Sukkos Math
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Rabbi Benyomin HoffmanSukkos Math
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Rabbi Benyomin HoffmanPARSHA MATH
PATTERNS IN PLACE - SUKKOS
On each day of the seven days of Chag Sukkos the Cohanim offered special sacrifices
in the Bais HaMikdash of 14 sheep ()כבשים, two rams( )אילים, one goat ()שעיר. Also,
they offered cows ()פרים, but this number changed each day. The count started with 13,
decreased by one each day until the final day, when 7 cows were offered.
Determine the Following:
1. The total number of cows offered during Sukkos ____________
(F+L)/2 * I (see math formula below)
2. Total number of goats ____________
3. Total number of rams ____________
4. Total number of sheep ____________
5. The total number of Sukkos offerings ____________
Math Formula: One can quickly add a consecutive series of numbers using a simple formula
Determine the average value of the numbers by adding the first and last number in the sequence
together and then divide by 2. F(irst) + L(ast) / (divided by) 2 (F+L)/2
Determine the actual number of consecutive numbers (integers) I(integers)
Multiply the answer from step one times the answer from step 2 (F+L)/2*I
Simple example: sum of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
F+L/2 Add 4 plus 8 (12) and divide by 2 = 6
Total number of Integers =5
(F+L)/2 * I 6 X 5 = 30
Example: sum of all integers from 1 to 100
(F+L)/2 Add 1 plus 100 (101) and divide by 2 = 50.5
Total number of Integers = 100
(F+L)/2 * I 50.5 X 100 = 5,050
The 24 groups ( )משמרותof Cohanim served equally in the Bais HaMikdash regarding the holiday
offerings during the 3 major holidays. Thus, on Sukkos they each took turns offering the total
number Sukkos offerings. Each day the groups would first offer (sequentially) the rams, the goats,
and the sheep. However, of the 14 sheep offered each day, some groups would offer one sheep and
some offered two sheep.
Determine each day how many משמרותoffered two sacrifices:
Hint: figure out how many offerings each of the seven days
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PARSHA MATH
NOTES FOR TEACHER OR PARENT
Age group – 12 years and up
Objective of this lesson:
Appreciate math in the Parsha
Introduction to concepts regarding sacrifices during Sukkos
ANSWER SHEET
1. The total number of cows offered during Sukkos
(F+L)/2 * I
First = 13 Last = 7 Integers= 7 (days)
(13+7) =20 20/2 = 10 10*7 = 70 _____70_______
Total number of goats 1X7 ______7_____
Total number of rams 2X7 _____14______
Total number of sheep 14 X 7 _____98_______
2. The total number of Sukkos offerings 70+7+14+98 ____189_______
Determine each day how many משמרותoffered two sacrifices:
Hint: figure out how many offerings each of the seven days
First day: 13 cows offered by first 13 groups; then one group offered one goat; then two groups
each offered the two rams; so far, 16 (of the 24) groups would have offered a sacrifice.
Now 14 sheep remained. First the remaining 8 groups offered eight sheep. And, 6
sheep would be offered by 6 groups that had already offered an animal
Second day: 12+1+2+14 = 29 total sacrifices; thus, 5 groups would offer two sacrifices that day
Third day: 11+1+2+14 = 28 total sacrifices; thus, 4 groups would offer two sacrifices that day
Fourth day: 10+1+2+14 = 27 total sacrifices; thus, 3 groups would offer two sacrifices that day
Fifth day: 9+1+2+14 = 26 total sacrifices; thus, 2 groups would offer two sacrifices that day
Sixth day: 8+1+2+14 = 25 total sacrifices; thus, 1 group would offer two sacrifices that day
Seventh day: 7+1+2+14 = 24 total sacrifices; thus, 0 groups would offer two sacrifices that day
Total groups offering two sacrifices on a day would be (6+5+4+3+2+1+0) = 21
Note: total of 189 special sacrifices for Sukkos
24 groups of Cohanim:
21 groups offered eight sacrifices during the seven days; and 3 offered seven sacrifices
21 X 8 = 168 3 X 7 = 21 168 + 21 = 189
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