PARSHA-PIX - Vayak-hel/P'kudei

Parsha Pix 

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 (KI TISA) TTriddles: 

[1] The Kohen Gadol & Shabbat share this label 

[2] Start with 8 and end with 20 

[3] The key to Mikdash preliminaries 

[4] 2 different previews twice each, rather than one thrice 

[5] from major character to obscure reference in 3-4 days 

[6] This week's Jewish languages link 

And the envelope please... 

[1] In Parshat Ki Tisa, the Shabbat is called KODESH LASHEM, holy to G-d. (Interesting, because it is also called Holy to you, meaning us. And, of course, it is referred to as a Sign between G-d and us. Holy to G-d fits with the end of Commandment #4, therefore G-d blessed the Shabbat and sanctified it, making it Holy to Him.) Back to the TTriddle. KODESH LASHEM is also the “label” of the Kohen Gadol (as we see in the previous sedra, as well as in this week’s P’kudei) engraved or embossed on the TZITZ which he wore on his forehead. Several solvers got this one. 

[2] Not so, this one. This is really only for Ashkenazi Jews and others who do not distinguish between the CHET (whose numeric value is 8) and CHAF (whose numeric value is 20). VAI-CHAL MOSHE (32:11), the beginning of the Torah reading for Fast Days, me3ans and Moshe prayed or pleaded before G-d, but the real root of the word is to begin. Living Torah by R’ Aryeh Kaplan z”l renders the pasuk as, “Moshe began to plead before G-d... In 34:33, VAI-CHAL MOSHE... with a CHAF, means Moshe finished (speaking to the people). Start with 8 and end with 20. MM/Bklyn hit that one on the nose. 

[3] Mikdash preliminaries can mean some different things. The intended meaning for this TTriddle is the requirement for the kohanim to wash their hands and feet before approaching the Mikdash or the Mizbei’ach. This was done using water from the KEY to this Mikdash preliminary - namely the KI-YOR. 

[4] The usual situation is that there is a preview to a Parshat HaShavua (namely, the first Aliya or so) which is read three times - Mincha the previous Shabbat, Monday and Thursday mornings. Last week, we had two previews, each read twice, rather than the usual preview read thrice. On Shabbat Mincha and Thursday morning, we read the first part of Ki Tisa. On Monday, however, which was Taanit Esther, we read Vai-chal Moshe at Shacharit and Mincha. That constitutes a second preview (from a different part of Ki Tisa) read twice. 

[5] The Gemara (Chulin 139b) asks: Where to we find (an allusion to) Mordechai in the Torah? It answers, from the phrase (in Vayak-hel) MOR-DROR (in 30:23), pure myhhr. Targum is MEIRA-DACHYA, which sounds like MORDECHAI. It is more than a sound-alike; there is drash on this statement of the Gemara. 

On Purim, Mordechai is a major character. Three days later (for Jerusalemites, and others who read on TET-VAV) and four days later for the rest of you, he becomes an obscure reference in Vayak-hel. 

[6] Jewish language is Hebrew, but also Yiddish (and Ladino, I guess). The link between the sedra and the maftir is KI as in KI TISA and KI as Yiddish for cow (if you come from or descend from that part of Europe where they say KIGEL instead of KUGEL, etc.), as in Parshat Para. 

Best solution set submitted by the aforementioned MM/Bklyn. Refu’ah Sh’leima to Joyce... and David. 

This weeks TTriddles: 

[1] G-d's command was partial; hers, total 

[2] R. Aryeh Leib Heller HaKohen x 2 

[3] Probable color of Shimon's 

[4] Third of Sivan • Eleventh of Tishrei • First of Sh'vat 

[5] Between Yechezkel and Shimon HaTzaddik

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