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Home -> Bamidbar -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bamidbar

Count the Bnei Levi (according to their fathers’ household, according to their families) every male from one month of age and up shall you count them. Moshe counted them according to the word of Hashem as he had been commanded. (3:15,16)

Rashi cites a dialogue between Moshe Rabbeinu and Hashem.  Moshe asked the Almighty, “How do I enter the tents to determine the number of infants in their home?”  It would have been improper for Moshe to enter the Levite tents to count the number of suckling infants.  Hashem responded, “You do yours and I will do mine.”  Moshe would go to the entrance of each tent and wait outside while the Shechinah preceded him, after which a Heavenly voice would proclaim the number of babies in the tent.  We must understand how it was that Moshe decided to do things…

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Home -> Bamidbar -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bamidbar

So did they encamp by their standards, and so did they journey, each one according to his families, by the house of his fathers. (2:34)

Horav S.R. Hirsch, zl, explains the practical/symbolic meaning behind the formation of the tribes as they camped and traveled.  In the front, to the east, under the degel of Yehudah, were the tribes of Yehudah, Yissachar and Zevullun.  To the right, in the south, under the degel of Reuven, were Reuven, Shimon and Gad.  To the left, in the north, under the degel of Dan, were the tribes of Dan, Asher and Naftali.  Last, in the back, opposite Shevet Yehudah, under the degel of Efraim, were Efraim, Menashe, and Binyamin.  Each of the three tribes which form the leading camp…

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Home -> Bamidbar -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bamidbar

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household.” (2:1,2)

The Midrash discusses the remarkable level of sanctity achieved by Klal Yisrael as a result of their degalim, banners.  Indeed, Chazal cite a dialogue between the gentile nations in which they attempt to dissuade Klal Yisrael from maintaining their allegiance to Hashem.  Klal Yisrael’s response to the gentiles’ negativity was the beauty and sanctity of the degalim that evoked their pride in being Jewish.  We must endeavor to understand what it is about the degalim that engendered such feelings of self – esteem and pride. Horav Mordechai Rogov, zl, offers two responses to this question.  He explains that Torah and…

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Home -> Bamidbar -> 5759

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In 5759, Bamidbar

Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying, “The Bnei Yisrael shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers’ household, at a distance surrounding the Ohel Moed shall they encamp.” (2:1,2)

An inconsistency seems to be manifest in the text of  this pasuk.  Hashem enjoins Klal Yisrael  to camp “mineged,” at a distance, and “saviv“, surrounding.  Are they to camp mineged or saviv? If it is opposite it is not close.  The Satmar Rebbe, zl, cites his father in his sefer, “Yetev Lev.” He explains this apparent contradiction in light of Rashi’s interpretation of the phrase, “b’osos l’bais avosam,” “according to the insignias of their fathers’ household,” as a reference to the signs that Yaakov gave his sons, regarding the formation of his sons when they were to serve as his…

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