Bamidbar – Page 6 – Peninim on the Torah

And you shall appoint the Leviim over the Mishkan of the Testimony. (1:50)

Upon perusal of the pesukim, it is evident that the Torah instructed Moshe Rabbeinu to appoint the Leviim for their mission concerning the Mishkan of Testimony even before he was told to count them. Whereas the rest of the nation was immediately totaled into the census, Shevet Levi was first presented with their unique function and then counted. The Shach explains this from a practical standpoint. Shevet Levi’s census was quite small in contrast to the other Shevatim, Tribes. Initially, this might have caused them chalishas ha’daas, a somewhat downcast feeling. After all, why should Shevet Levi be the smallest in…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Bamidbar

And they established their genealogy, according to their families, according to their fathers’ household. (1:18)

The census was executed according to tribe, thereby requiring each individual to establish his genealogical descent from a given tribe. This was done either by document, witnesses, or by the word of the individual. Chazal relate that when Hashem gave the Torah to Klal Yisrael, the nations of the world suddenly disputed His decision. Why were the Jews receiving the Torah and not they? Hashem replied, “Bring Me your Sefer Yuchsin, book of family pedigree, to determine from which nations you descend, so that it can be determined if you are worthy of receiving the Torah. The Jewish People have…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Bamidbar

There are the offspring of Aharon and Moshe. (3:1)

The Torah is about to detail the offspring of both Aharon and Moshe – yet, it enumerates only those of Aharon. Rashi quotes Chazal in the Talmud Sanhedrin 19b who teach that “whoever teaches his friend’s son Torah, it is considered as if he gave birth to him.” The Shlah Ha’kadosh adds that one should not take the word k’ilu, “as if,” verbatim, for it is more than “as if.” One who teaches Torah to his friend’s son has actually given birth to him. Father and mother provide a child’s body; the rebbe, Torah teacher, sustains his neshamah, soul. Thus,…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5771, Bamidbar

Nadav and Avihu died before Hashem. (3:4)

Va’yamas is singular, meaning, “and he died.” Concerning the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, the Torah should have written va’yamusu, “and they died.” K’motzei Shalal Rav cites the Zohar Ha’kadosh that teaches that Nadav and Avihu died a purely physical death. Their spiritual selves did not perish, but lived on. The Zohar supports this hypothesis with an anomaly in the text concerning Pinchas. The Torah states (Shemos 6:25) that Elazar HaKohen took a wife from the daughters of Putiel and Pinchas was born to them. The verse continues with the words, eileh roshei avos ha’Leviim, “These were the heads/leaders of the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5770, Bamidbar

“Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their fathers’ household.” (1:2)

Rashi explains that as a result of Klal Yisrael’s dearness to Hashem, He counts them all of the time. The Mishkan, the site of the Revelation of the Divine Presence, was erected on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. On the following month, Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Hashem counted them. The commentators struggle with the thirty-day lapse between the time the Mishkan was erected and the time Hashem counted Klal Yisrael. One would think that because of Hashem’s great love for Klal Yisrael, He would count them on the most auspicious day, the day the Mishkan was erected. A number of reasons are given…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5770, Bamidbar

“The Bnei Yisrael shall camp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:2)

The tribes camped around the Mishkan in a manner designated by Hashem. They were organized into formations of three tribes each. Their place around the Mishkan corresponded to the places which Yaakov Avinu designated to his sons when he instructed them on how to escort his bier to its final resting place. The Moinistritcher Rebbe notes that Parashas Bamidbar, which includes the chapter detailing the order of the degalim, banners, is always read on the Shabbos immediately prior to Shavuos. He posits that this is appropriate, especially given the fact that one of the forty-eight qualities by which Torah is…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5770, Bamidbar

“Count the sons of Levi…every male from one month of age and up…” (3:15)

Rashi explains that the little infants of Bnei Levi were counted from the tender age of one month and up. Already at this young age, they were called by the title of honor and distinction that they would achieve as adults. Why grant such an esteemed title to a baby? Are we so sure they will live up to the title? Apparently, Shevet Levi had this “track record.” Those thirty-day-old infants were sure to grow up to become Shomrei Mishmeres HaKodesh, Guardians of the Holy Watch. Yet, how could we be so certain of their outcome? We see regrettably, how…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5769, Bamidbar

“Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their fathers’ household.” (1:2)

Rashi explains that as a result of Klal Yisrael’s dearness to Hashem, He counts them all of the time. The Mishkan, the site of the Revelation of the Divine Presence, was erected on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. On the following month, Rosh Chodesh Iyar, Hashem counted them. The commentators struggle with the thirty-day lapse between the time the Mishkan was erected and the time Hashem counted Klal Yisrael. One would think that because of Hashem’s great love for Klal Yisrael, He would count them on the most auspicious day, the day the Mishkan was erected. A number of reasons are given…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5769

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5769, Bamidbar

“The Bnei Yisrael shall camp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:2)

The tribes camped around the Mishkan in a manner designated by Hashem. They were organized into formations of three tribes each. Their place around the Mishkan corresponded to the places which Yaakov Avinu designated to his sons when he instructed them on how to escort his bier to its final resting place. The Moinistritcher Rebbe notes that Parashas Bamidbar, which includes the chapter detailing the order of the degalim, banners, is always read on the Shabbos immediately prior to Shavuos. He posits that this is appropriate, especially given the fact that one of the forty-eight qualities by which Torah is…

Home -> Bamidbar -> 5769

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum In 5769, Bamidbar

“Count the sons of Levi…every male from one month of age and up…” (3:15)

Rashi explains that the little infants of Bnei Levi were counted from the tender age of one month and up. Already at this young age, they were called by the title of honor and distinction that they would achieve as adults. Why grant such an esteemed title to a baby? Are we so sure they will live up to the title? Apparently, Shevet Levi had this “track record.” Those thirty-day-old infants were sure to grow up to become Shomrei Mishmeres HaKodesh, Guardians of the Holy Watch. Yet, how could we be so certain of their outcome? We see regrettably, how…

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And you shall appoint the Leviim over the Mishkan of the Testimony. (1:50)

And they established their genealogy, according to their families, according to their fathers’ household. (1:18)

There are the offspring of Aharon and Moshe. (3:1)

Nadav and Avihu died before Hashem. (3:4)

“Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their fathers’ household.” (1:2)

“The Bnei Yisrael shall camp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:2)

“Count the sons of Levi…every male from one month of age and up…” (3:15)

“Take a census of the entire assembly of Bnei Yisrael according to their families, according to their fathers’ household.” (1:2)

“The Bnei Yisrael shall camp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:2)

“Count the sons of Levi…every male from one month of age and up…” (3:15)

YEARS

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