PARSHA-PIX Parshat T'ruma

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Parsha Pix
Across the top of the ParshaPix are sacks of gold (Au is the symbol for the element gold - it is based on the Latin name for gold, Aurum), silver (similarly, silver’s symbol comes from its Latin name Argentum), and copper (Cuprum), that were donated to the building of the Mishkan and its accouterments.
The two things in the upper-right of the ParshaPix are cabbages. In Hebrew - KRUV, as in the K’RUVIM on the KAPORET of the ARON.
Many of the other items in this ParshaPix represent the materials that were collected, and mentioned, in the beginning of the sedra.
The gemstone represents the stones for the CHOSHEN and the shoulder straps of the EIFOD.
The gold rings stand for the rings through which were inserted the carrying poles of some of the furnishings of the Mishkan. (And also, the rings that connected adjacent wallboards - even though those rings were rectangular rather than round.)
The spools of thread represent the different colored wool and linen that were used to weave the coverings in the Mishkan. Also, to sew together the panels of the Mishkan and the Ohel.
Under the cabbages is a bouquet of flowers, in Hebrew - ZEIR. That is the term used in the Torah for the decorative border of gold that was made for the ARON and SHULCHAN (at least).
The olive oil represents the olive oil, which had several purposes in the service of the Mikdash. Remember that not only was olive oil used in the day-to-day service of the Mikdash, it was also used to consecrate each vessel.
Next to the olives is a tree and a log, standing for the ATZEI SHITIM, the acacia wood used extensively in the construction of the Mishkan.
Below the olive oil are representations of the three decorations of the Menorah. The trophy cup is called a GAVI’A. The button is KAFTOR and the flower is the PERACH. The actual Menora shapes did not necessarily resemble these, but the names do.
Then there is a sewing machine to facilitate various sewing jobs that were needed in the Mishkan.
To the right of the sewing machine is a column or pillar, of which there were many in the Mishkan - to support the PAROCHET, the covering of the entrance of the Mishkan, the curtains of the courtyard, and the entrance to the courtyard. Many AMUDIM.
To the column’s right and under the bouquet is a frame, MISGERET in Hebrew. The word is used in the description of the SHULCHAN.
In the frame is a mortarboard, graduation cap. It stands for the wisdom that G-d endowed Shlomo with (mentioned in the beginning of the haftara). This does not mean to say that graduation is a guarantee of wisdom. It's just a symbol for ParshaPix.
Bottom row, right to left: Matza with a face is LECHEM HAPANIM, which reminds us that those special loaves were halachic matza - no Chametz.
Notebook is MACHBERET, a term used in the sedra.
The computer screen is called a MASACH in Hebrew. The Biblical use of the word applied to the curtains that covered the entrance to the Mishkan and to the courtyard of the Mishkan.
Which brings us to the lower-left and the flag of Lebanon, reminding us of the Cedars of Lebanon mentioned in the Haftara.

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 (MISHPATIM) TTriddles:
[1] This one can be taken literally
In Mishpatim, among the laws of damages and injuries, the Torah says NEFESH TACHAT NEFESH, a life for a life, eye for an eye, etc. In addition to a life and an eye, the list includes tooth, arm, leg, burn, injury, bruise. In all cases, the statement is NOT to be taken literally. If someone causes another person to lose an arm, we are NOT to do anything to his arm. Etc. In all cases, we understand that what is given for each kind of injury is monetary compensation based on five different factors. So the word TACHAT is not to be taken literally. The one occurrence of TACHAT in Mishpatim that can be taken literally is SHOR TACHAT SHOR,an ox for an ox. If one's ox gores another's ox and kills it, and the offending ox was known to be wild and dangerous, then its owner compensates the dead ox's owner for his ox (and he keeps the carcass of the dead ox). This too can be monetary value rather than an actual ox, but the TTriddle point is that this time, the word TACHAT can be taken literally.
[2] Change your plans for the Seder BBA
Staying with the same phrases as [1], this TTriddle is a play on the last of the TACHAT list: CHABURA TACHAT CHABURA. CHABURA, in addition to being a type of injury, can also refer to the group that will bring and share Korban Pesach. BBA means BIMHEIRA B'YAMEINU, AMEN, referring to the Geula and the building of the third Beit HaMikdash. At that time, changing one's Seder Pesach plans can be entitled: CHABURA TACHAT CHABURA.
[3] Warning: Groaner TTriddle (we don't often warn you): Perhaps the Torah's generic name for the Galway, Blackface Mountain, Wicklow Cheviot, and specific other breeds of sheep
If you look up these breeds of sheep, you will find that they are types of Irish sheep. Referring to Sh'mot 21:37, we find that if a person steals SHOR O SEH, an ox or sheep... he pays 4 or 5 times its value (under certain circumstances). And, there it is. The Torah's generic name for Irish sheep - O'SEH.
[4] That's twice he partnered with his uncle; what are his mother's three names?
AHARON and CHUR, uncle and nephew (CHUR was son of Aharon's sister Miriam), were Moshe's two "assistants" on the hilltop overlooking the first battle against Amalek (end of Parshat B'shalach). At the end of Mishpatim, they again team up. Moshe tells the elders who went back down to the foot of the mountain that Aharon and Chur would be with them and if any problems arose, they were to be consulted. MIRIAM was Chur's mother. She was identified as PU'AH, one of the courageous midwives who defied Par'o (beginning of Parshat Sh'mot). Rashi at the end of Mishpatim tells us that she was also known as EFRAT in Divrei HaYamim (according to the Gemara in Sota). The correct answer to this TTriddle is MIRIAM, PU'AH, EFRAT.
[5] There are two visual TTriddles from ParshaPix
The first is the easy one, the mortar and pestle with the Rx symbol for "A prescription for medicine or a medical appliance" or "A remedy, cure, or solution for a disorder or problem". Either way, it stands for V'RAPO Y'RAPEI, the words that teach us that humans have not only the Torah's permission, but the obligation to heal the sick and cure the injured.
[6] And the other one...
Let's first quote a regular TTriddles solver, H(S)M, who wrote:
The picture to the right of that appears to be cut in the electronic version so that it is not readable. It appears to be the bottom half of some Hebrew letters.
Well H(S)M is exactly correct. It is the bottom half of some Hebrew letters. But it was not accidentally cut off. Rather it was intentional. It is half, MACHATZIT, that is, of the word (in Rashi print - just for the fun of it) HASHEKEL, thereby representing the Maftir of Shabbat Parshat Sh'kalim. After cutting the word in half, what remained was rotated 90° to the right, just to make it a little less recognizable. Okay, that's why Rashi print was used too.

NachKwestion of the Week
We say these words daily, weekly, and monthly (one version varies slightly from the others). Daily, we quote the Torah. Weekly we quote Navi. Monthly we quote K'tuvim.
Generally, we prefer using questions for the NachKwestion of the Week that have multiple answers. It then becomes more than "you either know it or you don't". It becomes a nice challenge. Like the previous question of three different words in a row with the same root. Many people thought for a moment and came up with MELECHMALCHEI HA-M'LACHIM. Good. But how many more could they find? That makes it a real challenge. This NachKwestion was not like that, but it was too good a question to ignore. Those who get it, fine. But if you are reading these words, and don't know the answer yet, you should be amazed by the answer. It's neat. Cool. It's just nice. And if you like it, you now can enjoy asking other people to see if they know. We believe it is something nice to know. Enjoy sharing it with others.
Daily in P'sukei D'zimra, specifically in AZ YASHIR, we say the pasuk from Torah (Sh'mot 15:2):
AZI V'ZIMRAT KA VA'HI LI L'YESHUA ZEH KELI V'ANVEIHU ELOKEI AVI V'A'ROMMENHHU:
It is the first 6 words of this pasuk that is of interest to us at this moment.
Weekly, specifically in Havdala, we quote a pasuk from NAVI (Yeshayahu 12:2):
HINE KEL YESHUATI EVTACH V'LO EFCHAD KI AZI V'ZIMRAT KAH HASHEM VA'HI LI L'YESHUA"
Here we call your intention to the last 7 words of the pasuk. Very similar to the 6-word phrase of the daily quote.
And here is a pasuk from Hallel, which we say monthly (okay, sometimes more often, but who's counting). T'hilim 118:14.
AZI V'ZIMRAT KAH VA'HI LI L'YESHUA:
Calling your attention to the full 6-word pasuk this time.
Several correct responses; drawing for CD-winner.

Then there is the Mazal Pic, the Zodiac TTriddle, the picture of the month in the Word of the Month box on page 2. Lately, the pictures have been TTriddle-like challenges. Not always, and not this time. Representing DAGIM, Pisces, the Fish - mazal of the month of Adar, are none other than the stars of Finding Nemo - Marlin (Nemo's father) and his friend and partner in the search for Nemo, Dory, who had the best line in the movie (in some people's opinion): "What is it with men and asking for directions?"

This week's TTriddles:
[1] Bigger or further apart
[2] they got along, but no fishing for them
[3] Yehu in the Shomron lengthwise
[4] In Anatot of the third millennium
[5] Yosef's brothers, hungry Israelites, anti Aliya rallyists, and what in our sedra?
[6] kids will have mixed feelings
[7] carpet capital of the world # V'CHAFTOR # Tuesday # 1DH429 # Avrech # Mano'ach's wife's description of Peli

NachKwestion of the Week:
What is the most often- paraphrased passage from the Talmud in davening?
Approximately how many times is it said in the course of 5766?

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