Bamidbar – Page 5 – Peninim on the Torah

ויתילדו על משפחתם לבית אבותם

And they established their genealogy according to their families, according to the household of their fathers. (1:18)

The count was carried out according to tribe. Thus, it was required for everyone to establish his tribal lineage, either by written documentation or by the testimony of witnesses. Lineage was important in order to determine exactly where each individual belonged. Pedigree, however, should not become the barometer for judging people, for promoting success, for determining an individual’s potential or position. Success is earned; it is an achievement for which one toils, for which one must be personally worthy. “Surprisingly,” there are people who do not have yichus, exceptional pedigree. They are simple, regular, common people, who do what is…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

The Kli Yakar sees a redundancy in this pasuk: “One man from each tribe; a leader of his father’s household.” Being the appointed one of each tribe is quite a distinctive position. Why is it necessary to add that he be a leader of his father’s household? In his Toras Chaim, Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, explains this in his inimitable manner – with two stories. It is related that when the venerable Kotzker Rebbe, Horav Menachem Mendel, zl, was a young boy, a fire broke out in his hometown. In those days, houses were made of wood; thus, they were…

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איש אל דגלו באתות לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Klal Yisrael was to travel as a collective group in formation, three tribes, each with a distinctively colored banner/flag representative of its individual characteristic. Each triumvirate group was led by a designated tribe. Each tribal banner was the same color as its corresponding stone on the Breastplate, Choshen, of the Kohen Gadol. Their positions around the Mishkan were to be the same as those designated by Yaakov Avinu for his sons when they were to escort his coffin for burial. This is what is meant by ossos l’bais avosam, “According to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” This idea is…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Each tribe received a designated spot around the Mishkan. At first, Moshe Rabbeinu was concerned that a dispute might arise between the tribes. Quite possibly, each individual tribe had its own idea concerning its placement. Hashem told Moshe that he need not worry. The tribes knew their place, understanding that the configuration determined by their Patriarch, Yaakov Avinu, would apply now as well. The tribes accepted their grandfather’s decision; what he had decided hundreds of years earlier was still applicable today. How are we to understand this? The tribe that might question Moshe’s decision could just as well question Yaakov’s…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp. (2:2)

The words mineged, which is usually defined as “opposite,” and saviv, which means “surrounding,” contrast one another. Were the Jews opposite the Ohel Moed, or were they camped surrounding it? Veritably, these terms complement one another, as explained by Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, with the following story. An observant physician from Germany decided that he wanted to visit the blossoming Torah world of Lithuanian Jewry. After all, he was a frum, observant, doctor who meticulously adhered to all the mitzvos. He wanted to see what about Lithuanian yeshivah life differed from his lifestyle. One can imagine the culture shock when…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

The Kli Yakar sees a redundancy in this pasuk: “One man from each tribe; a leader of his father’s household.” Being the appointed one of each tribe is quite a distinctive position. Why is it necessary to add that he be a leader of his father’s household? In his Toras Chaim, Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, explains this in his inimitable manner – with two stories. It is related that when the venerable Kotzker Rebbe, Horav Menachem Mendel, zl, was a young boy, a fire broke out in his hometown. In those days, houses were made of wood; thus, they were…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש אל דגלו באתות לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Klal Yisrael was to travel as a collective group in formation, three tribes, each with a distinctively colored banner/flag representative of its individual characteristic. Each triumvirate group was led by a designated tribe. Each tribal banner was the same color as its corresponding stone on the Breastplate, Choshen, of the Kohen Gadol. Their positions around the Mishkan were to be the same as those designated by Yaakov Avinu for his sons when they were to escort his coffin for burial. This is what is meant by ossos l’bais avosam, “According to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” This idea is…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Each tribe received a designated spot around the Mishkan. At first, Moshe Rabbeinu was concerned that a dispute might arise between the tribes. Quite possibly, each individual tribe had its own idea concerning its placement. Hashem told Moshe that he need not worry. The tribes knew their place, understanding that the configuration determined by their Patriarch, Yaakov Avinu, would apply now as well. The tribes accepted their grandfather’s decision; what he had decided hundreds of years earlier was still applicable today. How are we to understand this? The tribe that might question Moshe’s decision could just as well question Yaakov’s…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5773

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5773, Bamidbar

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp. (2:2)

The words mineged, which is usually defined as “opposite,” and saviv, which means “surrounding,” contrast one another. Were the Jews opposite the Ohel Moed, or were they camped surrounding it? Veritably, these terms complement one another, as explained by Horav Chaim Toyto, Shlita, with the following story. An observant physician from Germany decided that he wanted to visit the blossoming Torah world of Lithuanian Jewry. After all, he was a frum, observant, doctor who meticulously adhered to all the mitzvos. He wanted to see what about Lithuanian yeshivah life differed from his lifestyle. One can imagine the culture shock when…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5772

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5772, Bamidbar

“Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their fathers’ household.” (1:2)

Rashi explains that as a result of Klal Yisrael’s dearness to Hashem, He counts them all of the time. The Mishkan, the site of the Revelation of the Divine Presence, was erected on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. On the following month, Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Hashem counted them. The commentators struggle with the thirty-day lapse between the time the Mishkan was erected and the time Hashem counted Klal Yisrael. One would think that because of Hashem’s great love for Klal Yisrael, He would count them on the most auspicious day, the day the Mishkan was erected. A number of reasons are given…

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ויתילדו על משפחתם לבית אבותם

And they established their genealogy according to their families, according to the household of their fathers. (1:18)

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

איש אל דגלו באתות לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp. (2:2)

ואתכם יהיו איש איש למטה איש ראש לבית אבתיו הוא

And with you shall be one man from each tribe; a man who is a leader of his father’s household. (1:4)

איש אל דגלו באתות לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household. (2:2)

איש על דגלו באתת לבית אבותם יחנו בני ישראל מנגד סביב לאהל מועד יחנו

Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner, according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp. (2:2)

“Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their fathers’ household.” (1:2)

YEARS

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