This Unit Test has three sections, pshat, midrash, and personal midrash. You have 60 minutes to complete this test in Sefaria. Please be sure not to access your notes, or the texts on your computer. Once you are to this point, you are required to stay in Sefaria the entire time.
In section one, you must answer all of the questions. In section two, 10 out of 11.
Section Three is one essay. B'hatzlacha!
Part I. Pshat -- Answer all of the questions below (24 Points)
Based on your reading of the Pshat of our stories:
1. We know from the pshat of the story that the lack of water and Miriam's death are tied together, as
Miriam was considered the source of the water.
True or False:
2. All of the scouts were leaders or chieftains of their tribes.
True or False:
3. According to the pshat, the scouts saw "giants" or "children of giants" in Canaan.
True or False:
4. a) For how many days were the scouts the land before returning with their report?
b) How did this turn out to be important in the end of the story?
5. All of the scouts/spies tell the people that they should be afraid of going in and fighting for the
land.
True or False:
6. During the story of Moses Striking the rock, the people are punished for complaining about a lack
of water.
True or False:
7. In the pshat of the scouts story, we learn about specifics regarding how Caleb became trustful and
faithful.
True of False:
8. In your own words, why did Moses and Aaron "fall on their faces" in both stories?
9. The scouts/spies story begins during the 39th year of freedom from slavery.
True or False:
10. The "striking of the rock" story is the reason that the people must wander in the wilderness for
many years.
True or False:
11. God told both Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock.
True or False:
12. God told Moses to pick up the staff because he wanted Moses to hit the rock and produce water,
showing the people a great miracle.
True or False.
13. After the death of his sister, Moses waits for seven days (shivah) to mourn before returning to his
leadership duties.
True or False:
14. God was so frustrated at the lack of faith of the spies, and the people, that he asks Moses if it
would be a good idea to destroy them all, and start fresh with Moses as the new father of the
people Israel...
True or false:
15. Moses uses four arguments to convince God not to destroy the people after the Scouts return, list
2 of them:
a)
b)
16. According to the pshat, the scouts (in the scout story) and Moses and Aaron (in the rock story) commit a similar "sin" against God -- they lose belief in God
True or False:
17. At the end of the story of the scouts, there are only two people from the slave generation who have a chance to enter Israel.
True or False:
18. According to the pshat, Moses first speaks to the rock, and nothing happens, so Moses strikes the
rock to get the water to come out.
True or False:
19. What "name" did Moses call the people just before he struck the rock?
__________________________________
20. During which other story in Torah did Moses become angry and call the people a similar name?
___________________________________
21. The scouts saw giant grasshoppers in Canaan.
True or False:
22. The "striking of the rock story" occurs about 2 years after leaving slavery (although we are not 100% sure of the exact timing).
True or False:
Extra Credit:
Miriam's two famous "water stories", the ones that were famous for connecting her to water, earlier in Shmot/Exodus were:
a)
b)
Part II: MIDRASH: Answer 10 out of 11 (30 Points -- 3 Points each)
1. According to midrash that we studied, during the story of the scouts, why did some commentators think that God changes Hosea's name to Joshua? What was the key issue involved that the name change was supposed to impact?
2. What is smichut? How do commentators use this technique? What point was made in the study of our commentary using smichut?
3. Part of the Scouts report: "we were like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so we were in their eyes"
Our Etz Hayim Commentary states: Conveys the essence of the failure of the scouts. The problem was that the Israelites did not believe in themselves. They had no way of knowing what the inhabitants of the Land thought of them. Because they saw themselves as "grasshoppers", weak and ineffectual, they assumed others saw them the same way.
a) In your own words, what is the main point of this commentary?
b) Do you agree with the assessment of the commentary? Why or why not?
4. The pshat in the story is "Let my Lord's power be great...." Richard Elliot Friedman writes "Moses suggests that it is more powerful to be merciful than to punish. In some circumstance, compassion is weakness. In others, it requires enormous strength."
In your own words, what is Richard Elliot Friedman saying about Moses plea to God?
5. Numbers 14:20 There is a comment about God saying "I've forgiven according to your word". It says "Moses is pictured as actually making a difference in a divine decision and in the fate of the people. This is another case in which there is growth in the human stance relative to God."
What is the core teaching of this commentary in your own words?
6. The midrashim that we studied tried to explain why Moses' striking of the rock was such a big deal.
List three things that the midrash states that Moses did wrong in the striking the rock story:
a)
b)
c)
7. The midrash tries to explain why Aaron receives a harsh punishment as well as Moses. What two reasons does the midrash give?
a)
b)
8. Why is Richard Elliot Friedman surprised that Moses was able to get water from the rock by striking it? What does he say that this was the first time that a bible character did? What does he think is important about this?
9. One of the midrashim that we studied discussed that Moses striking the rock, instead of talking to it, might confuse the people Israel about something. What? Why is this important to God?
10. One of the midrashim suggests, simply, that Moses did something publicly which is never allowable. What is it? Why is the audience of this as important as the action itself?
11. Based on your study of the pshat and Midrash, do you think that the punishment to MOSES was just or unjust? Why do you think this?
Part III: Personal Midrash (One essay, 16 Points)
Think deeply about both stories that we have studied and that you are now being assessed on. Consider the most interesting and important PSHAT and MIDRASH and your connection to it. Write an essay of not less than 200 words discussing your BEST personal midrash regarding ONE of the two stories. You must be clear about the pshat and midrash that you are basing your personal madras on. Be clear about HOW THE LEARNING THAT WE DID CAN IMPACT YOUR LIFE TODAY. Have fun!
In section one, you must answer all of the questions. In section two, 10 out of 11.
Section Three is one essay. B'hatzlacha!
Part I. Pshat -- Answer all of the questions below (24 Points)
Based on your reading of the Pshat of our stories:
1. We know from the pshat of the story that the lack of water and Miriam's death are tied together, as
Miriam was considered the source of the water.
True or False:
2. All of the scouts were leaders or chieftains of their tribes.
True or False:
3. According to the pshat, the scouts saw "giants" or "children of giants" in Canaan.
True or False:
4. a) For how many days were the scouts the land before returning with their report?
b) How did this turn out to be important in the end of the story?
5. All of the scouts/spies tell the people that they should be afraid of going in and fighting for the
land.
True or False:
6. During the story of Moses Striking the rock, the people are punished for complaining about a lack
of water.
True or False:
7. In the pshat of the scouts story, we learn about specifics regarding how Caleb became trustful and
faithful.
True of False:
8. In your own words, why did Moses and Aaron "fall on their faces" in both stories?
9. The scouts/spies story begins during the 39th year of freedom from slavery.
True or False:
10. The "striking of the rock" story is the reason that the people must wander in the wilderness for
many years.
True or False:
11. God told both Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock.
True or False:
12. God told Moses to pick up the staff because he wanted Moses to hit the rock and produce water,
showing the people a great miracle.
True or False.
13. After the death of his sister, Moses waits for seven days (shivah) to mourn before returning to his
leadership duties.
True or False:
14. God was so frustrated at the lack of faith of the spies, and the people, that he asks Moses if it
would be a good idea to destroy them all, and start fresh with Moses as the new father of the
people Israel...
True or false:
15. Moses uses four arguments to convince God not to destroy the people after the Scouts return, list
2 of them:
a)
b)
16. According to the pshat, the scouts (in the scout story) and Moses and Aaron (in the rock story) commit a similar "sin" against God -- they lose belief in God
True or False:
17. At the end of the story of the scouts, there are only two people from the slave generation who have a chance to enter Israel.
True or False:
18. According to the pshat, Moses first speaks to the rock, and nothing happens, so Moses strikes the
rock to get the water to come out.
True or False:
19. What "name" did Moses call the people just before he struck the rock?
__________________________________
20. During which other story in Torah did Moses become angry and call the people a similar name?
___________________________________
21. The scouts saw giant grasshoppers in Canaan.
True or False:
22. The "striking of the rock story" occurs about 2 years after leaving slavery (although we are not 100% sure of the exact timing).
True or False:
Extra Credit:
Miriam's two famous "water stories", the ones that were famous for connecting her to water, earlier in Shmot/Exodus were:
a)
b)
Part II: MIDRASH: Answer 10 out of 11 (30 Points -- 3 Points each)
1. According to midrash that we studied, during the story of the scouts, why did some commentators think that God changes Hosea's name to Joshua? What was the key issue involved that the name change was supposed to impact?
2. What is smichut? How do commentators use this technique? What point was made in the study of our commentary using smichut?
3. Part of the Scouts report: "we were like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so we were in their eyes"
Our Etz Hayim Commentary states: Conveys the essence of the failure of the scouts. The problem was that the Israelites did not believe in themselves. They had no way of knowing what the inhabitants of the Land thought of them. Because they saw themselves as "grasshoppers", weak and ineffectual, they assumed others saw them the same way.
a) In your own words, what is the main point of this commentary?
b) Do you agree with the assessment of the commentary? Why or why not?
4. The pshat in the story is "Let my Lord's power be great...." Richard Elliot Friedman writes "Moses suggests that it is more powerful to be merciful than to punish. In some circumstance, compassion is weakness. In others, it requires enormous strength."
In your own words, what is Richard Elliot Friedman saying about Moses plea to God?
5. Numbers 14:20 There is a comment about God saying "I've forgiven according to your word". It says "Moses is pictured as actually making a difference in a divine decision and in the fate of the people. This is another case in which there is growth in the human stance relative to God."
What is the core teaching of this commentary in your own words?
6. The midrashim that we studied tried to explain why Moses' striking of the rock was such a big deal.
List three things that the midrash states that Moses did wrong in the striking the rock story:
a)
b)
c)
7. The midrash tries to explain why Aaron receives a harsh punishment as well as Moses. What two reasons does the midrash give?
a)
b)
8. Why is Richard Elliot Friedman surprised that Moses was able to get water from the rock by striking it? What does he say that this was the first time that a bible character did? What does he think is important about this?
9. One of the midrashim that we studied discussed that Moses striking the rock, instead of talking to it, might confuse the people Israel about something. What? Why is this important to God?
10. One of the midrashim suggests, simply, that Moses did something publicly which is never allowable. What is it? Why is the audience of this as important as the action itself?
11. Based on your study of the pshat and Midrash, do you think that the punishment to MOSES was just or unjust? Why do you think this?
Part III: Personal Midrash (One essay, 16 Points)
Think deeply about both stories that we have studied and that you are now being assessed on. Consider the most interesting and important PSHAT and MIDRASH and your connection to it. Write an essay of not less than 200 words discussing your BEST personal midrash regarding ONE of the two stories. You must be clear about the pshat and midrash that you are basing your personal madras on. Be clear about HOW THE LEARNING THAT WE DID CAN IMPACT YOUR LIFE TODAY. Have fun!