Torah tidbits
PARSHA-PIX - B'ha'a'lo't'cha

Parsha Pix

The Menora in the upper-right corner is the one referred to in the beginning of the sedra, on the P'SHAT level, the one from the Mishkan (Mikdash). Ramban and others see also, on a REMEZ level, an allusioning to the kohanim (Bnei Chashmona’im) of over 1100 years later, who rededicated the Beit HaMikdash and rekindled the Menora. To commemorate the Chanuka miracles, we light the menora-like Chanukiya.

The lamb labeled 2 stands for Pesach Sheni, one of the themes of this sedra.

Above the lamb is a razor blade, reminding us of part of the ceremony that separated the Leviyim from the rest of the people. They were to shave all the hair off their bodies.

Upper-left are the silver trumpets commanded to be made, and used in times of troubles, and festive occasions as well. See the Sedra Summary for further details.

Next row down, "reading" right to left, you have: when the cloud lifts, that is a sign to travel. Hence the green light.

The next row pictures the result of the Cloud's lifting and the go-ahead for traveling: The four flag-camps are marching in the direction of the arrow.
Bottom row, left, is an Aron Kodesh. We borrow the p'sukim from this sedra to recite with the opening and closing of the Ark in shul.

The smiling watermelon in the thought bubble is a reference to Bamidbar 11:5, one of the people's black moments, when they complained to G-d about the manna, by "remembering fondly" the “wonderful foods of Egypt”.
To the right is the quail that fell in such abundance, but was no blessing.
The snowflake is a reminder of Miriam's punishment for Lashon HaRa.
The eyes are Yitro. That’s what Moshe wanted him to be for us on our journeys.

TTRIDDLES...

are Torah Tidbits-style riddles on Parshat HaShavua (sometimes on the calendar). They are found in the hard-copy of TT scattered throughout, usually at the bottom of different columns. In the electronic versions of TT, they are found all together at the end of the ParshaPix-TTriddles section. Some TTriddles are also presentedfor call-in solution on Torah Tidbits Audio (Arutz-7, Thursday night). The best solution set submitted each week (there isnt always a best) wins a double prize a CD from Noam Productions and/or a gift (game, puzzle, book, etc.) from Big Deal

Last week’s (NASO) TTriddle:

Alas, in the shortened pre-Shavuot week and the enlarged Shavuot-Naso double issue of TT, we managed but one TTriddle in an otherwise busy week — and here it is...

Florida city that alludes to possible infidelity of Jessica Parker(this is just a TTriddle, not real gossip)

And the envelope please...
Sarasota, city (2000 pop. 52,715), seat of Sarasota co., SW Fla., on Sarasota Bay; settled c.1884, inc. 1914. It is a yachting and fishing resort with a construction industry, varied light manufacturing, and packing houses handling the citrus fruit, celery, and beef raised in the area. Urban growth has been prevalent since 1970. Sarasota is the former winter home of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus and is the site of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, which is reputed to have the largest Peter Paul Rubens collection in the United States. Other attractions are the Circus Hall of Fame and the Cars of Yesterday Museum. New College is in Sarasota. Nearby, on the keys off the Gulf of Mexico, are many beautiful white-sand beaches. The Sarasota Jungle Gardens and a state park are also in the area.

The full name of the actress in the TTriddle is Sarah Jessica Parker. If you know one of her popular TV roles, then the choice of this particular Sarah for the TTriddle takes on additional significance. (She also was the voice of Nell Fenwick in the movie Dudley Do-right, which is totally irrelevant.)
A suspected unfaithful wife (as in Parshat Naso) is a Sotah.
Correct solutions submitted by MM/Bklyn and the complaining H(S)M, who suggested that the water for the potion in this case might come from Sarasota Springs.

Of course, if the suspicious “husband” (did they ever marry?) were the world’s most famous cartoon rodent, then the answer to the TTriddle would have been the “Land of 1000 Lakes”, the “North Star State”, a.k.a. Minnesota.

This week's TTriddles:

[1] Not 7; just for dinner
[2] The list of confused Talmud includes radius and anvil
[3] Kalev to Miriam on their 15th or 30th
[4] What culinary delight is identified with Tzifyon, Chagi, Shuni, Etzbon, Eiri, Arodi, Arieli


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