Bamidbar – Page 10 – Peninim on the Torah

Count the Bnei Levi (according to their fathers’ household, according to their families) every male from one month of age and up shall you count them. Moshe counted them according to the word of Hashem as he had been commanded. (3:15,16)

Rashi cites a dialogue between Moshe Rabbeinu and Hashem. Moshe asked the Almighty, “How do I enter the tents to determine the number of infants in their home?” It would have been improper for Moshe to enter the Levite tents to count the number of suckling infants. Hashem responded, “You do yours and I will do mine.” Moshe would go to the entrance of each tent and wait outside while the Shechinah preceded him, after which a Heavenly voice would proclaim the number of babies in the tent. We must understand how it was that Moshe decided to do things…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bamidbar

Count the heads of the whole of the congregation of Bnei Yisrael. (1:2)

When it was necessary to conduct a census, the vehicle of counting was the contribution of a half – shekel coin to be used for the construction and maintenance of the Mishkan. The people elevated their status by contributing to charity. Hence, we understand the word “seu”, “raise up/elevate the heads”. The counting also served as a means to elevate the people. Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, supplements this idea with a profound thought. By using a contribution as the symbol of counting, the Torah is telling them that a Jew is ‘counted’ as belonging to the congregation of Klal Yisrael…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bamidbar

Their count, for the tribe of Menashe; thirty two thousand, two hundred. (1:35)

The count for shevet Menashe was about thirty-two thousand men. There is no doubt that every census was determined by Hashem. Consequently, there must have been a reason that the number thirty-two played such a prominent role in Menashes’ census. Horav Chaim Pardes, Shlita, expounds on the significance of the number thirty-two through the perspective of Chazal. The Talmud Yevamos 62b states that Rabbi Akiva’s twenty four thousand students died during the period between Pesach and Shavuous because they were not accustomed to showing proper kavod, honor/esteem, one for another. The Maharal M’Prague makes a profound statement in regard to…

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bamidbar

These are the offspring of Moshe and Aharon…These are the names of the sons of Aharon…(3:1,2)

The Torah is about to enumerate Moshe and Aharons’ offspring. The pasuk, however, mentions only the sons of Aharon. In the Talmud Sanhedrin 96, Chazal infer that one who teaches Torah to someone else’s children is regarded as if he has begotten them. Moshe was their rebbe; he taught them the Torah, which would sustain them. He was like their father. This idea applies to anyone who imparts his Torah knowledge to others. Our influence is far-reaching; our ability to inspire is unlimited. Moshe was mentor and spiritual father to Aharon’s sons. What about the rest of Klal Yisrael? …

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Moshe Marcovich In 5758, Bamidbar

The families of Bnei Kehas would encamp on the side of the Mishkan, to the south. (3:29)

Rashi notes that shevet Reuven camped nearby. This close proximity between Shevet Reuven and shevet Kehas is what caused Dasan and Aviram of the tribe of Reuven to be “pulled” along, to be influenced by Korach. His vilification of Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon Hakohen gave him the distinction of being the first one to rebel against Moshe Rabbeinu’s leadership. Dasan and Aviram stood at the forefront of Korach’s ill-fated group of followers. They were “nimshach”, pulled along, by Korach because they were near him. Rashi’s use of the word “nimshichu”, they were pulled, as opposed to any other phrase denoting…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Bamidbar

And Hashem spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai. (1:1)

Chazal emphasize the fact that Klal Yisrael received the Torah in a barren wilderness. The desert is a desolate place, void of any amenities. One must subsist on the bare minimum and not indulge himself in empty physical pleasures if he is to succeed in filling his mind and heart with Torah. The emptiness of the desert also symbolizes Klal Yisrael’s reliance upon the Almighty. We were provided with food from Heaven, water from a stone; Hashem’s miracles addressed our every need. We must realize that Hashem determines success in life, both spiritual and physical. The conditions under which…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Bamidbar

Those encamping near him are therefore the tribe of Yissachar…the tribe of Zevulun… (2:5,7)

Yehudah, Yissachar, and Zevulun were grouped together under one banner. The commentators cite various reasons for the connection between these three tribes. Rabbenu Bachya contends that since the members of these three tribes were accomplished Torah scholars, it would seem appropriate that they camp in close proximity to one another. This explanation seems puzzling, in light of the fact that Zevulun was known to engage in commerce so that his brother Yissachar could devote all of his time to Torah study. Zevulun undoubtedly appreciated Torah study. Was he, however, as scholarly as Yissachar and Yehudah?Yehudah, Yissachar, and Zevulun were grouped…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Bamidbar

And these are the generations of Aharon and Moshe…and these are the names of the sons of Aharon. (3:1,2)

The Torah declares that it is about to enumerate the generations of Aharon and Moshe. Yet, it only mentions Aharon’s sons. Rashi explains that this is consistent, since Moshe taught Torah to Aharon’s sons. Thus, we infer that whoever teaches his friend’s son Torah is considered as if he had fathered them. The Torah forges a bond between rebbe and talmid which is almost biological in nature. This means that the love that exists between a father and son should be nurtured between a rebbe and talmid. The bond between teacher and student is the subject of a talk which…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5757, Bamidbar

Do not let the tribe of the Kehati family be cut off… this is what you shall do that they shall live…and assign them, every man to his work and his burden. (4:19,20)

In the Midrash there is a dispute regarding the attitude of Bnei Kehas about their dangerous work. Rabbi Elazar ben Pedas opines that they were so in awe of the sanctity of the Aron Ha’kodesh and the hazards that accompanied it, that they ran to carry the other holy vessels instead. Rabbi Shmuel ben Nachman contends that, on the contrary, despite the risk of death, Bnei Kehas were eager to care for the Aron Hakodesh. Horav Ze’ev Weinberger, Shlita, comments that people exhibit varied attitudes in relating to the Aron, even in contemporary times. Some Jews, although they are great…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Bamidbar

“From twenty years and upward all that are able to go forth to war in Yisrael, you shall number them by their hosts.” (1:2)

All male members of the tribes were soldiers – except the Leviim. The census counted everyone from age twenty and above -except Shevet Levi. Is this not ironic? Who came forward with his brother, Shimon, to avenge the shame of their sister, Dinah, if not Levi? When Bnei Yisrael sinned with the Eigel Ha’zahav, Golden Calf, Moshe Rabbeinu called out for “volunteers” to expunge the evil from the people. “Mi L’Hashem Eilai,” “Who is for Hashem (shall come) to Me!” he declared, and who came, if not Shevet Levi? When Zimri, the Nasi of Shevet Shimon, publicly desecrated Hashem’s Name…

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Count the Bnei Levi (according to their fathers’ household, according to their families) every male from one month of age and up shall you count them. Moshe counted them according to the word of Hashem as he had been commanded. (3:15,16)

Count the heads of the whole of the congregation of Bnei Yisrael. (1:2)

Their count, for the tribe of Menashe; thirty two thousand, two hundred. (1:35)

These are the offspring of Moshe and Aharon…These are the names of the sons of Aharon…(3:1,2)

The families of Bnei Kehas would encamp on the side of the Mishkan, to the south. (3:29)

And Hashem spoke to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai. (1:1)

Those encamping near him are therefore the tribe of Yissachar…the tribe of Zevulun… (2:5,7)

And these are the generations of Aharon and Moshe…and these are the names of the sons of Aharon. (3:1,2)

Do not let the tribe of the Kehati family be cut off… this is what you shall do that they shall live…and assign them, every man to his work and his burden. (4:19,20)

“From twenty years and upward all that are able to go forth to war in Yisrael, you shall number them by their hosts.” (1:2)

YEARS

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