Beha’alosecha – Page 11 – Peninim on the Torah

They journeyed from the mountain of Hashem a three day journey and the Aron of the covenant journeyed before them…to search out for them a resting place. (10:33)

Rashi contends that the “Aron Bris Hashem” — which was taken out with Bnei Yisrael when they went to battle — contained the broken Luchos. The “Shivrei Luchos” retained a unique power which served as a protective armor when Bnei Yisrael were in a difficult predicament. We must endeavor to understand why the Aron that contained the broken Luchos accompanied Bnei Yisrael in time of war. What was the significance of the Shivrei Luchos? What influence did they maintain over the people? We suggest that the broken Luchos represent the integrity of Torah and each Jew’s mesiras nefesh, self-sacrifice, to…

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Moshe Marcovich In Beha'alosecha, 5758

Moshe heard the people weeping in their family groups. (11:10)

To express their displeasure publicly, entire families gathered outside their tents and wept. Rashi explains that the word “families” alludes to the real reason for their complaint. The family laws that were initiated at Har Sinai became a source of frustration for them. They did not care to have their relationships governed by the Torah. Rather than viewing the laws of family life and morality as a privilege reserved for the nobility that comprises Klal Yisrael, they viewed them as an infringement on their freedom. Horav Yitzchak Blazer, zl, suggests a novel interpretation to the word “families.” The manna descended…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

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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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In Beha'alosecha, 5757

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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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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They journeyed from the mountain of Hashem a three day journey and the Aron of the covenant journeyed before them…to search out for them a resting place. (10:33)

Moshe heard the people weeping in their family groups. (11:10)

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

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

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)

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