
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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