Pshat (The Story)
1. What is a "rebellion"? 2. Why did Korach cause a rebellion?
A rebellion is when you go against something. Korach wanted to go against Moshe and Aharon, because he thought he would be a better leader than they were.
Rashi lived in __________ during the years _________
France, 1040-1105
What tribe were Datan and Aviram from?
Reuven
Who said this to whom? "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, a land of milk and honey, to die in the desert?!"
Datan and Aviram to Moshe
What question does the Gemara have about On ben Pelet? How does the Gemara answer the question?
Question: What happened to On ben Pelet? He doesn't appear again after the first part of the rebellion.
Answer: On's wife convinced him to abandon the rebellion. She uncovered her hair and was bathing when Korach came searching for On, so he got awkward and left. She saved On's life!
How do Korach, his followers, and the 250 men die?
Korach and his followers are swallowed up by the mouth of the earth. The 250 men are consumed in a fire.
What does "Rashi" stand for?
Rabbi Shlomo ben Yitzchak
How was Korach related to Moshe and Aharon, specifically? (It's not enough to say that they were cousins.)
They shared the same great-grandfather, Levi.
Who said this to whom? "Is it not enough that God already made you Levi'im, that now you are complaining you also want to be Kohanim?!"
Moshe to Korach and his followers
What is anthropomorphism?
When you use human descriptions to describe God or another non human being
What does Hashem say that Aharon's son should do with the copper from the firepans? Why?
Hammer them into a copper covering for the altar, so that everyone who see is will remember what happens if you try to rebel against Hashem.
We learned about an example earlier in Shemot where Rashi explains both the pshat and the drash. The example was when Pharaoh's daughter finds baby Moshe in the Nile. How does Rashi explain how she gets the baby, according to both pshat and drash?
Pshat: She sends her handmaiden to get the baby.
Drash: Her hand stretches and gets the baby.
Which characters are scared of death in the story?
B'nai Yisrael
Who said this to whom? "Get away from these people and I will destroy them all!"
Hashem to Moshe and Aharon
According to Rashi, how did Moshe know that firepans and incense should be used to stop the plaguing killing BY?
The midrash says that the Angel of Death told him this was the secret cure to a plague whem Moshe was on Har Sinai receiving the Torah.
Why did Moshe put Aharon's blossoming staff in the Ohel Moed?
So that anyone who saw it would remember that Aharon was chosen by Hashem to be the Kohen Gadol.
As Rashi explains, where did the Tribe of Levi and the Tribe of Reuven both camp?
In the south
Which characters brought the firepans covered with incense?
The 250 leaders.
"It is not worth it for you to join the rebellion, you will not become the leader anyway."
According to Rashi, why are almonds the fruit that blossomed on Aharon's staff?
Almonds are the fastest growing fruit. Hashem was sending a message that if anyone rebelled against Hashem again, their punishment would come as quickly as almonds blossom.
What happened immediately after Korach's followers were swallowed up, and how many people were killed?
BY accused Moshe and Aharon that they killed all the rebels. Hashem sent a plague to kill the complainers. 14,700 died before Aharon stopped the plague.
What were BY's three strikes before Korach's rebellion?
1. The Golden Calf
2. Complaining that they wanted meat
3. Sending the spies to Israel
Name three of Aharon's four sons.
Nadav, Avihu, Elazar, Itamar
Who says this about whom? "Woe to the wicked one, woe to his neighbor!"
Rashi about Datan and Aviram (the neighbors) and Korach (the wicked one).
Why do people of different ages give different opinions about what is the right thing for Heinz to do in the Heinz Dilemma?
Our brains continue developing until we reach age 25. As we develop, our sense of right and wrong also develops and changes.