[Par-reg] Rosh ha'shana - Questions for self study

Thu Sep 29 17:00:04 EDT 2005

*************************************************************
     THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org]
          In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag
     Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag
*************************************************************

    Questions for self study for shiur on: ROSH HASHANA

1. In Chumash, there are only a very few psukim that describe
the holiday that we refer to as Rosh Hashana:
  a) In Parshat Emor / Vayikra 23:23-25
     b) In Parshat Pinchas / Bamidbar 29:1-6
After reviewing those psukim, and based on them alone, answer
the following questions:
  What is the biblical name of (what we call) Rosh Hashana?
  On what day is this holiday to be celebrated?
  What are the special 'mitzvot' of this holiday?
    Which of these mitzvot are common to all of the other
  holidays in Emor and Pinchas, and which of these mitzvot
  are unique for Rosh Hashana?
Based on these sources alone, is there any reason why this
holiday should be called 'rosh hashana' [the New Year}?

2. Based on these psukim alone, does the Torah provide any
reason for celebrating this holiday.  Is there any apparent or
implied reason for this holiday, or for any of its mitzvot?
  Does Parshat Emor (or Parshat Pinchas) provide a reason for
the celebration of any of the other holidays?  If not, are
there any apparent or implied reasons for their celebration?
    [If so, explain what they are.]
  In Parshat Emor, we told that this holiday should be a
'zichron tru'a', while Parshat Pinchas tells us that it should
be a 'yom tru'a'.  Can you explain what these terms imply?  In
your answer, relate to Bamidbar 10:1-10, noting especially
10:9.
  In your opinion, does zichron tru'a imply the same concept
as yom tru'a?
     Is there any obvious reason why this day should be a yom
tru'a?
     Assuming that these psukim (in Pinchas & Emor) were the
only sources for how to celebrate this holiday; based on them
alone, how would you celebrate this holiday?

3. Next, review the next set of psukim in Emor & Pinchas that
describe Yom Kippur. i.e.
  a) Vayikra 23:26-32 and
  b) Bamidbar 29:7-11.
Based on these sources alone, does there appear to be any
obvious or implied connection between the holidays of Rosh
Hashana and Yom Kippur?
  In your answer, relate to the words 'ach' and 'zeh' in
Vayikra 23:27, and  Bamidbar 29:7.  [Note as well the Torah's
use of the word zeh in 23:34, and the word ach in 23:39.  If
there is a relationship, what would that be?]
  Is there any explicit or assumed reason for why Yom Kippur
is celebrated specifically on the tenth of Tishrei?

4.  Next, review the Torah's presentation of both Sukkot and
Shmini Atzeret in Parshat Pinchas (Bamidbar 29:12-19), paying
attention to the different korban mussaf on each holiday.
  Then, compare those korbanot to the korban mussaf of Rosh
Hashana and Yom Kippur (see 29:1-11).  Do any of these
holidays share the same or similar korban mussaf?  If so, can
you explain why?
  If certain holidays share a similar korban mussaf, would
this suggest a thematic relationship between them?  If so,
what would that relationship be?
  Is the any obvious reason for why there is a need for so
many holidays in the 'seventh month'?

5.  In any of the above sources, is 'Rosh Hashana' ever
referred to as the new year?  If not, what is it called, and
why?
  Review Shmot 12:1-3.  How do these psukim explain the
'calendar' used to define the holidays in Emor and Pinchas?

6.  The 'shalosh regalim' are first presented as a unit in
Shmot 23:14-17.  Review those psukim, noting the names of
those holidays, and the reason for their celebration.
  Note how (what we call) Sukkot is referred to as 'chag ha-
asif' [a fruit gathering festival] which is to be celebrated
'be-tzet ha-shana' [when the year goes out] / see 23:16.
  Can you explain what 'year' is ending with the fruit
harvest?
  What can we infer from this pasuk in regard to when the
agricultural year begins?
  What is the logic behind considering this the beginning (or
end) of a year?

7.  See Devarim 11:10-12.  Read these psukim carefully, noting
how it relates to importance of rain for the agriculture in
the Land of Israel (in contrast to the Nile River supplying
water for the fields in Egypt).
  With that in mind, explain what the Torah refers to by the
phrase 'mi-reishit ha-shana' [from the beginning in the year]
in the last pasuk that describes how God 'oversees' the rain
in this Land (see 11:12).
  Based on those psukim, what year does 'reishit ha-shana'
refer to?  Relate this to the topic that follows 11:13-17!
  Based on these psukim, explain the connection between the
'rainy season', the 'beginning of the agricultural year', and
the first day of the seventh month.
  In your opinion, could the fact that the rainy season in the
Land of Israel begins in the autumn relate to any other
holidays that the Torah tells us to celebrate in the seventh
month?
  If so, explain why.
  In what manner does the 'rainy season' determine the fate of
the forthcoming agricultural year?  Why would (or should) this
carry religious significance?

8.  Review once again Bamidbar 10:1-11.  First of all, explain
why this short 'parshia' about the 'chatzotzrot' is located at
this point in Sefer Bamidbar?  [i.e. How does it relates to
the fact the Bnei Yisrael now prepare to leave Har Sinai and
begin their journey to conquer the land of Israel?]
  According to this parshia, what is the difference between a
'teki'a' and tru'a.  [Note the verb used for each, and which
action each 'note' relates to.]
  In your opinion, why is specifically a tru'a sounded when
going to war (see 10:9), and a teki'a sounded on the holidays
(see 10:10)?  See the commentators on these psukim (10:8-10),
especially the Ibn Ezra & Ramban!

9.  For additional insight, study the following sources,
noting
how they can help us understand what a yom tru'a (or hearing
a shofar blowing) meant to people during the time of the
Tanach:
  Tzfania 1:12-16,  Amos 3:6,  Yoel 2:1-3,11-14 & 2:15-17

  Based on these psukim, can you suggest an explanation for
what the Torah means when it instructs us to make a 'zichron
tru'a' (see Vayikra 23:24) or a yom tru'a (see Bamidbar 29:1)
on the first day of the seventh month?
     Can you explain why?
10.  Review Vayikra 25:1-11, noting how these laws discuss the
laws of 'shmitta' and 'yovel'.  Then pay special attention to
25:9, noting the connection between shofar, tru'a and the
'seventh month'!  In your opinion, why does the seven year
shemitta cycle increment specifically in the seventh month
(i.e. on Yom Kippur)?  Is there an agricultural reason for
this?
  Relate this pasuk to the above questions?
  Then, see the Mishna - Masechet Rosh Hashana 33b, and the
gemara a few lines from the bottom (tanu rabbanan...) until
the bottom of 34a.  Based on that gemara, explain how Chazal
learn the laws of shofar from the psukim quoted above.

11.  Based on the above, can you suggest a thematic connection
between Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur?
  Is the date of Yom Kippur significant?  What important event
in the history of Am Yisrael took place on that day?
  How would this relate to the forthcoming rainy season?

12.  Note as well the time of year for the mitzva of Hakhel in
Devarim 31:11-12.  What does 'mo'ed shnat ha-shmitta' refer
to, and why is it during 'chag ha-Sukkot'?
  Which 'calendar' (i.e. solar or lunar) does this relate to?

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