Riddles of the Week
(For answers see inside)
1) Which of the korbanos offered in the Mishkan and Beis HaMikdosh had to be eaten by the Kohen who offered it?
2) In this week’s parsha we learn that a Kohen was required to bring a korban mincha on the first day he served in the Beis HaMikdosh (6:12-16). In an addition to this, we learn in Horiyos (12b) that the Kohen Gadol would offer a korban mincha every single day. The Abarbanel offers nine reasons for this, how many can you come up with?
3) In this week’s parsha we learn: וכלי חרש אשר תבשל בו ישבר - “An earthenware vessel in which a korban has been cooked in must be broken”(6:21). Rashi explains that this is because particles from the korban become embedded in the walls of the earthenware. After the passage of one day and one night, the taste of those particles, which would enter any offering subsequently cooked inside of the vessel, legally becomes “nosar” and is forbidden. Tosfos (Avodah Zorah 76a) notes that this explanation is difficult to understand, as Rashi maintains that after the passage of one night, the taste of food absorbed in a utensil goes bad and is Biblically permitted to be eaten. If so, why does the Torah require the earthenware vessels to be broken? Can you think of an answer to explain Rashi?
4) Is it fitting for a shochet to also be a chazon? Can you find a remez [hint] in this week’s parsha that it is ok?
5) How can there be a case, where a ba’al habayis and a guest eat matzah on Seder night, they both eat the from the same matzos, the same amount, in the same manner, at the same time and the ba’al habayis doesn’t fulfil the mitzvah and the guest does?
