Torah Teasers Parshas Nasa
1. The Gemara in Taanis (26b) says that the reason why Birchas Kohanim is written right after the Parsha of Nazir is to teach us that just like it is assur for a Nazir to drink wine, so, too, it is assur for a Kohein to do Birchas Kohenin under the influence of wine. Rav Shmuel Aharon Yudelevich, the Me’il Shmuel, asks, “We see before Yitzchok gave Yaakov the Brachos, he drank wine and only then gave Yaakov the Bracha. Does wine enhance the bracha or pasul it?” Ans… He answers that wine before a bracha is good as it puts one in good mood, and the Bracha is given with joy. The reason why a Kohein cannot be under the happy influence of wine during Birchas Kohanim is because he is not the one giving the Bracha, Hashem is. We want to make this point very clear, and, therefore, the Kohein must be wine free.
2. Each and every Nasi brought a Korban on his own day. This korban was identical for each and every Nasi. Rashi explains the remazim that were involved in the Korban, which were Kineged Adam HaRishon, the 70 Umos, the Torah, Avrohom, and so on. Interestingly, Rashi discusses all this for the Korban of Nesanel ben Tzu’ar, who was not the Nasi of the first day, but rather the second day. Why does Rashi skip Nachshon’s opening day korban and wait until Nesanel’s korban? Ans… The Chasam Sofer answers that on the first day, Rashi had no proof that these korbanos represented something other than a generous gift. It was only when the second Nasi brought an identical korban, that Rashi could know that there was something deeper than just random gifts.
3. The halacha is that when one brings a Korban, the sacrifice of the animal always comes before the bringing of the Mincha which is made of flour. Yet by the Nesi’im we find curiously that first they brought the Mincha and only then did they bring the Korbanos. Why is this? Ans… Rav Moshe Shternbuch answers that bringing a Korban is as if we brought ourselves for a Korban, sacrificing our own flesh and blood with Mesiras Nefesh before Hashem. The mincha, which represents our material assets, shows that all our needs down to the bread we eat comes from Hashem. A person must first show Mesiras Nefesh before dealing with his physical needs. However, when it comes to a leader of Klal Yisrael, his first priority is to concern himself with the physical welfare of his people. Only after that should he be concerned about his own personal Mesiras Nefesh. Therefore, the Nesi’im brought the all important korban mincha prior to spilling their own flesh and blood before Hashem.
4. The Baal HaTurim says that the reason a Nazir cannot be near a dead body is so that if his Nezirus brings him Ruach HaKodesh, people should not suspect that it is not Ruach HaKodesh, but that he is really communicating with evil spirits through the dead (Doresh El HaMeisim). Rav Elyashiv (Divrei Aggada) points out that although a Navi has Ruach HaKodesh he has no restriction to avoid dead bodies. What is the difference? Ans…He answers that the pasuk by Nazir says (6:2), “Ish Ki Yafli Lindor.” The Ibn Ezra says that the word Yafli is from the word Peleh, a wonder. The whole world follows their desires, and this person chooses not to do so. This is a wonder! By a Navi everyone sees and knows that he is holy person, and they know his Ruach HaKodesh is attained through spiritual purity. However, when they see a simple person that merely refrains from the physical pleasure of drinking wine for thirty days, they cannot fathom the holiness of this act; and the last thing they think, is that this act can raise him to the level of Ruach HaKodesh. They suspect that he has been doing some forbidden black magic through the dead. Therefore, the Torah tells the Nazir to stay away from dead bodies to avoid suspicion.
5. The Halacha states that a Baal Keri must go out of 2 camps – the Machneh Yisroel and the Machaneh Leviya. If so, how was a Levi able to have relations with his wife? He would become a Baal Keri and thus not be allowed in the Machneh Leviya? Ans… The Meshech Chochmah learns that the Leviim had 2 homes. One would be in Machaneh Leviya near the Mishkan where they would live when doing the Avodah. They also had a second home for their wives and children in the 1 “mil” area that divided the Machaneh Leviya from the Machaneh Yisrael. This area had the laws of the Machaneh Yisrael and a Baal Keri was allowed to be there. Meshech Chochmah learns this from the pasuk in Parshas Bamidbar that states twice that the Leviim camped around the Mishkan – one for himself, and a second for his wife and children.
6. Vihisvadu Es Avonam … V’Hayshiv Es Ashamo”. The pasuk discusses one who steals, denies it and swears falsely. If he admits his sin, then he shall return the principal plus 1/5 to the one he stole from. Why does the pasuk use the plural when speaking about their admission of sin (“Vihisvadu”), and the singular when discussing returning the object (“V’Hayshiv”)? Ans… The Meforshim explain that many people admit their sins (plural “Vihisvadu”), however only few actually do something about it to become better (singular “V’Hayshiv”).
7. Rashi tells us why the Torah places the parsha of Sotah near the parsha of one who does not give Terumos and Maasros to the Kohen. He explains that if one does not come to the Kohen to give the Matnas Kehunah, he will have to come to him to bring his wife as a Sotah. The Maskil L’David asks, “Isn’t this the classic case of “Tuvya Chata Zeegud Mingid?” – Tuvya sins and Zeegud gets punished? The husband did an Avairah, by not giving the proper gifts to the Kohen, and his wife gets punished by becoming a Sotah? Ans… The Maskil L’David answers, “This husband who stole the gifts from the Kohen will have to come back to this world as a Gilgul to repay his debts. In his reincarnation, he will remarry another woman. We know that ‘Zivug Sheini Lfi Maasov’- the type of woman that a man marries in his second marriage is based on his deeds. Therefore, this husband who was a thief in his first lifetime, will marry a woman who will become a Sotah – since that is what he is worthy of, based on his deeds.

“I was in the Far East and Australia, and was markedly successful in all my affairs, turning larger-than-expected profits. I attributed this to a bracha I received from Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, before I left. The flight from Australia to Israel is very long and wearying, and by the time we had traveled most of the way, nearly all the passengers were trying to sleep. I too had napped a bit. In a few hours we would be in Israel and my ordeal would be over. I was anticipating how my Tel Aviv-New York flight would be packed with Israelis, and that simple thought was making me very happy. I dozed again.
“Suddenly, the silence was split by the crackling of the loudspeaker. ‘Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,’ came the cheerful voice of the stewardess. ‘We have just discovered a small problem in the left motor of the airplane. As I said, it is only a minor problem. After a routine landing and a quick repair, we will be on our way again to Israel and then to the United States.’ Then she added, almost as an afterthought, ‘This will give you the opportunity to enjoy the international airport of Beirut.’
“My heart tumbled. In an instant I was running to the front of the plane. I could feel that I was already covered with anxious sweat. I banged on the door of the cockpit and screamed ‘Help!’ A security guard jumped out and barred my way. I pleaded with him to let me speak to the pilot, crying that my life was in danger. The crew captain, hearing me yelling hysterically, came over and asked me what was the matter. Gasping, I told him that the decision to land at Beirut Airport was for me a death sentence! Israel was in a state of war with Lebanon, and also it was right after their humiliating defeat in the Six Day War, I explained to them. I was traveling on an Israeli passport and they might shoot me on the spot when they saw it, without bothering to make any inquiries.
“The captain’s eyes opened wide in surprise. He said they didn’t realize there were any Israelis on the plane. Promising to do his best to take care of it, he disappeared into the front cabin.
After a few minutes that seemed like an eternity, he came back, smiling. ‘I arranged something,’ he informed me. ‘We received permission to land at the Damascus Airport. They said they will be happy to help us. It is only a little out of our way. So we will go there instead of Beirut, okay?’
“From the frying pan to the fire! From the wolf to the tiger,’ I exclaimed to the captain. ‘If this is really the only choice, then between Lebanon and Syria, certainly Lebanon is the least of evils’
“As we began our descent, the captain was even more nervous than I was. He was the one responsible for the well-being of the passengers, and he well understood the great danger I was in. Yet, I was only one person; he couldn’t compromise the safety of the hundreds of other passengers solely on my account. He looked around for a hiding place to conceal me, but it quickly became evident that nothing was adequate.
“While we were still in the air, the Lebanese communicated that no passengers would be permitted to disembark. They were suspicious of a plane that was on its way to Israel suddenly asking to land in Beirut. Perhaps, somehow, it was a tricky Israeli plot. The Lebanese border police would board the plane to check each person’s documents, they said.
“The captain announced to the passengers that everyone should remain in his seat and prepare his passport for inspection. ‘Don’t worry,’ he added; ‘there is nothing to be afraid of.’

I began to say Tehillim, begging the Creator of the world to save me at this critical juncture. There really wasn’t much else that could be done. We decided that I should lie across two seats and cover my head with a blanket. When the police officer asked who was laying there, my seatmate would say that I was quite sick and had been sleeping the entire flight.
True, it wasn’t much of a plan, but we couldn’t think of a better one.
“The doors of the plane swung open. In marched a number of uniformed policemen. I lay crunched up and immobile under the blanket for hours, the whole time not daring to budge. The inspectors still hadn’t reached my row. I felt the words of Rav Chaim hovering over me, protecting me. ‘The trip shall be successful’- the words reverberated in my ears as if he was right there and saying them over and over again.
“Suddenly, I heard the Arabic-accented voice of a policeman next to me. I stopped breathing. He checked the passport of the person seated next to me. Then…he moved on to the next row. He didn’t even bother to inquire as to the identity of whoever was lying under the blanket. A miracle! I gave thanks to Hashem for saving my life, and was filled with praise and gratitude.
“I still couldn’t get up or remove the blanket. The Lebanese had left a guard in the plane to make sure nothing illegal would take place, and no security risks. I lay still for more hours.
“I lost all track of time. I was hungry and thirsty, and the pressure from my bladder was all but unbearable. Still, I didn’t move. What kept me going was Rav Chaim’s blessing. I told myself that until now, nothing bad had happened to me because the he had promised, ‘The trip shall be successful,’ so certainly the rest of the way I would be protected too.
“At some point I fell asleep or fainted. The next thing I knew was when the stewardesses woke me up. We had already taken off. They gave me some fruit and cold water to drink. I felt like I had been restored to life.
Shortly after, the pilot told me that the Lebanese policeman who had inspected my section of the airplane had said to him afterwards, ‘How interesting. You’ve been on this plane for two days already, and that dead body I saw in one of the seats towards the back didn’t even start to stink yet.’
“Then I understood,’ said the pilot, ‘why he didn’t ask for your passport!’
“It is as clear to me now as then,” Moshe concluded his story, “that if I hadn’t had the bracha, I wouldn’t be sitting here telling you all this.”

Created By Avrohom Sherman
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