Discover and learn every week, "5 Facts" written on the weekly Parshah that you can share at your Shabbos table.

1.     How did the Jews learn Torah while in the desert?

• The following is how the Jews would learn Torah while in the desert: Moshe would enter his tent followed by Aharon. Moshe would then recite a verse that  had been revealed to him, comment on it, and explain it.  Aaron would then position himself on Moshe’s right side and Elazar and Itamar (Aaron’s sons) would then be taught the verse  in the same manner. Then the 70 elders would enter and Moshe would teach it to them.  Lastly, the Bnei Yisrael would be taught the verse.  They would hear it 4 times and then gather into  small groups to review it. Someone would be chosen to write the teaching  on small parchments and emissaries would be sent to teach the entire nation until they knew it  by heart. (Rambam Mishnah Intro. based on Eruvin 54 and Sifri Vayikra 25:1)

2.     How long did it take to give over the Book of Devarim?

• It seems that the entire book of Devarim was given in 5-6 weeks since we know that Moshe died on the 7th of Adar. (Rashi, Onkelos, Kiddushin 38a, Sifri)

3.     In what language did Moshe give the over the Torah?

• Moshe  explained the Torah  in 70 languages. (Rashi, Tanchuma 2)

4.     Is there an allusion to the concept of resurrection in the Torah?

• Yes. This is one of the allusions in the Torah to the resurrection of the dead since the verse says that the land will be given “to them”. (Sanhedrin)

5.     What report had they heard that frightened them?

• What they heard was the report that the sun and moon had stood still and ceased from speaking (their) song during a day and a half, standing still in their place until they had done battle with Sichon. (Targum Yonathan)