Beha’alosecha – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

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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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

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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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

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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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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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

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

“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

“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, 5755

“When you kindle the lamps.” (8:2)

The parsha begins with the section which deals with the maintenance of the menorah. It follows immediately after the conclusion of Parashas Naso, which is concerned with the dedication of the mizbei’ach. Chazal address the juxtaposition of these two topics. They remark that upon witnessing the ceremonial activities and involvement of the nesiim in the altar’s dedication, Aharon Ha’Kohen became pained by his own and his shevet’s exclusion from them. Hashem responded to this concern by emphasizing Aharon’s unique opportunity to prepare and kindle the menorah. The Ramban notes the difficulty inherent in this statement. Aharon had the responsibility for…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5755

“And they journeyed from the Mountain of Hashem a three day distance.” (10:33)

The Midrash views this journey from the Mountain of Hashem in an uncomplimentary manner. Chazal equate Bnei Yisrael’s departure with a “child who is running away from school,” happy to leave the holy place where he received mitzvos. Inasmuch as their venture away from the Har Hashem was in accordance with Hashem’s will, Bnei Yisrael’s attitude reflected a haste that was unbecoming and inappropriate. We must endeavor to understand the analogy to a child running from school. After all, Klal Yisrael was not delinquent in their departure. Horav Elyakim Shlesinger, Shlita, gives the following insight into this analogy. Why does…

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

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

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

“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)

“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)

“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)

“When you kindle the lamps.” (8:2)

“And they journeyed from the Mountain of Hashem a three day distance.” (10:33)

YEARS

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