TTriddles "Report"

Triddles

Torah Tidbits-style riddles on Parshat HaShavua (sometimes on the calendar)

[1] It’s not just for Brits
[2] 3rd gives a feeling of “been there!”
[3] Two Aramaic plaid
[4] Did this before. Still good TTriddle.

Triddles Answered:

[1] It’s not just for Brits

This TTriddle was meant to make the potential solver think that Brits refers to people who come from Britain. The image of Queen Elizabeth II from a coin and the Union Jack were meant to reinforce that impression. In fact, the Brits in the TTriddle refer to BRIT MILA. The answer, then, is simple. UVAYOM HASH’MINI, and on the 8th day… from the beginning of Tazri’a is referring to a Brit Mila. But there are a few other BAYM HASH’MINIs that refer to other things - like the purification of the M’tzora and others. So BAYOM HASH’MINI is not just for B’RITOT. A search of Tanach reveals 16 occurrences of the words BAYOM HASH’MINI. One in Sh’mot refers to an animal being with its mother for seven days and on the 8th day, it can be offered on the Mizbei’ach. Vayikra has 8 occurrences of the phrase. The first, in Parshat Sh’mini, refers to the 8th day of the inauguration of the Mishkan. Then in Tazri’a-M’tzora we find Brit Mila, the korban of a M’tzora (twice mentioned), the Tahara of a ZAV and a ZAVA. And in Emor there are two references to the 8th day of Sukkot (a.k.a. Sh’mini Atzeret). In Bamidar, we find the purification of the Nazir, the 8th day of dedication gifts to the Mishkan, and another reference to Sh’mini Atzeret. There are 4 other occurrences of the phrase in the rest of Tanach.

[2] 3rd gives a feeling of “been there!”

And here’s another TTriddle about BAYOM HASH’MINI.. The third pasuk on Tazri’a begins with UVAYOM HASH’MINI. That gives us a feeling of “been there”, meaning, having ready VAYHI BAYOM HASH’MINI a week earlier - Parshat Shmini.

[3] Two Aramaic plaid

The Torah commands the M’tzora to take two birds as part of his purification process. SH’TEI TZIPORIM - Targum: TARTEIN TZIPARIN. The word for two is similar to TARTAN which is a kind of plaid fabric.

[4] Did this before. Still good TTriddle.

The TTriddle tells us that we’ve used a similar TTriddle in the past. It further claims that it is still a good TTriddle. The statement of the TTriddle consists of two three-word sentences in a row. There is only one place in the Torah that we find two consecutive three-word p’sukim - Vayikra 14:55 and 56 (in Parshat M’tzora). And for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house. And for a swelling, and for a scab, and for a bright spot. Three-word p’sukim are rare enough; this is the only two such p’sukim in a row.

[5] Unexplaineds from the ParshaPix

The easy chair and footrest refer to the opening pasuk of the haftara for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh. “Thus says HaShem, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool; where is the house that you build to Me? and where is the place of My rest?” (Yeshayahu 66:1)

[6] another Unexplained

This one is also from the haftara. The rack of pool balls (triangle at the top of the ParshaPix) stands for a place mentioned in the haftara - PUL (pool). “...and I will send those who escape to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud…” (Yeshayahu 66:19)

[7] And one more unexplained

This refers to the string of numbers: 2, .2, 2, 1, 7, .3, 1, 1/5, 1, .1, .1, 1, 1/2, 1/3, .25, 1. These are the numbers mentioned in the Maftir for Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, starting with, “And on Shabbat, 2 lambs of the first year without blemish, and 2 tenths measure of flour… all the way through the Rosh Chodesh Musaf which ends with 1 goat as a communal Chatat offering. 16 numbers in a relatively short portion.

[8] The MazlPic of the month

As H(S)M pointed out, we seemed to have inadvertently omitted the graphic for the mazal of the month. That, we did. We will remedy that omission this week.

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