Bamidbar – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

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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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Bamidbar

“Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their father’s household, by number of the names…. from twenty years of age and up, everyone who goes out to the legion in Yisrael.” (1:2,3)

This is the third census within a relatively short period of time. When Bnei Yisrael left Egypt, the Torah (Shemos 12:37) states, “About six hundred thousand men on foot aside from children.” Once again, after the sin of the Golden Calf, Hashem counted them by means of a half shekel to determine how many were left after the sinners had died. The Torah (Shemos 38:26) states, “A half-shekel … for everyone who passed through the census takers, from twenty years of age and up for the six hundred three thousand, five hundred fifty.” As they are now counted once again,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Bamidbar

“The Bnei Yisrael should encamp each man by his banner/flag according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed.” (2:2)

Bnei Yisrael were divided into formations of three tribes each. These formations were known as degalim, banners/flags. They represented the grouping of the tribes according to their history, personality and individual strengths. The degalim took effect one year after Bnei Yisrael’s liberation from the Egyptian bondage. We may wonder why Hashem waited so long to form the designated encampments and divisions. Why were they not arranged in their distinct order immediately upon their exodus from Egypt? Horav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zl, offers a practical insight which carries with it a timeless message. The division of Bnei Yisrael into harmonious but distinct…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Bamidbar

“And these are the generations of Aharon and Moshe… and these are the names of the sons of Aharon, the first-born, Nadav and Avihu, Elazar and Isamar.” (3:2,3)

Rashi notes that although the Torah begins by stating, “These are the generations of Aharon and Moshe,” it lists only the sons of Aharon. He cites the Talmud Sanhedrin 19b that derives from here that one who teaches Torah to his friend’s child is considered as if he gave birth to him. Moshe is also viewed as a “father” to Aharon’s sons. We find that talmidim, students, are referred to as sons in other areas of Tanach. The pasuk in Devarim 6:7 states, “And you shall teach them diligently unto your children.” Rashi once again interprets “your children” as including…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5756, Bamidbar

“Count the Bnei Levi according to their father’s household, according to their families, every male from one month of age and up.” (3:15)

Moshe and Aharon were instructed to count Bnei Levi in a manner much different than the rest of Bnei Yisrael. Bnei Yisrael were counted once, from the age of twenty to sixty years of age. Bnei Levi, on the other hand, were counted twice. In the first census, they were counted from the age of one month and above. There was no minimum, since the thirty day old age only ensured the viability of the child. There also was no maximum age for Leviim. In the second census, the Leviim were counted according to their eligibility for service. This census…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5755, Bamidbar

“From twenty years of age and up, everyone who goes out to the legion in Yisrael, you shall count them.”

Rashi explains that the minimum age for serving in the army was twenty-years-old. We may wonder why it was necessary to wait so many years past the age of bar mitzvah to enter the Jewish army. Even as teenagers the youths were probably physically mature and competent to fight as soldiers. Horav Tzvi Hirsch Farber, z.l., offers a homiletic response to this question. A young man, a rgb, is also called an okg. This term is derived from the fact that he is still an enigma, his actions are ohnkgb, concealed. Since he has not quite matured, we are still…

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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)

“Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their father’s household, by number of the names…. from twenty years of age and up, everyone who goes out to the legion in Yisrael.” (1:2,3)

“The Bnei Yisrael should encamp each man by his banner/flag according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed.” (2:2)

“And these are the generations of Aharon and Moshe… and these are the names of the sons of Aharon, the first-born, Nadav and Avihu, Elazar and Isamar.” (3:2,3)

“Count the Bnei Levi according to their father’s household, according to their families, every male from one month of age and up.” (3:15)

“From twenty years of age and up, everyone who goes out to the legion in Yisrael, you shall count them.”

YEARS

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