Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

Category

Back to Home -> Beha'alosecha ->


עשה לך שתי חצוצרת כסף מקשה תעשה אתם והיו לך למקרא העדה ולמסע את המחנות

Make for yourself two silver trumpets – make them hammered out, and they shall be yours for the summoning of the Assembly and to cause the camps to journey. (10:2)

The Talmud Menachos 28b states: “All the vessels which Moshe made were valid for him and (remained) valid for future generations. (This is exclusive of) the Chatzotzros, silver trumpets, which were valid for him and invalid for future generations.” The limitations of age did not apply to such keilim, vessels, as the Menorah, Shulchan, Shofar; every utensil which Moshe Rabbeinu had made was perfectly kosher, valid, for all future generations. The silver trumpets were different. They were made by Moshe for his own use; no one else could use Moshe’s trumpets. They would have to fashion their own. The rationale…

Continue Reading

ויהי העם כמתאננים רע באזני ד'

The people took to seeking complaints; it was evil in the ears of Hashem. (11:1)

Complaining can reflect much more than simple negativity. It all depends against whom and about what one complains. A chronic complainer will invariably not be selective about what or whom he finds fault. It begins with mild grumbling about nothing of major concern, then graduates to harping about everything, anything and everyone. It, however, does not stop there. One who becomes used to denouncing everything will ultimately protest the way Hashem directs the general world, and especially this individual’s own little world. Horav Aharon Leib Shteinman, Shlita, once commented to a close student, “You should know, one who looks askance…

Continue Reading

האנכי הריתי את כל העם הזה... כי תאמר אלי שאהו בחיקך כאשר ישא האמן את הינק

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

Horav Meir Shapiro, zl, interprets Moshe Rabbeinu’s lament to Hashem as analogous with the complaints issued by rabbinic leaders throughout the generations. Two words used by Moshe are not synonymous with one another. An omein is more of a governess, who raises and instructs the child. We find Mordechai being referred to as Esther’s omein, V’hu omein es Hadassah, “And he raised Hadassah” (Megillas Esther 2:7). A yoneik, on the other hand, is a young suckling infant whose interest is primarily concerning its next meal. What is the relationship between the individual who is charged with educating the child and…

Continue Reading

והאיש משה ענו מאד מכל האדם אשר על פני האדמה

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth! (12:3)

Moshe Rabbeinu was the quintessential leader of our People. He was replete with and exemplified, every positive character trait. Yet, the one middah, character trait, with which the Torah defines Moshe is anavah, humility. This teaches us the significance of humility as being the one middah which towers above all the rest. The Shlah HaKodesh states that the word ha’adam, person, is an acronym for the three pillars of humility – Avraham Avinu, David HaMelech and Moshe Rabbeinu. Aleph – Avraham, daled – David; mem– Moshe. Three giants of humility, of which Moshe was the greatest. Moshe’s humility is indicated…

Continue Reading

ויאמרו האנשים ההמה... למה נגרע לבלתי הקריב את קרבן ד' במועדו

Those men said to him… Why should we be diminished by not offering Hashem’s offering at the appointed time? (9:7)

A group of people, who due to their being in a state of tumah, ritual impurity, were ineligible to bring the Korban Pesach, presented themselves before Moshe Rabbeinu, asking for a dispensation of some sort. Their desire to offer the Korban Pesach was so intense that they appealed to Moshe to somehow, someway, help them experience this milestone event. As a result of their burning desire to perform the mitzvah, Hashem made them agents through whom He revealed the mitzvah of celebrating Pesach Sheni, the Second Pesach. Essentially, it was to be viewed as a makeup Pesach. This is the…

Continue Reading

בהעלותך את הנרות אל מול פני המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות

When you kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light. (8:2)

Rashi explains that the three wicks on the right and the three wicks on the left were all directed towards the Menorah’s central stem, thereby concentrating the light toward the center. Since its light was focused, rather than spread out, the Menorah symbolized the notion that Hashem does not need its light. As the Source of all light, Hashem does not need the Menorah to illuminate the Sanctuary. The Shem MiShmuel quotes his father, the Avnei Nezer, in explaining the need for seven lights, all focused on the center. The Yalkut Shimoni makes a fascinating statement concerning the Menorah. “Why…

Continue Reading

והאיש אשר הוא טהור ובדרך לא היה וחדל לעשות הפסח ונכרתה הנפש ההוא מעמיה

But a man who is pure and was not on the road and had refrained from making the Pesach-offering, that soul shall be cut off from its people. (9:13)

On the one hand, we find that, throughout most of the Torah, we have confidence in people making the right choices. Man is trusted and allowed to make his own choice between right and wrong, good and evil. Despite the obstacles and numerous pitfalls, man is allowed the option to navigate the murky waters of life on his own – without that Divine “nudge.” On the other hand, in certain instances the Torah is quite up front in directing the person in no uncertain terms, concerning the way it expects him to act. There is no room for error –…

Continue Reading

ויהי בנסוע הארון

And when the Ark would journey. (10:35)

Va’yehi binsoa haAron are the first three words of the shortest sefer in the Torah. In the Talmud Shabbos 115b, Chazal teach, Hashem placed markings (inverted nuns) immediately preceding and following this section to enclose it and separate it from the rest of the Torah. This was done to teach that this is not its proper place. (These pesukim belong earlier in Perek 2 of Sefer Bamidbar where the Torah describes how each tribe camped under its banner.) Rabbi (Yehudah HaNasi) says, “It is not for this reason that the signs (inverted nuns) appear, but rather, because this section ranks…

Continue Reading

ועתה נפשנו יבשה אין כל בלתי אל המן עינינו והמן כזרע גד הוא ועינו כעין הבדלח

But now, our life is parched, there is nothing; we have nothing to anticipate but the Manna. Now the Manna was like a coriander seed and its color was like the color of b’dolach. (11:6,7)

Rashi explains that the individuals who complained, “We have nothing to anticipate but the Manna,” were countered by Hashem, Who said, “The Manna was like a coriander seed with a color similar to crystal.” As the commentators explain, it had the taste of dough saturated with oil. Rashi understands that Hashem was alluding to the world, “Look at about what My children are complaining! They say the Manna is nothing worth waiting for, and I show you that it is indeed quite special.” This does not mean that the Jewish People were full of complaints. It is possible that they…

Continue Reading

והאיש משה ענו מאד

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble. (12:3)

Humility is built upon a person’s assessment of himself. It has nothing to do with his being able to speak up or take a stand on behalf of what is right. A humble person is well aware of his personal ability and successes in life. He just feels that he could have done so much more. As far as his ability is concerned, he considers himself lacking in achievement. With his G-d-given talents, he should have been that much greater. As a result of this self-assessment, one carries himself in a manner incongruous with that of a person who is…

Continue Reading

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

You have Successfully Subscribed!