Riddles of the Week

(For answers see above)

1. This week’s parsha begins with the mitzvah of bikkurim (26:1-11), which requires a farmer to bring the first ripened fruits of shivas haminim [the seven species for which Eretz Yisroel is praised] to the Beis HaMikdash and express gratitude to Hashem for giving him a successful harvest. However, in commanding the farmer to bring these fruits, the Torah says that he must bring "from the first of every fruit of the ground." Since most fruits grow on trees, this expression seems imprecise. Wouldn’t it have been more accurate to stipulate that he shall bring from the first of every fruit of the tree?
2. The Mishnah in Bikkurim (3:5) says that those who brought bikkurim would also bring turtledoves and pigeons on the side of their baskets, as well as some birds in their hands, and give them to the Kohanim. The Rambam in Pirush HaMishnayos says that the reason for bringing the birds was because of hiddur mitzvah. However, Rabbeinu Bechayeh writes: The pasuk says: "you shall rejoice with all good" and the rule is: "and simcha is only with meat", therefore, they would bring the birds in order to have meat.
   The question is, the Gemara in Chagigah (8b) teaches that there is no simcha with meat from birds, and simcha is only achieved with meat from animals. If so, how can Rabbeinu Bechayeh say that the reason birds were brought was because of simcha? (R’ Meir Arik in Tel Torah, Vol. 3, asks this question and leaves it unanswered).
3. In this week’s parsha we have the pasuk: "It will be when you enter the Land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you as an inheritance, and you possess it, and dwell in it" (Devorim 26:1). We learn out from this pasuk the mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael [the mitzvah to settle and live in Eretz Yisrael] see the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh. If one gets his income from Chutz La’aretz, does he still fulfill the mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael?
4. As we mentioned above, in this week’s parsha we have a source to the mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael. Why don’t we find that there is a berachah recited upon this special mitzvah?
5. Moshe reminded (29:4) Bnei Yisrael of the miracle that throughout their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness, "your garments (plural) did not wear out from on you, and your shoe (singular) did not wear out from on your foot." Why did Moshe change from the plural to the singular within the same pasuk?
   Moshe reminded (29:4) Bnei Yisroel of the miracle that throughout their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness, "your garments (plural) did not wear out from on you, and your shoe (singular) did not wear out from on your foot." Why did Moshe change from the plural to the singular within the same pasuk? (Taima D’Kra)