sin of the community – Which goat gains forgivness for the sin of the community?

6. What questions were asked of Rashi regarding Vayiqra 10:19?

And Aaron spoke – What is the meaning of the word דִּבּוּר when spoken without לֵאמֽר?

But today, did they offer up - What is he saying?

But [if tragic events] like these had befallen me – What was Aharon trying to convey with these words?

and if I had eaten a sin-offering today – What is the meaning of these words since the literal words do not make sense?

[If I had eaten the sin-offering] today – Why dis he use the word ‘today’?

would it have pleased the Lord? – What was Aharon trying to convey with these words?

7. What questions were asked of Rashi regarding Vayiqra 11:2?

Speak to the children of Israel - Why did Aaron and his sons deserve this special honor?

These are the creatures – What is the meaning of ‘living’ creatures?

These are the creatures – What is meant by referring to the words ‘these are’?

These are the creatures...among all the animals – Does this mean just domesticated animals?

8. What questions were asked of Rashi regarding Vayiqra 11:34?

Of any food that is [usually] eaten – To what do these verses refer?

9. Where in the readings for this Shabbat is it insinuated that we are in a period of consolation and returning to G-d?

In 1 Tsefet (Peter) ‎4:11

10. How is the Torah Seder related to our reading of Psalm 78:1-16 both by verbal tally and thematically?

The verbal tallies between the first two pasukim of our Torah portion and Psalm 78:1-16 are:

HaShem – יהוה, Strong’s number 03068.

Children / Son - בן, Strong’s number 01121.

Generation - דור, Strong’s number 01755.

Vayikra (Leviticus) 10:8-9 And the LORD <03068> spoke unto Aaron, saying <0559> (8800), 9 Do not drink <08354> wine <03196> nor strong drink, you, nor your sons <01121> with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation <04150>, lest you die <04191> (8799): it will be a statute <02708> forever <05769> throughout your generations:

Tehillim (Palms) 78:4 We will not hide them from their children <01121>, showing to the generation <01755> to come the praises of the LORD <03068>, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He has done.

Tehillim (Palms) 78:5-6 For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children <01121>: That the generation <01755> to come might know them, even the children <01121> which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children <01121>:

Tehillim (Palms) 78:8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation <01755>; a generation <01755> that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

Tehillim (Palms) 78:9 The children <01121> of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

Thematically, our Torah provides the commands which will enable our children and the generations to remember to keep the covenant with HaShem that is mentioned in the Psalm as something we should not forget.

11. How is the Torah Seder related both by verbal tally and thematically to our Ashlamatah of Ezekiel 44:21ff?

The verbal tallies between the first two pasukim of our Torah portion and the Ashlamata of Ezekiel are:

Drink - שתה, Strong’s number 08354.

Wine – יין, Strong’s number 03196.

Children / Son - בן, Strong’s number 01121.

Come / Go - בוא, Strong’s number 0935.

Assembly - מועד, Strong’s number 04150.

Die / Death - מות, Strong’s number 04191.

Statute - חקה, Strong’s number 02708.

Yehezechel (Ezekiel) 44:21 Neither will any priest drink < 08354> wine <03196>, when they enter <0935> (8800) into the inner court.

Yehezechel (Ezekiel) 44:24 And in controversy they will stand in judgment; and they will judge it according to My judgments: and they will keep My laws and My statutes <02708> in all My assemblies <04150>; and they will hallow my Sabbaths.

Yehezechel (Ezekiel) 44:25 And they will come <0935> (8799) at no dead <04191> (8801) person to defile themselves: but for father, or for mother, or for son < 01121>, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister that has had no husband, they may defile themselves.

Yehezechel (Ezekiel) 44:27 And in the day that he goes <0935> (8800) into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he will offer his sin offering, says the Lord GOD.

Thematically, both the Prophet and the Torah contain the admonition to refrain from drinking wine when entering the service of HaShem. They also speak about how to distinguish between the clean and the unclean.

12. How is the Torah Seder related both by verbal tally and thematically to our Special Ashlamatah of ‎Isaiah 54:11ff‎?

The verbal tallies between the first two pasukim of our Torah portion and the special Ashlamata of Isaiah 54 are:

HaShem – יהוה, Strong’s number 03068.

Wine – יין, Strong’s number 03196.

Children / Son - בן, Strong’s number 01121.

Everlasting - עולם, Strong’s number 05769.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 54:13 And all your children <01121> will be taught of the LORD <03068>; and great will be the peace of your children <01121>.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:1-2 Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the waters, and he that has no money; come, buy, and eat; come, buy wine <03196> and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfies not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul will live; and I will make an everlasting <05769> covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:5 Behold, you will call a nation that you know not, and nations that knew you not will run unto you because of the LORD <03068> your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you.

Thematically, both portions speak about the sons learning the commands of HaShem. They also both speak to the sons who want to learn the way of HaShem. Finally, the Torah speaks about the mis-use of wine while the Prophet speaks of the proper use of wine.

13. How is the reading of 1 Tsefet 3:18 – 4:11 related to each of the readings for this Shabbat?

Hakham Tsefet connects to the Torah Seder this week through two dominate themes and verbal connections. The verbal connections are wine and strength. As I have pointed out above Hakham Tsefet uses this idea strongly in his Pericope and Shabbat Sermon.

Yechezel – Opens in a very similar way as the Torah Seder. There are two words of special interest that connect to Hakham Tsefet this week. The first – mentioned above is wine. The second is the Hebrew Greek Parallel שָׁתָה (šāṯāh) to the Greek word (pinō) which is the root to (potos) found in verse 3 of chapter 4.

Yeshayahu – is also connected to Hakham Tsefet through the word wine. (55:1-2)

Tehillim – Two words of interest connect the Psalm with Hakham Tsefet this week. The remarkable thing is that they are both found in the opening verses of Hakham Tsefet’s Pericope. The first word is spirit. Yeshua died in the flesh or in his body, yet his spirit lives on. The second word is water. This word is found in all Torah readings except for the New Moon passage of Shemuel. Hakham Tsefet uses this to illustrate his analogy of water and salvation this week.

Shemuel – I believe that Hakham Tsefet is connected thematically and verbally. The Greek word aion (4:11) is a parallel to the Hebrew olam. This can be confirmed by the Delitzsch version of Hakham Tsefet this week. The thematic connection I find is in the assembly for the new moon. Hakham Tsefet des not have an assembly for the new moon. He does have the antithesis of a new moon or sacred gathering in the drunken parties of chapter 4 verse 3.

14. How does Hakham Tsefet propose that one that is returning to G-d should strengthen the community altar?

By admonishing us to to have fervent love for the brethren since it covers/conceals all transgressions, and thereby strengthening the communal altar.

15. How is Vayiqra 10:8-9 related to Varyiqra 11:46-47?

Vayiqra 10:8-9 speaks to the way of achieving the clarity needed, in Varyiqra 11:46-47, to distinguish between the clean and the unclean.

16. In your opinion, and taking into consideration all of the above readings for this Sabbath, what is the prophetic message for this week?

Be careful not to mis-use wine in order to have the clarity to fulfill the commands of HaShem.

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This study was written by Hillel ben David

(Greg Killian).

Comments may be submitted to:

Greg Killian

1101 Surrey Trace SE

Tumwater, WA 98501

Internet address: gkilli@aol.com

Web page: http://www.betemunah.org/

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