Chumash
What are the two things that could happen to a korban in our pasukim that would cause a person to be chayav kares if they ate it?
Hint: the words start with a p and an n... it's only worth 100!
Pigul - You had the wrong intention during the shechita - either to eat the korban past two days, or to eat it outside of Yerushalyim
Nosar - You ate it past two days
Why are you not yotzei (did not fulfill) the mitzvah of Shema if you did not think about the meaning of the first line?
You didn't do the mitzvah!
You don't need to think about the meaning of the mitzvah to wave a lulav or blow shofar. But the mitzvah of Shema is to understand Hashem runs this place!
The Shulchan Aruch says you can say Shema in any language. What do you need to make sure to do?
Make sure the words are translated "exactly" from Lashon HaKodesh (Hebrew).
לְהִתְבוֹנֵן
to understand
Found on bottom of page 5... you must have kevanah to understand the first line of Shema.
What are the two possible bad intentions one could have to make their korban pigul?
Wrong place - outside of Yerushalyim
Wrong time - past the 2nd day
Does the Shulchan Aruch require someone to have kevanah to fulfill a mitzvah?
It brings two "yesh omrim's" (opinions). The first says you don't, the second says you do.
We say lechatchila (best case scenario) one should have kevanah to fulfill the mitzvah, but b'dieved (if you mess up) you do not need to repeat the mitzvah because you can rely on the first yesh omrim. Why else would you be doing the mitzvah? Obviously you want to fulfill it!
What does the Mishnah Berurah say is the mitzvah min hamavuchar (best way to fulfill the mitzvah of Shema) on page 6... why?
To say Shema in Hebrew... because everyone knows what Shema means in Hebrew... why would you say it in a different language than the Torah wrote it?
קְוֹרֵא
Read
Found on page 3... The Gemara explains that "reading" means to understand what you're saying, instead of "proofreading".
Why is making something pigul so serious?
You took what was Holy for Hashem and desecrated it (made it unholy).
Could a person fulfill their own obligation to bentch with their campers?
Yes - only if they have specific kevanah to fulfill the mitzvah. If they don't, it doesn't work. Because they are not necessarily bentching to fulfill the mitzvah, they're only doing it to educate their campers. Therefore, you're not able to rely on the first yesh omrim.
Why does the Mishnah Berurah recommend not to say Shema in any language besides Hebrew? (page 6-7)... two reasons!
Everyone knows what Shema means... so no need to translate it!
And 2.. we don't know the complete meaning of some words, and they are lost in translation when you change it to another language.
Agreement
הֶסְכֵם
Every language besides Hebrew is an "agreement" between the people that live in each place on what means what
What is the one condition for a korban to become pigul?
Everything must have been done correctly.
If the korban had a mum (blemish), or any part of the slaughter was performed incorrectly, there is no kares.
What type of kevanah must you have for the first line of Shema?
What different type of kevanah do you need for the 3 paragraphs?
First line - you need to understand what you're saying.
The rest - need to have in mind to fulfill the mitzvah. If you forget, that's all right... because you can rely on the first yesh omrim in the Shulchan Aruch... obviously you're saying Shema to fulfill the mitzvah!
Can you fulfill your mitzvah of Shema in English while visiting China? Why or why not?
No. According to the Biur Halacha, Lashon HaKodesh (Hebrew) is the only "true" language. Every other language is jumbled sounds agreed to by the people of the place. Outside of that place, the language means nothing!
Be Careful
יִזָהֵר
Found on page 6... you should be careful your translation is truly describing all of the Hebrew words properly