Parsha discussion

Question:  Why is שבועות linked specifically to קרבן העומר rather than פסח? Approach : On a very basic level, the holiday is related to the agricultural cycle. With the קורבן העומר representing the start of the grain harvest season (barley) and שבועות representing the end (wheat), and hence the ceremony of the שתי הלחם. So, whilst פסח is scheduled to be in the אביב (see end of פרשת וארא for the implication of the word), it is the agricultural perspective which is dominant here.

Question:  Why are the rules of פיגול repeated from פרשת צו? Approach: it may be possible to explain that the context in our parsha is to lead us into certain areas of law whereby parts of one’s own food is to be left aside. And so we are enjoined to note that this is specifically NOT the case when it comes to קורבנות.

Question:  Why are we told twice that the כהן takes the live bird for dipping in the blood of the slaughtered bird as part of the טהרה process for the מצורע? Approach: It could be suggested that the dipping of the live bird into the blood of the slaughtered bird is a required part of the process. And since the live bird is just that - live - and hence prone to attempting to escape, the כהן is told to ensure that he does not let the live bird go until the process is complete by holding onto it carefully.

Question:  Who was supposed to eat the bulk of the שלמי ציבור? - we only see the requirement for the כהנים to eat their portion Approach: It's possible to suggest that, because אהרון was the כהן who did the עבודה of the שלמים, and it was he who received the חזה ושוק, it would have been the other כהנים (i.e. the 4 brothers) and possibly משה who would have eaten the rest of the שלמים.