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

The Torah pays great attention to the individual pedigree of each Jew. Indeed, the Yalkut states that when Klal Yisrael received the Torah, the nations of the world became jealous: “Why did Hashem give the Torah to Klal Yisrael rather than to any other nation?” Hashem responded to them, “Bring Me your Sefer Yuchsin, Book of Lineage, as My children did.” This is a reference to pasuk 18, “and they established their genealogy.” Since the count was done according to tribe, the people had to establish the tribe to which they belonged either by written documents or valid witnesses. One reason…

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“Those who encamped before the Mishkan to the front, before the Ohel Moed to the east, were Moshe and Aharon and his sons.” (3:38)

Rashi cites the Midrash Tanchuma which declares, “Fortunate is a tzaddik and fortunate is his neighbor.” Because the tribes of Yehudah, Yissachar and Zevulun encamped on the east near Moshe Rabbeinu, who was constantly engaged in Torah study, they themselves became great in Torah. A tzaddik has the ability to leave an indelible impression upon those who are in his proximity. Chazal address the concept of a neighbor with whom one spends quite some time, one who, while in a tzaddik’s presence, falls under the impression and influence of a tzaddik. This is a phenomenon that occurs even during a short…

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

After Klal Yisrael was counted, Hashem instructed Moshe  Rabbeinu concerning their order of encampment, each tribe in a specific place with its own individual banner. This order was not merely good advice; it was a Divine edict that no member of the tribe of Zevulun reside next to the tribe of Yissaschar, etc. Hashem determined who should be neighbors with whom. Afterwards, Hashem made known  where the ligyono shel Melech, King’s legion, Shevet Levi, should camp. The three Levite families are listed according to the place of their encampment – one directly to the north of the Mishkan; one to the…

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