Last Week's PPP (B'Shalach)

TT351PPP REPORT
What TT351PPP, you ask? Fair question. There sort of was none. So what's that diagram of the Big Dipper doing in a ractangle under the title: TT351PPP? Another fair question. Ah, but there was a little something. Not in the hard copy of TT351, but on the Torah Tidbits website (www.ou.org/torah/tt) and even more on TorahTidbits Audio (Arutz-7, 98.7FM, 711AM, www.a7.org).

The first of the audio riddles was MIZAR and ALCOR. On the website, there was a graphic of the Big Dipper with an arrow pointing to the middle star of the handle and a much fainter "companion star", named Mizar and Alcor respectively. The riddle on Arutz-7 was followed by a hint: Citation and Arcarro. That should do it.Mizar and Alcor are known as the HORSE & RIDER, as are the famous Triple Crown winner (1948), Citation and the equally famous jockey, Eddie Arcarro. All this is a reference to SUS V'ROCHVO, as in the description of the drowning of the Egyptian army that pursued Israel into the split sea. The Midrash points out that therewas an extra measure of miracle in the punishment of the Egyptians in that horse and rider remained together in their drowning, rather that naturally floating apart.

On the radio show, there were two more riddles. I'm going to give you them now, with answers. This way, you can pose them to other people, if you want. Remember, these are B'shalach riddles.

Find connections between Pesach and Chanuka in both directions. In other words, a CHanuka "thing" from Pesach (and B'shalach), and a Pesach (& B'shalach "thing" related to Chanuka.

The answers I had in mind were:

[1] MI CHAMOCHA BA'EILIM HASHEM, whose initials became identified with the Hashmona'im (and with one of Israel's Kupat Cholim, several basketball teams, etc.), and

[2] The second stanza of MA'OZ TZUR mentions: CHEIL PAR'O, his army and all his descendants, sank to the depths like a stone.

Speaking of Pesach-Chanuka connections - here's the opposite, a contrast. There is a well-known comment about the "reduced" Hallel of Pesach (after the first day). My creations, says G-d (of the Egyptians) are drowning in the Sea and you want to sing songs of praise to Me?!? Since Tradition tells us that the Song of theSea was on the seventh day of Pesach, and we should not "rejoice at the downfall of our enemy", therefore, Hallel was reduced. So that Chol HaMoed not enjoy greater expression of jo than Yom Tov, all of Chol HaMoed followed the practice of Yom Tov - the last Yom Tov, that is. (There's another reason, a halachic-based reason,for the practice of Hallel b'dilug, but let's leave that out of the discussion here.)

So what about Chanuka? Why do we say Full Hallel on the 8 days of Chanuka? How come no one suggested that we reduce Hallel on Chanuka? In other words, for the "My creations are drowning" reason for Hallel with skipping to be acceptable, there should be a significant difference between the events associated with Chanukaand those of Pesach.

And there IS a difference. When G-d says, "HaShem yilachem lachem...", G-d will fight on your behalf and you be silent", then our expression of joy can be limited by the necessary demise of our enemy. That's Pesach. Chanuka is different. The battle was our initiative and our blood, sweat, and tears. The rejoicing can befull.

There was a third B'shalach riddle.

"Hey, that's Mr. Hacker. I know him. And look, do you see Mr. Berman over there?" The name Hacker is associated with meat, that of Berman with bread. In Shmot 16:12-13, there is a matchup of the quail (meat) and evening and knowing, on the one hand, and the Manna and daytime and seeing, on the other. Hence, knowing Mr.Hacker and seeing Mr. Berman.

MM (Bklyn) took the Big Dipper as a pointer to the north (star) and therefore as a reference to Baal Tz'fon. Mintz/Ganin were quite creative with their attempted solution. The arrow, they say, is pointing to twin stars, like the two songs - Song of the Sea and Devorah's Song. The dipper draws water. Water plays a significantrole in both songs (as well as in other parts of the sedra). The Big Dipper is also identified as a chariot, ridden by Israel's enemies from both Torah and Haftara. And MIZAR is an anagram for ZAMIR, ALCOR rearranges to spell C(h)ORAL(e) as in the famous chior that reminds us of the songs of the sedra and haftara. As noblea try as can be expected from mere mortals. Finally, benjietc saw the lack of PPP as symbolic of the lack of water on the bed of the split sea (and the lack of water and food, also from the sedra.

Solutions for TT350PPP (that was Parshat Bo - [1] darkroom equipment, [2] light for the Jews, [3] cola=snake, [4] mezuza-binocs, [5] bow-L-par-row):

Josh & family hit [1,2,5], said that [3] was about Moshe's Staff which caused both a snake and drink (the water from the rock), and [4] stood for "night of watchfulness". Not bad. GG, known as the Crowball from KBY, had a perfect [1,2,3,4,5]. So did Aryeh from KBY. And the Steinhart Gang.

Ofra Shelnitzes hit [1,2,5] but said the binocs were TOTAFOT between your eyes. Not only is that not it, but I would not suggest anything with the literal BEIN EINECHA, because of the serious flaw in taking it literally.

MMBklyn hit [2,3,4,5]. So did the Rutstein Clan from Maale Michmas. And GadiMeir with a miss [1]. And so did benjietc by combining [1] 1nd [2].

Mintz/Ganin hit [3,4,5] and a complex miss of [2]. ES hit [1,2,3] but gave T'filin for [4] and some far-out try for [5]. Chi-Goldbergs and the MA Brownsteins hit [1,3,4,5]. Klavan had a [1,2,3,5]. YB-Mitspe Nevo hit [2,4,5]. Shaya Feder with paternal help had a group of nice tries. Some of them different from everyone else.I probably missed someone (or two, or...) - SATC.

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