bamidbar
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Yehuda Katz
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"Each man according to his camp and each man according to his flag " (1:50)
When the Israelites traveled in the desert, they traveled with flags as per their tribe. There is a controversy, whether there were 4 flags designed for 3 tribes each, or each tribe had their own flag. However, a question can be asked in regard to verse 1:50. Why does it say "each man according to his flag" emphasizing the individual, it should have rather said "each tribe according to their flag" emphasizing the tribe. In other words, only tribes had flags, not individuals ! Why then is the verse concentrating on the individual and "his flag", and not the tribe? I would like to propose the following original answer, Bezrat Hashem: The Torah is teaching us that every individual within his own tribe felt that he was the designated "flag holder" for his tribe. This was very significant. Every person , naturally, wants to be part of something greater than himself. Each Israelite felt personally that he was part of G-d's army on earth. This caused a tremendous metamorphosis to take place within each Israelite. Each Israelite felt that he represented not only his tribe , but G-d Himself. An Israelite on an individual level would work hard to change his ways for the better as a result since the "flag bearer" has to be impeccable in all respects,especially his behavior.
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by d fine
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All the tribes get a mention (several times) in Bamidbar. If so, why is the word for Jews ‘yehudim’ - baring a striking resemblance to the tribe of Yehudah; what about all the other tribes? Here are two answers. Firstly, the name Yehudah has the name of HaShem in it (the yud, the heh, the vav, and the heh). Thus, in calling us ‘yehudim’ we are being told that our essence is godly, and that we have a special, innate connection to HaShem. The second answer is that Yehudah comes from the word ‘hoda’ah,’ which means to thank/appreciate/admit. As the Ohr HaChaim and the Ramban point out a (if not the) central character trait of a Jew is his gratitude to HaShem for every breath he takes, everything that happens to him, etc. The first word we say in the morning is ‘modeh’ (thanks), and in the Aleinu prayer the Jewish People are singled out for giving thanks to HaShem (korim u’mishtachavim u’modim). Therefore, the name ‘yehudim’ underlines this central Jewish trait of realising that one’s life, skills, and abilities come from HaShem.
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by d fine
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The Sforno at the start of our sedra (1:2) reveals what HaShem’s original plan was - what would have happened had we not succumbed to the sin of the spies. We’d have been counted, put into our special travelling formation (wing-backs and sweeper!), and we’d have then gone straight into Eretz Yisrael. Moreover, the nations of the Land of Israel would have fled from us, leaving us with an easy conquest. However, the sin of the spies saw the plan have a major facelift. We now had to travel for forty years in the desert before going into the promised Land, and (during this time) the spiritual state of the seven nations of the Land plummeted - necessitating a harsher treatment of them on our part.
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by d fine
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Rav Chaim Halpern points out that the first Rashi in each Chumash always seems to sing the praises of Klal Yisrael. The first Rashi in Bereishis tells of the present of Eretz Yisrael that HaShem gave to us. The opening Rashi in Shemos tells of HaShem re-counting the names and numbers of Klal Yisrael ‘to publicise His love of them.’ The curtain-raising Rashi in Vayikra speaks about the glory of Moshe Rabeinu our leader, and the starting Rashi of Devarim tells of our being reproached in a les overt way ‘because of the honour of Klal Yisrael.’ Indeed, Chumash Bamidbar is no different; the first Rashi recalls the fact that HaShem counted us again ‘because of our love before Him.’ In fact, this principle that the start of a Chumash cannot refer to any misdeeds of Klal Yisrael is highlighted by Rashi himself in parshas Beha’aloscha (9:1). The theme? We are indeed a treasured nation.
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Rafi Jager
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When Hashem revealed Himself to the Jewish people at Har Sinai - the extraordinary event annually commemorated and celebrated on the festival of Shavuos - two things became crystal clear: the reality of G-d's existence, and the absolute necessity to accept the Torah.
Regarding the first of these two, the Possuk says, "You have been shown [the Divine revelation] in order to know that Hashem, He is the G-d! There is none beside Him" (Deuteronomy 4:35). Rashi, comments on this that when Hashem gave the Torah to the Jewish people, He opened the seven heavens so that every Jew could see that Hashem is the one and only G-d. Every member of the fledgling Jewish nation experienced an encounter with the Divine that would leave and indelible imprint on their lives and
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Rafi Jager
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Why is Sukkos followed by Shemini Atzeret, a short one-day continuance, whereas Pesach is not followed by any such brief closing festival? The answer is that the upcoming holiday of Shavuos is really the conclusion of Pesach.
True, we were freed from slavery on Pesach, but that was only a physical freedom. Being free to do whatever we want to do - without any restraints - is not true freedom, for we would remain slaves to our desires. Only when we accepted the Torah at Har Sinai on Shavuos and willingly bound ourselves to Hashem and His way of life did we truly become free. Receiving the Torah imbued our lives with direction
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Daniel Sandground
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Parashas Bamidbar – Desert, Water and Fire :
This week we enter the fourth book of the Torah, Bamidbar. Usually translated in English as 'The Book of Numbers', because one of it's major themes which occurs within the book and in particular in this weeks sedra is that of the census of the people. We see from the beginning of this week's parasha that the members of the tribes were counted individually, as every Jew passed in front of Moshe and Aharon and presented proof of his tribal descent. Ramban in fact brings this down as one of the reasons why Hashem wanted a census to be taken, so that each member of the nation would know that they had a right to the personal attention of the two great leaders, and by conducting a census this provided a perfect opportunity for every Jew who passed before them to tell them his name and be counted as an individual of personal worth. Another benefit would be so that they could receive a blessing from the great Prophet and his holy brother, and the half-shekel
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Administrator
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by d fine
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Parshas Bamidbar; Out for the Count :
This week we are going to ask a question which we have asked several times before with regards to previous parshiyos (e.g Emor, Vayikra). A sedra is named after its first significant word. Thus, the sedra Korach is not entitled by its first word ‘vayikach,’ nor is parshas Ki Sisa entitled ‘vayedaber,’ because though these words are the first words in their sedras, they are relatively common and are thus not deemed significant enough to head a sedra. However, a cursory glance at the first pasuk in parshas Bamidbar will reveal the fact that the word ‘bamidbar’ does not seem to be particularly significant. Indeed, if my memory serves me correctly (or, more accurately, if my Bar Ilan CD is telling the truth), the word ‘bamidbar’ appears 62 times in the Torah. In fact, the word ‘midbar’ appears 107 times in the Torah, whilst the word ‘vayikach’ (the first word of parshas Korach, which was deemed ‘too common’ to be a title of a sedra) appears only 88 times
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Benjamin A Rose
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The gemara in Nedarim (58a) tells us that in order for the Shechina to rest on someone, he must have four attributes; wise, rich, strong, and modest. The Kli Yakar says that grouping of the encampment of Bnei Yisroel into four Degalim was to highlight these four attributes of Klal Yisroel so that the Shechina would rest on us.
The first Degel led by Yehuda represented wisdom or Torah. Yehuda was the Nasi and Reish Galusa who set the policies of the Torah, “Lo Yasur Shevet MiYehuda”. Yisachar learned Torah and Zevulun supported him making him an equal contributor of Torah or wisdom. They camped in the east where the sun rays first emanate in the morning just like Torah goes out from Tziyon.
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Benjamin A Rose
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A brick in the wall is only important because without it the wall will fall. The brick itself has no individual importance. Similarly when Bnei Yisroel went to war with Midyan each Shevet sent 1,000 soldiers. Each soldier was only a number that added up to the necessary total amount of troops needed to win the battle. If one soldier is missing the army is lacking and is not yet an army.
When a family has ten children each child is a world unto itself. Each child is not just important because they are a member of the total family of ten. Each one has a name not a number. On the other hand if a child is missing there is still a family because the family was not based on a specific total number
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Benjamin A Rose
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"And Hashem spoke to Moshe in Midbar Sinai". Why was the Torah specifically given in a Midbar? The Meforshim explain, since the Midbar is essentially Hefker (ownerless), no one has any particular claim to it. Hashem was indicating that the Torah belongs equally to everyone
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by d fine
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The Chidushei HaRim notes that the sedra of Bamidbar generally falls very close to Shavuos. What is the message of this juxtaposition? He answers that parshas Bamidbar is all about Bnei Yisrael's formations in how they camped and traveled. Each tribe, family, and person had their own place within Bnei Yisrael. This shows that each person in life has their own unique place and role within the Jewish People. [And just like the Mishkan was in the centre of the formation, so is avodas HaShem the central aim in our roles] Realising that each person has their own unique place/role fosters unity and working together as a team for the common goal. In short, the message of Bamidbar is achdus by realising that every Jew has their unique role. And this leads up perfectly to Shavuos
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Yehonasan Gefen
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PARSHAS BAMIDBAR - YEHUDA AND YISSOCHOR :
The Parsha devotes considerable time to describing the formations of the tribes. They were arranged in groups of three. The commentaries point out that they were deliberately placed in such a position so as to be able to exert influence on each other.# The first formation was that of Yehuda, Yissochor and Zevulun. Yehuda was directly next to Yissochor. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l writes that Yehuda’s distinguishing characteristic was the ability to take achrayus (responsibility), both for himself, and for others.# He exercised this mida when he took achrayus for the incident with Tamar, when he accepted the consequences of bringing Binyomin down to Mitzrayim and when Nachshon ben Amminadav, the Prince of Yehuda, was the first person to step into the sea at the Yam Suf before it had even split. Yissochor is known to represent Torah; he devoted himself to Torah study whilst his brother Zevulun provided for his physical needs
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by d fine
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The sedra and chumash are called 'bamidbar' after the opening pasuk retelling that HaShem spoke to Moshe in the desert. Why is this detail so important that it gets to entitle the sedra? Two answers...
1) Chazal teach that in order to acquire Torah one must make themselves hefker like the desert, ie nullify one's self ego [and realise that just like if one is stuck in a desert it is up to you and no-one else to grow crops, so too it is up to you to take responsibility that you understand and learn Torah; Kotzker Rav]
2) The sedra is all about our perfect formation order. The contrast is a great lesson; even though Bnei Yisrael are in an orderless desert
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by d fine
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The order of play of the first part of our sedra is as follows: First, we are told about the princes of each tribe, followed by a reporting of the results of the count of each tribe’s population. After all this, the sedra tells of the encampment formations of the Bnei Yisrael, within which it gives the numbers of the tribes again. Why repeat the population numbers? As seems to be the norm, let’s speak about a related topic, through which we shall eventually return to our initial question.
There are two plains in Judaism; the individual and the communal/national (one’s immediate community in small, and klal yisrael in the big picture). It is the communal /national which has more power in general than the individual; and the national more than the communal. For example, we daven in a minyan to add power to our tefillah via using the merit of the many over the individual
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by d fine
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Bamidbar & Shavuos ; Time v Space
As the saying goes, the best place to start is always the beginning; and here is no exception. Let’s ponder a very interesting question in the very first pasuk in the sedra. It says “HaShem spoke to Moshe in the Sinai desert in the Ohel Moed on the first of the second month of the second year of the Exodus saying.” Now something very intriguing occurs here; when referring to the location of events we go from the least specific (desert) to the most specific (Ohel Moed). But when referring to time we do it the other way round; first the most specific (first day) and later the least specific (second year). Why this discrepancy? Let’s try and connect this to Shavuos in suggesting an answer…
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Oizer Alport
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Ish al diglo b’osos l’beis avosam yachanu B’nei Yisroel mi’neged saviv l’ohel moed yachanu (2:2)
Rav Avrohom of Zunsheim, a Rishon and author of Tikkun Tefillin, points out a number of fascinating parallels between the Tefillin shel Rosh and the encampments of the Jews in the desert. The tefillin is sewn up on the bottom with 12 stitches, 3 on each of the 4 sides. This corresponds to the configuration of the 12 tribes, which also camped in groups of 3 tribes, all positioned around the central camp of the Divine Presence and camp of the Levites. In the center of the tefillin are the parshios, which represent the Luchos, and the cube in which they rest corresponds to the Aron in which the Luchos were kept. Finally
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Benjamin Rose
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"Hashem spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after their exodus from the land of Egypt saying: "Take a census of the entire assembly of the Children of Israel according to their families, according to their fathers' household, by number of the names, every male according to their head count." (Bamidbar 1:1-2)
Because of G-d's love for the Jewish People he counts them frequently. (Rashi)
According to their head count: They gave a half shekel and the coins were counted since it is forbidden to count them literally by head. (Rashi)
At a shiva call years back a psychiatrist abruptly asked a rabbi
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Torah Portion -
bamidbar
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Written by Benjamin A Rose
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"And with you shall be one man from each tribe, each man should be the head of his family" (Bamidbar 1:4).
What lesson about life is the Torah conveying with this verse?
A simple and boorish person who came from a distinguished lineage was arguing with a wise scholar who came from a non-distinguished family. The coarse ignoramus boasted about his illustrious ancestors. "I am descended from a great people. Your ancestors are nothing compared to mine," he arrogantly boasted
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