
PARSHA-PIX - Parshat Vayishlach

Parsha Pix
Silhouettes of the animals Yaakov sent as gifts to Eisav. Each animal has
the number of males and females sent. The second 30 on the camel is based
on Rashi, that there were an equal number of males that accompanied the
"nursing camels". The ribbon bow among the silhouettes represents the gift
aspect of the animals.
The two ancient-looking jugs are the small vessels that Yaakov went back
for after he brought his family across the YABOK river.
Notice between the SOLD sign and the tree is the emblem of the WWF. We do
not know if Yaakov and/or the Sar shel Eisav were members, but see if your
sons can identify the emblem and make the connection.
The SOLD sign over the FOR SALE sign is for the purchase of the land in
the Sh'chem area by Yaakov Avinu for 100 K'sita.
D'vora (the bee) was buried under the crying tree.
The baby carriage is for Binyamin.
Kever Rachel is Kever Rachel.
The sword was used by Shimon and Levi to avenge what happened to Dina.
That leaves the die with six dots, for the six dots over VAYISHAKEINU.
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 alsopresentedfor 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 (VAYEITZEI) TTriddles:
[1] His tent, his brothers, shofar. Who, who, who?
[2] Yaakov, Moshe, the whole nation, David
[3] Rachel is to what as who is to Yo'ash?
[4] Consecutive heteronymous verbs with thesame subject and homonymic
objects(special prize for this one)
And the envelope please...
[1] Speaking of homonyms (which we aren’t yet, but we will shortly), TAKA
(TAV-KUF-AYIN) means to set up, as what Yaakov did with his tent on the
hill (B’reishit 31:25) and what Lavan did with his kinsmen on Mt. Gil’ad
(same pasuk). TAKA also means to give a blast on an instrument, as Shaul
did on the shofar (Shmuel Alef 13:3).
[2] The word VAYIRA (VAV-YUD-YUD-REISH-ALEF), and he was afraid, appears
only five times in Tanach. It appears twice with Yaakov - once in
Vayeitzei, when he realized that he was in a holy place and he didn’t
know, and once in this week’s sedra of Vayishlach, when he fear’s Eisav
and divides his camp, expecting the worst. Moshe feared when he realized
that his killing of the Egyptian was known (to Datan and Aviram). All the
people feared G-d and Shmuel because of a storm brought about as a
demonstration of what could happen if the people rebelled against G-d. And
David HaMelech greatly feared G-d when He smote Uza (Divrei HaYamim Alef
13:12).
[3] The key word for this TTriddle is VATIGNOV, and she stole. There are
only two uses of this word in Tanach. Rachel stole Lavan’s T’rafim, and
Yehosheva (or Yehoshav’at), daughter of King Yoram (or Yehoram) kidnapped
Yo’ash. Rachel is to Lavan’s t’rafim as Yehosheva is to Yo’ash.
[4] And now the SPECIAL TTriddle that convinced several people that I was
rowing with my oars out of the water. This TTriddle was a lot of fun to
put together, and despite predictions that no one would solve it, it is
hoped that the five correct solvers had fun with this one too.
Let’s learn a few things along the way to the solution, as I am sure the
solvers did on their way to the correct solution. Homonyms are two words
that are spelled alike AND sound alike, but have different meanings. Bank
meaning a money institution and bank meaning the slope at the edge of a
river and bank meaning to throw a basketball into the hoop by first
hitting the backboard are hononyms. Hear and here are NOT hononyms, they
are homophones. (The terms are sometimes considered interchangeable.)
Heteronyms are words that are spelled the same but pronounced differently,
and have different meanings. Lead, the soft metal and lead, the starring
role in a play are heteronyms. I’m not going to define verbs, nor subject
and object thereof.
Yaakov asks the shepherds about the well and the big stone. When they
point out Rachel to him, he single-handedly removes the stone from the
mouth of the well, and he waters Lavan’s sheep. VAYASHK. The next verb is
VAYISHAK, and Yaakov kissed Rachel. Same spelling, different
pronunciation. They are consecutive heteronymous verbs. Yaakov is the
subject of both. R’CHEILIM, female sheep (singular RACHEL) are among the
objects of VAYASHK. And RACHEL is the object of VAYISHAK. They are homo-
nyms. Same spelling and pronunciation. Different meanings.
My admiration and thanks (and a Noam Productions CD or a Big Deal item)
for each of the following for solving this TTriddle. DAC, MJB/Netanya, MM/Bklyn,
YS/Ofra, and S&B L. Please be in touch about your prizes. Oh, by the way,
DAC happened to have also solves the other three TTriddles. Clean sweep.
One wonders if his professional training and experience is of assistance
in solving TTriddles. And if so, does it mean I have a criminal mind? Nice
job.
This week's TTriddles:
[1] Associate member of the exclusive club to which E(P), R(Sh), and Y(YK)
belong
[2] Eisav and Shalman
[3] Sun rose, tower smashed, built - who, who, who - where?
[4] The successor of the successor of the successor of him is an anagram
of his namesake's predecessor
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