Torah tidbits
PARSHA-PIX Parshat Va'etchanan


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Parsha Pix
Upper left is a plus and minus in a negation circle. The Torah forbids (a few times) adding to the Torah or detracting from it.
Once again, the Torah tells us of the mitzva to designate cities of refuge - 3 on the east side of the Jordan (and 3 on the west side).
The LUCHOT in the TORAH on the mountain stands for the repetition of the Aseret HaDibrot (with changes) and reminds us that the whole Torah was given by G-d at Sinai, not just the Big Ten. That is, the Aseret HaDibrot, which are within the Torah, that was given on Har Sinai.
The Shabbat candlesticks represent SHAMOR and ZACHOR. They are contained B'DIBUR ECHAD, in one speech-bubble.
The hearing ear represents SH'MA, not just the famous one, but the many times the Torah commands us to listen (and understand). If you look through the sedra you will find several SHMAs.
The warning lights represent Moshe's warnings to us to remain faithful to HaShem and not to be confused by what we witnessed but cannot completely comprehend.
The big number 1 is for HaShem Echad, as well as the other pasuk that emphasizes G-d's Unity, 4:35, ...there is none besides Him.
The reminder-finger is for the command to never forget the Sinai experience and to pass on the memory to future generations.
The Seder plate is for the Chacham's question and the answer of We were slaves to Par'o in Egypt... both of which are found in Va'etchanan.
And speaking of holidays, there is a Simchat Torah scene at the bottom-right. This is for the pasuk ATA HOR-EITA LADA'AT... Which is associated with Simchat Torah (in the minds of Nusach Ashkenaz daveners, at least).
At the bottom is a speaker, and a video monitor crossed out. On that great day of Revelation at Sinai, we HEARD what was said, but we did NOT SEE any image. This is mentioned more than once, and is a reason for Moshe's deep concern and warnings to the people.
The (clock) face in the face is for the term PANIM BIFANIM, the description of the direct, intimate communication of G-d to the people of Israel. And it refers not only to the generation that actually stood at Sinai, but also refers to the new generation. And by extension, to all subsequent generations.
Which brings us to the space telescope (Hubble?) which is used to follow the Navi Yeshayahu's words at the end of the Haftara of Shabbat Nachamu: Lift your eyes heavenward and see Who created this.

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. The best solution set submitted each week (there isn't always a best) wins a double prize a CD from Noam Productions and/or a gift (game, puzzle, book, etc.) from Big Deal

Last issue’s (D'VARIM) TTriddles:

[1] Except Kalev and sound
[2] 27 before, 18 in, 89 after
[3] [4] [5] plus three elements of the ParshaPix

And the envelope, please...

Slim pickins, as they say...
[1] ZULATI, except for... The word appears 9 times in Tanach, but only two of those occurrences are in the Chumash, one in D'varim and the other in Va'etchanan. In D'varim, Moshe is telling the people of the decree of "the first Tish'a b'Av", that none of the adult male population that came out of Egypt will go into EretzYisrael, ZULATI, except for Kalev b. Yefuneh (and Yehoshua b. Nun). In Va'etchanan, Moshe is telling the people about MAAMAD HAR SINAI, that there were many miraculous things happening, that the people did not see an image, only sound, ZULATI KOL. (Audio feed was working; no video feed.)
[2] We call the sedra and the book, D'varim. But the actual word that appears in the beginning of the book and sedra is HA-D'VARIM. Which led to curiosity as to how many HAD'VARIMs there were in the Tanach. 134 is the answer. 27 in the first four books of the Torah; 18 in D'varim, and 89 after D'varim, meaning in all of NACH. There are more HAD'VARIMs in D'varim than in any other book of the Torah, but there are many more HAD'VARIMs in Yirmiyahu (33) than in any book of Tanach. JTYLTK. And out of the 5 EILEH HAD'VARIMs in Tanach, only one is in D'varim, but there are 2 in SH'MOT. And, if you haven't had enough of this topic yet, there are 28 D'VARIMs in Tanach, including 3 in D'varim.
The three unexplained elements of the ParshaPix are:
[3] The stars at the top which represent the description by Moshe of the size of the nation: G-d has caused you to multiply and here you are as numerous as the stars of the heavens;
[4] The blank face with a question markk is for LO TAKIRU PANIM BAMISHPAT (D'varim 1:17); and
[5] the compass pointing north, as in D'varim 2:3 - ...P'NI LACHEM TZAFONA, turn to the north.

This week's TTriddles:

[1] First's question - universal answer
[2] Could be a description of Sully's factory
[3] Cover your eyes for the span of Bayit Rishon
[4] As G-d has commanded you... twice... and his fields
[5] Holy pair spelling variants count: TORAH (NACH) 4 (289); 21 (16)
[6] Tish'a b'Av TTriddle: Double Reverse
[7] Then it was only in 3; now it's in 3 and 9


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