Beha’alosecha – Page 3 – Peninim on the Torah

ויהי העם כמתאוננים רע באזני ד'

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5777

The people were like those who seek pretexts of evil in the ears of Hashem. (11:1)

Our parsha begins with the Menorah, relates the laws of Pesach Sheini and then, in what appears to be a sad turn of events, records a series of puzzling complaints originally initiated by the eirev rav, mixed multitude, with an added participatory voice from the people. It is not as if the complaints had any positive substance – or any substance at all. For the most part, they complained for the purpose of complaining, something atypical of a happy people who had recently been liberated from crushing servitude. They craved meat – and cried. They claimed they missed the free…

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האנכי הריתי את כל העם הזה ...כי תאמר אלו שאהו בחילך כאשר ישא האמן את הינק

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5777

Did I conceive the entire people…that You say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom,’ as a nurse carries a suckling? (11:12)

Nowhere in the Torah do we find that Hashem instructed Moshe Rabbeinu to carry Bnei Yisrael in his bosom. Why does Moshe intimate this to be true, that Hashem did, in fact, indicate to Moshe that his responsibility as a leader of the nation went beyond the accepted understanding of walking in front of the nation? He would have to carry them as a parent carries his child. Horav Yeruchem Levovitz, zl, (cited in Im Levavi Asicha) explains that, if a person is created with such ability that he is able to care for others as a father cares for…

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והאספסוף אשר בקרבו התאוו תאוה... ואכלתם בשר... לא יום אחד תאכלון ולא יומים...עד חדש ימים עד אשר יצא מאפכם

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5777

The rabble that was among them cultivated a craving … and you shall eat meat… not for one day shall you eat, nor two days… until a month of days, until it will come out of your nose. (11:4, 18, 19,20)

An individual who lacks the basic character trait of hakoras hatov, gratitude, is a deficient person. His negativity toward those from whom he benefits engenders a negativity throughout his entire character, eventually leading to a lack of appreciation for all that Hashem does for him. Perhaps referring to an ingrate as deficient is not strong enough. An ingrate is a non-person. Part of humanness is the ability to recognize, acknowledge and appreciate the benefits one receives from others. Without this vital character trait, one is not a mentch, decent human being. Having said this, we refer to the Torah’s account…

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ויהי בנסע הארון ויאמר משה קומה ד' ויפצו איביך וינסו משנאיך מפניך

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5776

When the Ark would travel, Moshe would say, “Arise Hashem, and let Your foes be scattered, let those who hate You flee from You.” (10:35)

Did you ever wonder why, once the Sefer Torah has been removed from the Aron HaKodesh and the reading of the Torah is about to commence, spiritual intensity in the shul seems to be lifted. It is almost as if Krias HaTorah, the reading of the Torah, is a break in the service. We have finished Shacharis; we are now taking a break for a conversation, for a walk outside, early Kiddush, etc. Does Krias HaTorah signal a relaxation period, a time to socialize and catch up on the past week’s events? In Chochmas Chaim, a novel idea is quoted…

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והאספסף אשר בקרבו התאוו תאוה וישבו ויבכו גם בני ישראל ויאמרו מי יאכלנו בשר

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5776

The rabble that was among them cultivated a craving, and Bnei Yisrael also wept once more and said, “Who will feed us meat?” (11:4)

The erev rav, mixed multitude, who left Egypt with the Jewish People, now showed their true level of commitment to Hashem. Nothing! Instead, they were the first to complain, the first to undermine Moshe Rabbeinu’s leadership, thereby showing that they had come along only for the ride. How careful we must be of those usurpers who claim to stand with us, but, in truth, stand only for themselves. Only someone who is truly committed to Hashem is able to withstand the various challenges our People have encountered during our long journey. Horav Avraham Schorr, Shlita, offers a novel interpretation of…

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כי תאמר אלי שאהו בחיקך כאשר ישא האמן את הינק

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5776

That you say to me, “Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a suckling.” (11:12)

Moshe Rabbeinu presents his taanah, “complaint,” to Hashem. Horav Meir Shapiro, zl, explains Moshe’s rationale. The developmental stages of a child require varied levels of adult support until the child matures sufficiently to the point that he is able to fend for himself. A young child of infant status requires a meinekes, nursemaid or babysitter, who feeds the child, since his young age does not yet allow for him to serve himself. An older child who has progressed beyond the need for adult feeding intervention requires an adult omein, sort of pedagogue, to train the child concerning what he must…

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והאיש משה ענו מאד מכל האדם אשר על פני האדמה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5776

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth! (12:3)

To some, humility is on a parallel line with obsequiousness. We see from Moshe Rabbeinu, the most humble man to walk the face of the earth, that this is not true. Our leader took a stand when necessary. Certainly, he was aware that speaking with Hashem was not something to which the average man is accustomed. Yet, he was humble, because humility is an awareness of oneself. Despite one’s achievements, in the eyes of the humble person they are merely activities which are expected of him. He is doing what he is supposed to be doing. The Alter, zl, m’Kelm,…

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ויעש כן אהרן...

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

Aharon did so. (8:3)

Rashi quotes the Sifri that interprets Aharon HaKohen’s meticulous conformity to the letter of the law as referring particularly to the manner in which he lit the Menorah. L’hagid shevacho shel Aharon she’lo shinah, “To relate Aharon’s praise, that he did not change.” He did not want to deviate from the instructions that were conveyed to him. Aharon maintained a spiritual integrity that was unparalleled – a level to which we should all aspire. Seeking out loopholes and living on heteirim, halachic dispensations, leads one to ultimately disregard and blatantly abrogate Jewish law. A heter exists for a reason, to…

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וזה מעשה המנורה... כמראה אשר הראה ד' את משה כן עשה את המנורה

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

And this is how the Menorah was made… according to the image that Hashem had shown Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

Rashi explains the meaning behind the word, V’zeh, and this, which seems to imply that Hashem in some way demonstrated to Moshe Rabbeinu how the Menorah should appear. Apparently, this is exactly what happened. Moshe had difficulty grasping the image of the Menorah. Hashem presented a visual rendition of the Menorah, pointing to it, as if to say V’zeh, “And this” (is how I want the Menorah to look). Horav Nissan Alpert, zl, compares this to two amateurs who were given the tools and materials to build a house. One neophyte had the common sense to realize that trial and…

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ויסעו מהר ד' דרך שלשת ימים

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5775

They journeyed from the Mountain of Hashem a three-day distance. (10:33)

In his commentary to pasuk 35, Va’yehi binsoa haAron “When the Ark would journey,” Ramban cites a Midrash which takes a dim view of Klal Yisrael’s first journey away from Har Sinai. The Midrash states that the nation left the mountain, K’tinok ha’boreiach mi’bais ha’sefer, “Like a child running away from school,” happy to leave that holy place – in case Hashem had plans for giving them more mitzvos to perform. While they followed Hashem’s instructions concerning their journey, their attitude in leaving apparently left something to be desired. Horav Aizik Sher, zl, wonders what part of Chazal’s statement underscores…

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ויהי העם כמתאוננים רע באזני ד'

The people were like those who seek pretexts of evil in the ears of Hashem. (11:1)

האנכי הריתי את כל העם הזה ...כי תאמר אלו שאהו בחילך כאשר ישא האמן את הינק

Did I conceive the entire people…that You say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom,’ as a nurse carries a suckling? (11:12)

והאספסוף אשר בקרבו התאוו תאוה... ואכלתם בשר... לא יום אחד תאכלון ולא יומים...עד חדש ימים עד אשר יצא מאפכם

The rabble that was among them cultivated a craving … and you shall eat meat… not for one day shall you eat, nor two days… until a month of days, until it will come out of your nose. (11:4, 18, 19,20)

ויהי בנסע הארון ויאמר משה קומה ד' ויפצו איביך וינסו משנאיך מפניך

When the Ark would travel, Moshe would say, “Arise Hashem, and let Your foes be scattered, let those who hate You flee from You.” (10:35)

והאספסף אשר בקרבו התאוו תאוה וישבו ויבכו גם בני ישראל ויאמרו מי יאכלנו בשר

The rabble that was among them cultivated a craving, and Bnei Yisrael also wept once more and said, “Who will feed us meat?” (11:4)

כי תאמר אלי שאהו בחיקך כאשר ישא האמן את הינק

That you say to me, “Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a suckling.” (11:12)

והאיש משה ענו מאד מכל האדם אשר על פני האדמה

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth! (12:3)

ויעש כן אהרן...

Aharon did so. (8:3)

וזה מעשה המנורה... כמראה אשר הראה ד' את משה כן עשה את המנורה

And this is how the Menorah was made… according to the image that Hashem had shown Moshe, so did he make the Menorah. (8:4)

ויסעו מהר ד' דרך שלשת ימים

They journeyed from the Mountain of Hashem a three-day distance. (10:33)

YEARS

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