Vayakhel
- “And Moshe gathered,” etc. On which day did this happen?
- Why was the warning about Shabbos written before other things?
- “Don’t kindle fire,” etc. Why is this melacha (work) singled out?
- Why are the commandments about the Mishkan works repeated here?
- Which roof covers are called ‘Mishkan,’ which ‘its tent,’ and which ‘its cover’?
- Why did they need wise people to produce the oil for the menorah?
- What was the special wisdom of the women in weaving goats’ wool?
- What did the nesiyim
(heads of tribes; princes) bring? When? Why?
- Why were the nesiyim
the first to bring things for the mizbeyach?
- Why is their title (nesiyim) written without the letter yud?
- Prove that in the presence of Hashem there is no difference between the high shevatim (tribes) and the
lowest one.
- What strange announcement did Moshe command to announce in the camp?
- How many adonim{ltr} and how many yados{ltr}
were there per keresh{ltr}?
- “And Betzalel made the aron{ltr},” etc. Did he personally make it?
- The order of the Mishkan work is different here than in parshas Terumah. How?
- What special contribution did the women bring for the kiyor{ltr}?
- Was Moshe happy to accept it? Why? What did Hashem say to him?
- Why was the women’s contribution used for the kiyor{ltr}?
- Which items that were needed for the avodah (service) are not mentioned here?
- Which woods were covered with silver?
Extra
- What were the dimensions of the following: mizbeyach-ha-olah{ltr},
mizbeyach-hazahav{ltr}, aron{ltr}, shulchon{ltr}, menorah{ltr}, kiyor{ltr}?
- Why is the prohibition against fire on Shabbos mentioned here? (See Sforno, Rambam.)
- Why did Moshe have to gather the people here? (See 0hr
Hachayim.)
- Why does it mention that the men came to give jewelry with the women? (See Sforno
2, Kli Yakar.)
- “And the Jewish community went out,” etc. Why is this mentioned here? (See Ohr Hachayim.)
- “And the nesiyim
brought,” etc. Who are these nesiyim according to the Gemora?
- Was Betzalel related to Moshe? (See Rashi, Daas Zekenim.)
- “And Moshe said: Look! Hashem called the name,” etc. (35:30) Why did he say that? (See Baal
Haturim, Daas Zekenim.)
- “And to teach He gave into his heart” etc. (35:34). Why is this emphasized? (See
Ebn Ezra, Ohr Hachayim.)
- “And Betzalel made the aron.” Is that the only thing he made? (See Daas Zekenim.)
Parshas Shekalim, Rosh Chodesh Adar, etc.
- How many special parshiyos do we read between now and Pesach? What are their names?
- Why do we read parshas Shekalim on this Shabbos? Which part do we read?
- What is the source and reason for the saying, ‘Mi shenichnas Adar marbin b’simcha’?
- How many Sifrei Torah will be used in shul this Shabbos? How many aliyos?
- In the month of Adar the Beis Din in Eretz Yisroel was concerned with . Explain.
- Certain kinds of disputes should be resolved this month. Which kind? Why?
- Why must it be half a shekel? Do we give it today? What did Hashem show to Moshe?