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And the man Moshe was exceedingly humble. (12:3)

The word “v’ha’ish,” “and the man,” seems to be  superfluous.  It should have been written, “and Moshe.”  Horav Eliyahu Meir Bloch,zl, cites the pasuk in Shmuel I, 15:17, “Though you are small in your own eyes, you are the head of the tribes of Yisrael,” in which the Navi criticizes Shaul ha’Melech for being overly humble.  In the end, this misplaced humility resulted in Shmuel telling Shaul, “You have rejected the word of G-d.”  Evidently, the only blemish to be found on Shaul’s character was his excessive humility. Should this have been sufficient cause for the Navi to so severely…

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Moshe said to him, “Are you being zealous for my sake ? Would that the entire people of Hashem would be prophets.” (11:29)

When Moshe delegated authority to the seventy Elders, he was teaching a significant lesson regarding the dissemination of Torah throughout Klal Yisrael.  Moshe brought the Elders to his own tent. This was the tent from which he taught Torah, from which the “bottom line” in halachah was decided and disseminated for one purpose – to instruct the elders in their goal as teachers of Klal Yisrael.  They were given the lofty responsibility of transmitting Torah throughout Klal Yisrael.  Indeed, Chazal say that the day of the appointment of the Zekeinim, Elders, was as beloved to Hashem as the day He…

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On the day the Mishkan was set up, the cloud covered the Mishkan…And in the evening there would be upon the Mishkan like a fiery appearance until morning. (9:15)

This is the way it always was: a cloud by day and a fire at night.  Horav Shlomo Yosef Zevin, zl, says this is a foreshadowing of our future: a cloud by day and a fire at night.  When man is doing well, when his success is encouraging, the sun shines brilliantly before him.  At such a time, he must remember that it is not always going to be like this.  There will be times when the cloud will cover the sunshine, and the radiance will not penetrate.  Conversely, he who is plagued with suffering, overcome with pain and affliction,…

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From fifty years of age, he shall withdraw from the legion of work and no longer work. (8:25)

While the Levi must “retire” at age fifty from the heavy labor of carrying the holy vessels on his shoulders, he continues to perform the remainder of Levite services, such as singing, closing the gates and loading the wagons.  In Pirkei Avos 5:21, the Tanna addresses the various stages of an individual’s life.  At age fifty, his advice is valued.  The Bartenura cites this pasuk regarding the Levi who leaves the workforce and stays on to help his fellow Leviim.  He serves them through the advice he gives them.  The experience he has gathered throughout the years is of great…

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When you kindle the Menorah, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light. (8:2)

Rashi addresses the juxtaposition of parashas ha’Menorah upon the end of the previous parsha.  The latter detailed the korbanos, offerings of the Nesiim for the chanukas ha’Mizbayach.  When Aharon noticed the involvement of the Nesiim in the dedication, he became chagrined that neither he nor any member of his tribe had been included.  It is not that he was jealous; he simply desired to have a part in this sacred inauguration.  Hashem calmed him, saying, “Yours is greater than theirs, for you will light the Menorah.”  The Ramban explains that the Mishkan/Bais Ha’Mikdash would not always be around.  Regrettably, it…

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