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“And when the cloud tarried upon the Mishkan many days, then the Bnei Yisrael kept the charge of Hashem and did not journey.” (9:19)

The Ramban describes the remarkable obedience exhibited by Bnei Yisrael in regard to their encampments. The pasuk refers to occasions when the cloud tarried many days, and the place where they happened to camp was not favorable. Even if Bnei Yisrael had desired to journey on, away from the camp site, they were nonetheless enjoined not to transgress the will of Hashem. Because of their awe of Hashem , Bnei Yisrael did not move from the designated camp site. At other times, the cloud was present for only a short time, and the people were weakened from the incessant ourney….

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“If any man shall be unclean by reason of a dead body or be on a distant way.” (9:10)

  Rashi explains the “v” in “veujr” has a dot upon it (which makes it to be considered nonexistent) to teach that it does not only mean very far off, but also if he were outside the threshold of the courtyard during the time of the slaughtering.   Rashi is stating that distance is not only measured in terms of geographics, but in terms of spirit. The Yerushalmi in Pesachim (9b) emphasizes this concept by stating, “the man is distant, not the journey.” Since the dot acts as a line drawn through the letter “v”, the word is thus read…

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“On the day the Mishkan was erected, the cloud covered the Mishkan. Then in the evening, there appeared something like a fire on the Mishkan and remained there until morning. This is the way it remained… (9:15-16)

As stated in the posuk, this is the way it has remained throughout our history, a cloud hovering during the day, and a firelike apparition by night. When man is at the pinnacle of success, and the rays of the sun shine upon him with bright light, he must be aware that he is not immune forever. Life is a big circle which goes around bringing with it moments of great joy as well as moments of sadness and distress. Shlomo Hamelech says in Koheles (7:14) “On a day of goodness be good and on a bad day reflect”. The…

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“According to Hashem’s commandment they camped and according to Hashem’s commandment they journeyed.” (9:20)

The Talmud in Shabbos (31b) discusses the melacha (labor) of demolishing. Usually, any form of destruction is not categorized as prohibited labor on Shabbos. However, when this destruction is performed in order to correct or prepare for another labor then it is prohibited. Demolishing for the purpose of construction is therefore prohibited on Shabbos. The Talmud contends that demolishing in order to rebuild on the same site is destroying and therefore prohibited, while demolishing in order to rebuild elsewhere is not considered destroying. The Talmud questions this, since all forms of labor are derived from the various forms of labor…

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“And the people did not journey until Miriam was brought in again.”(12:15)

  Rashi explains that Hashem gave her this honor because of the one hour which she waited for Moshe when he was cast into the river. Her waiting for Moshe was simply to find out what was going to happen to him. Does this act deserve such a significant reward? There is a deeply religious thought stated by Rabbi Yecheskel Abramsky Zt”l regarding the concept of “waiting” which will clarify this question. It is stated that when man will face his ultimate judgement before Hashem, he will be asked “Did you wait for salvation?”. The implication of this question is,…

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