Torah Teasers
Parshas V’eschanon
1. Hashem tells Moshe he will not go into Eretz Yisrael. Instead He tells him, “Alei Rosh HaPisga; Go on top of the mountain; V’Sa Einecha Yama V’Tzafona V’Teimana U’Mizracha; to look in all four directions and see Eretz Yisrael.” Rav Shimon Schwab asks that the eastern direction was Eretz Sichon and Og, which were already captured and were not part of Eretz Yisrael proper. What was there for Moshe to see there? Ans… He answers that Eretz Sichon and Og only became Kadosh after Eretz Yisrael itself was captured. Moshe was looking at the Kedusha, not a piece of land. Sichon and Og were the last to become Kadosh and we see this in Hashem’s words. First Hashem tells Moshe to look in the other three directions. Only after he had done that does Hashem tell him to look eastward, to see a dimension of the land of Sichon and Og that he had never seen before, despite having conquered it.
2. We find before Mattan Torah, when Hashem told Klal Yisrael to separate from their wives, He said a direct and explicit command,” Al Tigshu El Isha – Do not come close to a woman.” However, when He told them to return to their wives after Mattan Torah, it was only hinted to them with the words, “Shuvu Lachem L’Ahalaychem; Return to your tents,” Why? Ans… R’Yisrael Salanter says, “We see from here, when telling someone that something is prohibited, you must spell it out to the person in a clear and concise language. A hint will not suffice, since he just won’t get it. However, when it comes to a Heter, telling someone that something is allowed, a person will understand what you mean even with the most vague hint! That is why when it came to tell Klal Yisrael that they must separate from their wives it was said explicitly. However, when it came to be allowed again to their wives the words לְאָהֳלֵיכֶם לָכֶם שׁוּבוּ, sufficed.”
3. “VaYisaber Hashem Bi L’Ma’anchem; Hashem became angry at me because of you.” (VaEschanan 3:26). Moshe says that because of Klal Yisroel, Moshe was not buried in Eretz Yisrael. The Netziv points out that the word L’Ma’anchem means “for your sake” which implies that it was a favor for Bnei Yisrael that Moshe did not go into Eretz Yisroel. What kind of favor was this? Ans… The Netziv answers that after Moshe finishes telling them that Yehoshua will lead, the Torah says, “VaNeishev BaGai Mul Bais Pi’or; Bnei Yisrael encamped in Gai opposite Bais Pi’or.” This Pasuk, which is out of place, explains the riddle, says the Netziv. Pi’or was very attractive to Bnei Yisrael, and they had a very hard time resisting it. In fact they were already Nichshol once. Moshe was buried opposite Pi’or as extra protection for them to help them resist. This Makom Tumah was transformed into a Makom Kadosh as Moshe’s resting place, as a huge favor for Bnei Yisrael who resided there.
4. Az Yavdil Moshe Shalosh Orim B’ever Hayarden (4:41), “Then” Moshe set aside three cities of refuge across the Yarden. First, why does the Torah underscore that Moshe designated the Orei Miklat “then?” And also, how is this pasuk related to the immediately preceding one, which commands us to keep the mitzvos for generations? Ans … According to the Kli Yakar, Hashem taught Moshe in the previous pasuk that one should keep the mitzvos and that “it will be a benefit for you and your children after you”; that is, Hashem taught Moshe this very lesson. That even if you cannot complete a Mitzvah — start it! Doing so will be good for you (as the one who began it) and your children after you (who will complete it). Similarly, Dovid HaMelech started building the Bais Hamikdash, although unable to complete it, such that his son Shlomo would finish the construction. Moshe took this lesson to heart. Moshe knew that the three orei miklat that he would establish now were to remain inoperative until those in Eretz Yisroel became functional. Still, he did not allow this to dissuade him from starting this mitzvah. The pasuk, thus, highlights that “Az yavdil Moshe” — then Moshe designated the arei miklat — without delay, despite the fact that this Mitzvah would have to be completed by another.
5. “You shall love Hashem.” The word אהבה – love – has a root of הב which means give. We are commanded in this week’s parsha to Love Hashem. We read this posuk at least twice daily in the Shema. But how does one love Hashem? Ans… In Yiddishkeit we believe that love is based on giving, hence the root of the word אהבה – love is הב – give. You cannot love somebody unless you are willing to give it 100% of the time, in all sorts of ways. The other person will then reciprocate this love. However, true Love is giving just for the sake of giving, and not giving just so you get something back! Hashem gave us things to do, mitzvos. By doing mitzvos, we are giving to Hashem. To truly love Him would be to give 100% in every Mitzvah and not doing it half-heartedly. Don’t do it because you want reward, but you know that’s what Hashem means when He says Love Him.
6. The pasuk tells us (4:2) “Lo Sigri’u Mimenu”. The Torah cannot be broken into components. What is the lesson here? ANS…Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (Divrei Agadah) tells a Mashal to explain this. There was a naïve villager who somehow had a large fortune of money. A city slicker came to him one day to borrow money from him. He hesitated, wondering aloud how he will get his money back. The city boy explained to him that he can write a contract and guarantors will sign as well. If he has trouble collecting, he can take the document to court and they will force the him to pay. Agreeing with this plan the villager lent him a large sum of money for a year’s time. In middle of the year, the city boy came back the villager and told him that he wants to return half the money because he doesn’t need anymore. After returning the money he asked the villager to give him back half the document. The village cut the document in half and returned it to him. A few days later he returned again explaining that after rechecking the situation he does after all need the second half of the money. So the villager gave him back the money and received the second half of the document once again. Now the naïve villager had a document ripped in half and the city slicker had all the money. The same is with our torah explains Rav Elyashiv. If you rip out any part of it, it becomes a worthless document. The Torah must be kept in its entirety.

V’ESCHANON Test Me….Just Test Me…..I Dare You!
1. “And I prayed to Hashem at that time.” Why “at that time” – Defeating Sichon and Og, whose lands were part of Eretz Canaan, Moshe thought perhaps Hashem had annulled the vow against his entering the Land.
2. What characteristic trait is represented by Hashem’s “strong hand” – His willingness to forgive.
3. What is ha’levanon? – Ha’levanon means the Beis Hamikdash, which makes “white” (lavan), i.e., atones for, the Jewish People.
4. What did Hashem tell Yehoshua after the battle of Ai? – Yehoshua must lead the army into battle.
5. What will happen if the Jewish People fail to keep the mitzvos properly? – The non-Jewish world will regard them as foolish.
6. How did the decree that Moshe not enter the Land affect him even in death? – Even his remains weren’t buried in the Land.
7. What is hinted by the word v’noshantem? – The gematria of v’noshantem, 852, hints at the number of years until the first exile.
8. Why were the Jewish People exiled two years earlier than indicated by Moshe’s prophecy? – So that the rest of the prophecy “that you shall utterly perish” would not be fulfilled.
9. “You’ll serve man-made gods.” Is this literal? – No. It means you’ll serve others who serve idols.
10. Why is east called mizrach? – It’s the direction from which the sun shines (mizrach means shining).
11. “Keep the Shabbos day as I have commanded you.” When had Hashem previously commanded us to keep Shabbos? – Before Matan Torah, at Marah. (Shmos 15:25)
12. Where did the Jewish People first receive the command to honor parents? At Marah. (Shmos 15:25).
13. What is meant by “Hashem, our G-d, Hashem is One” – Hashem, who is now our G-d, but not [accepted as] G-d of the other nations, will eventually be [accepted as] the one and only G-d.
14. What are two meanings of loving Hashem “with all your might” – 1) With everything you own. 2) Whether Hashem treats you with kindness or harshness.
15. How well-versed must one be in Torah? – If asked a Torah question, one should be able to reply quickly and clearly.

Created By Avrohom Sherman
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