12

Who knows six?

Please cite/link your sources, if possible. In about one business day, I will:

  • Upvote all interesting answers.

  • Accept the best answer.

  • Go on to the next number.

Improve this question
4

33 Answers 33

Reset to default
1
2
18

Six are the locations of the Sanctuary: the desert, Gilgal, Shiloh, Nov, Giveon, and Jerusalem.

Improve this answer
1
  • From sefer shoftim?
    – Adam Mosheh
    Commented Jul 13, 2014 at 18:58
16

Six are the cities of refuge (for accidental killers).

Improve this answer
2
  • 4
    Fits the beat!!
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented May 15, 2012 at 18:29
  • 1
    @DoubleAA I tried, yeah, but then had to add the parenthetical comment to make the minimum character count. :-)
    – Monica Cellio
    Commented May 15, 2012 at 18:31
14

Six are the books of the Mishna Berura.

Improve this answer
2
  • 5
    And also the Baal Hatanya's Shulchan Aruch.
    – Alex
    Commented Mar 22, 2010 at 18:13
  • 4
    But that doesn't fit the song as nicely. :)
    – Isaac Moses ♦
    Commented Mar 22, 2010 at 19:11
14

6 Constant Mitzvos

  1. To believe in God, and that he created all things.
  2. Not to believe in anything else other than God.
  3. To believe in God's Oneness.
  4. To fear God.
  5. To love God.
  6. Not to pursue the passions of your heart and stray after your eyes.
Improve this answer
0
12

Six are the sons of Leah, our fore-mother.

Improve this answer
11

Six are the tribes that stood on Har Gerezim. Six are the tribes that stood on Har Ebal.

Improve this answer
1
  • 3
    similar: six are the tribes on the left shoulder, six are the tribes on the right shoulder (of the Cohen Gadol of course)
    – Jeremy
    Commented Mar 23, 2010 at 17:35
11

The Jewish women in Egypt gave birth to 6 children at one time

Improve this answer
11

Six are the millions of Jews who were murdered by Nazi Germany during WWII, HY"D.

Improve this answer
11

6 Aliyos (portions read in the torah) on Yom Kipur

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    +1, this is why Yom Kippur is different from all other holidays.
    – Adam Mosheh
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 5:54
  • 5
    @AdamMosheh I thought it was that we don't eat anything on yom kippur
    – Baal Shemot Tovot
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 18:00
11

Six are:

Improve this answer
5
  • 2
    Ahhh the war lasted six days, that's right!
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented May 15, 2012 at 19:52
  • 2
    @DoubleAA Yeah, I always forget that one! Btw, what day did the Yom Kippur War start?
    – HodofHod
    Commented May 15, 2012 at 19:54
  • 1
    6 October 1973 IIRC which is also Egypt's Armed Forces Day.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented May 15, 2012 at 19:54
  • 1
    @DoubleAA. Touche, Wikipedia, touche.
    – HodofHod
    Commented May 15, 2012 at 19:57
  • 2
    +1. "Items on the Seder Plate" according to some customs.
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented May 24, 2012 at 15:05
10

Six are the vowels in the Babylonian system of nikkud.

Improve this answer
5
  • 3
    How can there be a correct answer to this question?
    – Adam Mosheh
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 4:51
  • 1
    @AdamMosheh: I don't know Isaac's exact criteria, but he always picks an accepted answer for each question in this series.
    – Alex
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 16:01
  • 1
    @AdamMosheh AFAICT It's strongly related to number of upvotes.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 18:11
  • 1
    @AdamMosheh Alex and DoubleAA, I don't have exact criteria. I just pick the one I like best. Upvotes can sway me. Note that even in general "Accepted" doesn't mean "the correct answer." It means "most useful to the asker."
    – Isaac Moses ♦
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 21:21
  • I count 7: patah/segol, qamatz, tzere, hiriq, holam, qubutz, shuruq, shva mobile.
    – Kfir
    Commented May 7, 2019 at 23:35
10

Six are the ways Israel was rewarded for Avraham's service to the angels:

  1. Because Avraham called for the angels to be brought water, G-d repaid by providing water in the Midbar, in the Yishuv (settlement) and in the Messianic Age (e.g. "Spring water will flow out of Jerusalem (Zech. 14:8));

  2. Because Avraham offered the angels a chance to wash their feet, Israel was repaid in the Midbar, Yishuv and the Messianic Age, with "water" to cleanse our sins;

  3. Because Avraham invited the angels to recline beneath a tree, G-d spread out a cloud for shelter in the Midbar, succahs in Israel, and a tabernacle in the Messianic Age;

  4. Because Avraham fetched a morsel of bread, Israel was repaid with manah in the Midbar, crops in the Yishuv, and the promise of abundant grain in the Messianic Era;

  5. Because Avraham ran to the cattle, Israel was repaid with meat in the Midbar, abundant livestck in the Yishuv, and each man will have a heifer and two sheep in the Messianic Era;

  6. And because Avraham stood over the angels, G-d attended our needs in the Midbar,leading us with the pillar of fire, listened to our prayers in the Yishuv, and will give us the Messiah.

Source Midrash Rabbah, Genesis, 48:10.

Improve this answer
9

A couple that are related to this week's parsha:

  • Six are the types of asham offering (listed in Zevachim 5:5, which we recite in the daily prayers).

  • Six are the things that the Kohen has to have in mind while performing the sacrificial service (ibid. 4:6).

Improve this answer
9

Six are the number of times that the halachah is like Abayei when he argues with Rava - יע"ל קג"ם (Bava Kama 73a).

Improve this answer
8

Shavuos is on 6 Sivan

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    Only sometimes. (Granted it's probably a rov so far.)
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Sep 2, 2012 at 5:32
8
  • 6 are the number of days each week you can work.
  • 6 are the number of years you can work the land before Shemita.
  • 6 are the number of years you can keep a Jewish slave.
Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    re: number of days- depends on the week.
    – Baal Shemot Tovot
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 6:53
8

6 are the number of steps taken by the bearers of the Ark between each sacrificing of an ox and fatling in the bringing of the Ark to the city of David.

Shmuel II 6:13

וַיְהִי, כִּי צָעֲדוּ נֹשְׂאֵי אֲרוֹן-יְהוָה--שִׁשָּׁה צְעָדִים: וַיִּזְבַּח שׁוֹר, וּמְרִיא.

Six are the words in the verse גדלו לה' אתי which we say when we take out the Sefer Torah, which correspond to the six steps taken by the bearers of the Ark between each sacrificing of an ox and fatling in the bringing of the Ark to the city of David (Tosefos Megillah 32a s.v. גוללו)

Improve this answer
7

6th is the day on which Man (and animal) was made.

Improve this answer
6

Holidays we say Hallel

  • Sukkos
  • Simchas Torah
  • Chanuka
  • Pesach
  • Shavuos
  • Rosh Chodesh
Improve this answer
4
  • 1
    Is Rosh Chodesh technically considered a holiday?
    – Adam Mosheh
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 4:53
  • I guess I can rephrase. Events that we say Hallel.
    – Shmuly
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 5:43
  • Some of those holidays qualify for Chatzi Hallel, and some for Complete Hallel. You might want to distinguish between the two.
    – Adam Mosheh
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 5:52
  • Also, some of us say Hallel on Israeli Independence Day, as well as on Jerusalem Day...
    – Adam Mosheh
    Commented May 25, 2012 at 5:52
5

Points on a jewish star.

Improve this answer
2
  • 7
    or on a Sherrif's badge...
    – Yahu
    Commented Apr 1, 2010 at 15:31
  • 1
    Howdy sheriff... Around these parts, your badges are known as davidic shields!
    – Adam Mosheh
    Commented Jul 13, 2014 at 18:55
5

6 are the days of chol hamo'ed Sukkos in Israel.

6 are the number of tefachim in a cubit.

Improve this answer
2
  • What kind of cubit?
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 20:06
  • 1
    @DoubleAA I think it's referred to in the talmud without any special name and I will follow suit. Although you can call it benoni if you wish.
    – Y     e     z
    Commented Jan 27, 2014 at 20:10
5

The Midrash in Bamidbar Rabbah 12:17 says that there are six specific mitzvos that a Jewish king is commanded about every day:

  • Not to have too many wives/concubines           (Devarim 17:17)
  • Not to have too many horses                                (Devarim 17:16)
  • Not to have too much silver and gold                 (Devarim 17:17)
  • Not to pervert justice (when judging a case)     (Devarim 16:19)
  • Not to show favoritism (when judging a case)  (Devarim 16:19)
  • Not to take a bribe (when judging a case)          (Devarim 16:19)
Improve this answer
3

Those who went from Bavel to Y'huda with Z'rubavel (Ezra 2) traveled with pack animals in the ratio of six (more precisely, 6.13) people per animal (verses 64–67: 49,897 people to 8136 animals).

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    How and why did this enter your mind when you were learning the psukim?! You gotta find a good drasha to tack this on to.
    – user6591
    Commented Jun 16, 2014 at 2:59
  • 1
    @user6591, when learning the p'sukim I noticed that there were very few animals per person and wondered just how few, so computed it. That brought me to this page. :-)
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Jun 16, 2014 at 4:30
3

Sidrei mishnah.

Branches coming out the side of the menorah in the mikdash.

Hours the Rambam says to wait between meat and milk.

Wings on an angel.

Years till average child is bar daas.

Steps one takes after shmoneh esrei till one can walk away, three backwards and three forwards.

Total count of all the lechem mishna from shabbos.

All the matzahs from both seder nights.

Improve this answer
2
  • "Total count of all the lechem mishna from shabbos." Only if you are eating the minimum number of meals and eating both loaves at each.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Jun 16, 2014 at 2:42
  • "Sidrei mishna": was done already.
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Jun 16, 2014 at 6:50
3

Six are the things that preceded the creation of the world:

  1. The Torah
  2. The Throne of Glory
  3. The Patriarchs
  4. Israel
  5. The Beis Hamikdash
  6. The name of Mashiach
Improve this answer
2

R. Menachem and R. Yehoshua b. Levi said in the name of R. Levi: A builder requires six things: water, earth, timber, stones, canes, and iron. And even if yon say, He is wealthy and does not need canes, yet he surely requires a measuring rod, as it is written, And a measuring reed in his hand (Ezekiel 40:3).

Improve this answer
2

Six - A man is obligated to provide food/ sustenance to his sons and daughters until they are 6 years of age (Ketubot 65b, codified by the Shulchan Aruch, Even Haezer 71:1).

While a person may "technically" be exempt from providing food or sustenance to their children past the age of 6, Beis Din would never allow this to happen and they would force the father to provide the child with food and sustenance until at least the child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah. (SA, EH ibid).

Improve this answer
1

6 feet in 4 amot.

Improve this answer
2
  • 9
    According to whom?
    – Yahu
    Commented Mar 25, 2010 at 23:42
  • And the foot size of which man?
    – Adam Mosheh
    Commented Jul 13, 2014 at 18:56
1

Six is the number of days one is required to remove oneself from one's house prior to entering the camp of the Shekhinah (RaSh"I on Shemot 24:16; Yoma 3B [English], [Original]).

Improve this answer
0
1

Regarding the Shoham stones worn on the Cohen Gadol's shoulders,

Exodus 28:10:

שִׁשָּׁה֙ מִשְּׁמֹתָ֔ם עַ֖ל הָאֶ֣בֶן הָאֶחָ֑ת וְאֶת־שְׁמ֞וֹת הַשִּׁשָּׁ֧ה הַנּוֹתָרִ֛ים עַל־הָאֶ֥בֶן הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית כְּתוֹלְדֹתָֽם׃

six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the six that remain on the other stone, according to their birth.

For the "original" menorah:

Exodus 25:32:

וְשִׁשָּׁ֣ה קָנִ֔ים יֹצְאִ֖ים מִצִּדֶּ֑יהָ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה ׀ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֗ה מִצִּדָּהּ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֔ה מִצִּדָּ֖הּ הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃

And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candle-stick out of the other side thereof;

Improve this answer
1
1
2

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .