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Did conceive this entire people… you say to me, carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries a suckling. (11:12)

Moshe is expressing the  idea that  leading a nation  can become very difficult at times.  Hashem imposed upon Moshe and Aharon the duty to care for the Jewish people with patience and forbearance, even if they should become abusive.  The Jewish leader is compared to a nursemaid who patiently and devotedly cares for him charge.  The word used to describe a nursemaid is written in the male gender – “inut” rather than “,bnut” in the female gender.  Why is this? Horav Mordechai Ilan, zl, derives a profound lesson here.  An “omein,” which is the male gender for a nurse, because…

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The banner of the Bnei Dan, the rear-guard of all the camps, embanked according to its legions. (10:25)

Rashi explains why Shevet Dan traveled at the rear of the procession.  They were the most  populous of the tribes.  They traveled at the rear in order to retrieve and return any item lost by its owner – who had  traveled in front of them.  Tosfos explain that any member of the other tribes who was detained for some reason would also travel along with them.  Bnei Dan were people of integrity, helping out those who straggled behind – both physically and spiritually.  Michtav M’eliyahu emphasizes that they collected the “lost souls” along the road,  restoring them to Judaism. Why…

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Make for yourself two silver trumpets…and they shall be yours for the summoning of the assembly and to cause the camps to journey…when you go to wage war in your Land, against an enemy who oppressed you, you shall sound short blasts of the trumpets…on a day of your gladness, and on your festivals…you shall sound the trumpets. (10:2,9,10)

Hashem commanded Moshe to make two silver trumpets, which would be for Moshe’s exclusive use.  They were used either to summon the entire nation or just the leaders to come to Moshe — or to signal that they were about to move on.  The trumpets were also sounded to arouse  Klal Yisrael in the event that a catastrophe struck Eretz Yisrael.  The blasts of the trumpets, comments the Rambam, were a call to repentance.  It was a clarion call to the people, telling them that the impending disaster was not happenstance, but rather a message from Hashem that they had…

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And Aharon did so…as Hashem commanded to Moshe. (8:3)

Aharon was asked to do one thing – to light the Menorah.  It would seem that such a simple task would provoke Aharon to act in response.  Perhaps, he might feel that a position as important as his merits a more noble service.  After all, he was the Kohen Gadol.  Aharon followed his orders to the letter.  Chazal laud him for not changing Moshe’s directive at all.  It is  difficult to sacrifice one’s individuality  to the greater cause.  Obstinacy has destroyed more than one promising career.  The criteria for greatness is the ability to suffer an indignity for the cause,…

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Speak with Aharon…when you kindle the Menorah toward the face of the Menorah.(8:2)

Rashi explains the juxtaposition of the command to Aharon to light the Menorah upon the previous parsha, which discussed the dedication offerings brought by the nesiim to dedicate the Mizbayach.  Aharon was depressed  and concerned that neither he nor any member of his tribe had a role in the dedication of the Mizbayach.  He felt that this comprised retribution for his part in the sin of the Golden Calf.  Hashem assuaged his feelings by telling him  that his role, of lighting the Menorah, holds greater importance.  The Mizbayach serves its purpose only as long as there is a Mikdash, while…

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