[Par-reg] TAZRIA - questions for self study
Menachem Leibtag
tsc at bezeqint.net
Mon Mar 31 03:38:24 EDT 2008
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THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org]
In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag
Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag
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for PARSHIOT TAZRIA & METZORA
PART I - QUESTIONS FOR THE 'SHABBOS TABLE'
TUM'A - CAUSE AND EFFECT
[As Parshiot Tazria / Metzora deal with the laws of
'tum'a',
a few general questions to 'think about' on this
topic:
1. A very popular translation of the word tum'a is
spiritual
uncleanliness. Do you agree? Base your answer on the
various
causes of tum'a described in Vayikra chapters 11, 12, &
13.
Can you identify any 'physical' reason for tum'a?
If so,
could this be the only reason? [Relate to what is
required to
rid oneself from this tum'a.]
In what manner do the various types of tum'a relate
to
death? Can you explain why?
2. Let's say someone is 'tamei' - how does this affect
what
he can or cannot do? How many of your answers relate in
some
manner to the bet ha-mikdash (or mishkan)?
Can you explain why?
Relate to Vayikra 12:4.
3. [During the time of the Temple], let's say someone
was
planning a visit to the bet ha-mikdash - how would these
laws
of tum'a affect his visit? How would they affect how
'careful' he needs to be already a week before his
planned
visit? How careful must he be on the day of his visit?
[Relate to the causes of 'one-day' tum'a (in chapter
11), and
'seven-day' tum'a (see Vayikra chapters 12 thru 15).]
Based on your answer, can you suggest how the laws
of
tum'a (i.e. not becoming tamei) may actually enhance the
experience of visiting the bet ha-mikdash?
[See Seforno on 12:8.]
4. In regard to the connection between the laws of
"tzaraat"
(in clothing) and the Land of Israel, see Ramban on
14:37.
WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT THE NUMBER 'EIGHT'?
[for shiur on Parshat Tazria]
1. Both in the beginning of Parshat Shmini and in
Parshat
Tazria we find that the number eight (i.e. the eighth
day) is
quite significant. Can you find a thematic connection
between
these two mitzvot - i.e. between the special events on
yom ha-
shmini in the mishkan and brit mila on the eighth day
after a
child's birth?
2. Where else in Sefer Vayikra do we find that the
'eighth
day' is significant? Can you find a connection between
all of
the instances?
[Be sure to note Vayikra chapter 14, especially
14:10-19,
Vayikra 22:26-33, and Vayikra 23:33-39.]
3. Review Breishit 17:1-10 [better known as brit mila].
Does
the Torah explain why brit mila should be performed
specifically on the 'eighth day' (and not earlier or
later)?
Can you suggest any logical (or medical) reason?
In that narrative of brit mila, i.e. in Breishit
17:3-10
- make special note of the written Name that the Torah
uses to
describe God. Compare this Name, to the written Name of
God
that the Torah has used up until this point in all of
the
prior conversations between God and Avraham Avinu (i.e.
since
chapter 12).
4. Can you explain why specifically the Name Elokim is
used at
brit mila, even though same "Havaya" was consistently
used
beforehand?
Attempt to explain why brit mila is the first time
that we
find shem Elokim speaking to Avraham Avinu - by relating
the
Torah's use of shem Elokim in the story of Creation in
chapter
one!
5. When earlier in Chumash has the Torah used 'shem
Elokim'
to describe God? Be sure to relate to Breishit 1:1-2:3
and
9:1-17, and their respective topics!
PART II - QUESTIONS FOR PREPARATION (for weekly shiur)
1. Using a Tanach Koren, make a brief outline of all of
the
parshiot of mitzvot in Sefer Vayikra, beginning with
chapter
10 (i.e. after the death of Nadav & Avihu) until the end
of
chapter 17. Be sure to use only a one line summary for
each
parshia.
[Look at the opening psukim of chapter 18 and explain
why we
concluded our outline with chapter 17.]
2. Note the 'tiny' narrative that is implicit in the
introductory pasuk to chapter 16 (i.e. 16:1). Based on
this
short narrative, where in Sefer Vayikra should this
section of
laws (i.e. 'avodat Yom Kippur') have been recorded? In
your
answer, relate to the events that transpire in chapter
10.
[Is there any obvious reason why the Torah does not
record
these laws until chapter 16?]
3. Is there a common topic for all of the mitzvot from
chapters 11 thru chapter 17? [In other words, can you
find
one title for this section of your outline?]
Can you divide the outline into several
sub-categories?
If so, what are they, and what is the logic of flow from
one
topic to the next? Based on your outline, how
'accurate' are
the chapter divisions?
Re: the flow of topic, see Seforno on 11:2 (rather
amazing!) and Rashi & Ibn Ezra on 12:1.
See also Ramban in his intro to Sefer Vayikra
(before
1:1).
4. In what manner do the mitzvot (in chapters 11-17)
relate
to:
the korbanot of yom ha-shmini?
the death of Nadav & Avihu?
to the mishkan in general?
to the overall theme of Sefer Vayikra?
5. Review these chapters one more time, noting the
headers of
each 'dibbur'.
[i.e. note 10:8,12; 11:1-2; 12:1-2; 13:1; 14:1,33;
15:1-
2; 16:1-2; 17:1-2.]
Can you explain to whom each dibbur is directed, and
why?
[Note both the opening psukim in each dibbur, as
well as
the 'closing' psukim of each.]
In your opinion, when were these mitzvot first
given to
Moshe Rabeinu [and/or Aharon]? -
On Har Sinai? If so, during which set of forty
days?
From the ohel mo'ed? If so, on what day?
[Answer this question for each dibbur / parshia!]
6. Review now your 'outline' of Sefer Vayikra from
chapter 1
thru chapter 17. Can you identify a topic that would
include
all of the subtopics in these 17 chapters? [i.e. a
common
theme]
Attempt to explain the logic of the flow from one
topic
to the next?
7. Based on your outline, in our opinion what is the
primary
topic of chapter 11 - the laws of kashrut, or the laws
of one-
day tum'a? Explain your answer.
Compare Vayikra chapter 11 to Devarim 14:3-21.
What is
the same, and what is different? Can you explain why?
Relate as well to Shmot 22:30, and to the concept of
tum'a.
8. As you review your outline, note the differences
between
'one day' tu'ma and 'seven day' tu'ma. Can you explain
the
difference between them, and how they relate to one
another?
PART III - PARSHANUT
For shiur on 'The CAUSE of TZARA'AT'
1. To the best of your recollection, what causes
'tzara'at'
[leprosy]? Does Sefer Vayikra provide a reason? If
not, what
is the source of your answer?
Does Sefer Vayikra give a reason for the cause of
any
type of tum'a? Can you explain why it does or why it
doesn't?
Have you heard of a reason before? If so, what it
the
source?
2. For general background, review two key stories that
discuss someone contracting tzara'at - the story about
Miriam
in Bamidbar 12:1-16, and the story about Uziyahu, King
of
Yehuda, in II Divrei Ha-yamim 26:11-22.)
Based on these two stories, what appears to be the
cause
of tzara'at?
3. Carefully study Devarim 24:8-9. In your opinion,
which of
these two psukim makes the primary point, and which
pasuk is
'secondary' (or is the Torah making two unrelated
statements)?
Based on these psukim, does the Torah 'hint' to a
specific cause of tzara'at?
How do these psukim relate to Bamidbar 12:1-16?
In what manner is 24:9 similar to other psukim in
Chumash
that begin with 'zachor'?
How does the topic of these two psukim relate to
other
topics that are discussed in Parshat Ki Tetzeh?
4. Now, let's see how the various commentators relate
to this
topic in Sefer Devarim. To appreciate the various
opinions,
read Devarim 24:8-9 once again and carefully try to
understand
each phrase, and explain how each phrase relates to the
next.
Be sure that you can explain how 24:9 relates to 24:8,
and
what the word 'hishamer' implies [i.e. does it imply
something
you must do or something you must not do?]
5. We'll start with Rashi on 24:8-9.
Note how Rashi begins by providing a precise
explanation
of what hishamer is referring to [basically that one
should be
careful not be 'his own doctor' when he sees a sign of
leprosy, i.e. hishamer is telling you not to cut off the
sign,
but instead to show it to the kohanim.
Based on this, how does Rashi understand the second
half
of 24:8?
Now see Rashi on 24:9. According to Rashi, how do
these
psukim relate to one another?
From where does Rashi learn that 'lashon ha-ra'
causes
leprosy? [As we continue, note how other parshanim
answer
this question.]
6. See now Ramban. Is his commentary to 24:8 the same
as
Rashi's or different? Explain your answer.
How does Ramban explain why the laws of tzaarat
found in
Sefer Vayikra are not recorded in Sefer Devarim?
Now see Ramban on 24:9. Note how he quotes Rashi
and
then offers an alternate opinion [i.e. that zachor
implies
something active that one must do!]. How does he prove
his
opinion?
In your opinion, is Ramban's approach more
methodological
than Rashi's? How does each commentator explain the
connection from 24:8 to 24:9?
[Note how Ramban considers this pasuk a 'full fledged'
'mitzvat asei', thus arguing with all of the others who
counted the mitzvot before him. See also Sefer Mitzvot
of the
Rambam, at the end of his list of mitzvot asei, where
Ramban
lists and explains the mitzvot that he feels that Rambam
left
out. See Ramban's addition #7! See also Sefer
ha-Chinuch
mitzva #584; note that he seems to disagree with
Ramban.]
[Do you think that it is 'worthwhile' for one to be
'choshesh' for the Ramban's shitta?]
7. See Ibn Ezra on 24:9. Note how he is short and to
the
point. Why do you think that Ibn Ezra finds it
important to
support a Midrash from Vayikra Rabba [16:1] from these
psukim
in Sefer Devarim? How does this relate to Ibn Ezra's
general
approach to Midrashim (in contrast to pshat)?
8. Now, for a totally different approach - see Rashbam!
How does he explain hishamer and the connection
between
24:8 and 24:9!! In your opinion, is Rashbam's
explanation
closer to pshat? What do you think leads Rashbam to his
peirush?
9. Finally, see Chizkuni. Is his commentary the same as
Rashbam's? If so, why do you think that he prefers
Rashbam's
commentary to Rashi & Ramban's?
According to Rashbam & Chizkuni, is there any
connection
between tzara'at and lashon ha-ra? If so, why don't
they
mention it in their peirush to Devarim 24:8-9?
[The answers to this section are discussed in the TSC
shiur on
Parshat Ki Tetzeh / www.tanach.org/dvarim/kitey2.txt.]
be-hatzlacha,
menachem
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