Beha’alosecha – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5756

“If any man will be contaminated through a human corpse or on a distant road… he shall make the Pesach offering to Hashem.” (12:10)

The law of Pesach Sheini was inspired by a group of men who had been tamei, contaminated, by a corpse. They came forth and complained that they had not been permitted to share in the mitzvah of Korban Pesach. Chazal debate the identity of these men. Rabbi Yishmael says that they were the ones who were carrying Yosef’s coffin. Rabbi Yitzchak claims that they had become tamei as a result of tending to a “meis mitzvah,” a corpse who has no one to look after him. Rabbi Akiva opines that they were Aharon’s cousins, Mishael and Eltsafan, who had become…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5756

“Did I conceive this entire people or did I give birth to it… where shall I get meat to give this entire people when they weep to me?” (11:12,13)

Moshe Rabbeinu seems to imply that had he conceived and given birth to the people, the question of “where shall I get meat to give the entire people,” would not be pressing. Parents are resourceful when it comes to serving their children’s needs. The amount of adrenaline which a parent has for his child is amazing! No mountain is too tall to climb, no task too difficult to perform – nothing is impossible for a parent in regard to his child. That is the way it should be. Baalei Mussar attribute this remarkable “ability” to the inherent love that Hashem…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5756

And the people took to seeking complaints; it was evil in the eyes of Hashem. The rabble among cultivated a craving… and they said, ‘Who will feed us meat? We remember the fish that we ate in Egypt free of charge, and the cucumbers, melons… But now our life is parched, there is nothing; we have nothing to anticipate but the manna.'” (11:1,4,5,6)

The chapter dealing with the “misonenim,” complainers, demands interpretation. Let us address the following questions: First, they complained that they lacked meat. This is not true! The Torah (Shemos 12) clearly states that they took sheep and cattle with them when they left Egypt. Second, when they complained that they had received fish in Egypt for free, Rashi comments that “free” actually means that there were no “strings attached.” They did not have to observe mitzvos in order to get food. They did, however, have to undergo backbreaking and degrading labor in order to receive whatever limited food they were…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5756

“There were men who were contaminated by a human corpse and could not make the Pesach-offering on that day… Those men said to him (Moshe)… ‘Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering in its appointed time?'” (9:6,7)

That a portion of the Torah was dedicated to these people suggests that they had great merit. Indeed, Chazal teach us that they deserved this distinction. Chazal discuss the identity of these individuals. According to Rabbi Akiva, they were Aharon Ha’Kohen’s cousins, who tended to the bodies of Nadav and Avihu. Horav Meir Bergman, Shlita, derives two significant lessons from the incident of Nadav and Avihu which should be mentioned. Aharon was rewarded for his unparalleled kiddush Hashem, sanctification of Hashem’s Name. What really was the kiddush Hashem? Horav Bergman cites the Rashbam who imputes the kiddush Hashem to be…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5756

“Speak to Aharon and say to him, ‘When you kindle the lamps.'” (8:2)

Rashi questions the juxtaposition of the parsha that discusses the Menorah and Aharon’s role in its preparation, upon that of the dedication of the Mishkan and the offerings of the Nesiim. He comments that Aharon was distressed by the fact that neither he nor any member of his tribe was represented in the dedication of the Mishkan. Aharon’s love for Hashem, and everything connected to Him, was so intense that he wanted to participate in every endeavor that was related to sanctifying His Name. Hashem comforted Aharon by saying that his service of preparing and kindling the Menorah was more…

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“If any man will be contaminated through a human corpse or on a distant road… he shall make the Pesach offering to Hashem.” (12:10)

“Did I conceive this entire people or did I give birth to it… where shall I get meat to give this entire people when they weep to me?” (11:12,13)

“There were men who were contaminated by a human corpse and could not make the Pesach-offering on that day… Those men said to him (Moshe)… ‘Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering in its appointed time?'” (9:6,7)

“Speak to Aharon and say to him, ‘When you kindle the lamps.'” (8:2)

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