The heads of each tribe brought offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed. (Bamidbar 7:10)

The end of this week’s parsha is famous because it is read every year on Chanuka. It is also famous because it seems to be unnecessary. For 72 verses, it lists the offerings that were brought by the head of each of the 12 tribes – 6 verses for each tribal leader. But every single leader brought the same offering. The six verses for each leader lists the exact same items that were brought to the altar; the only difference is the name of the leader and his tribe. So why do the verses need to repeat everything that was brought?

There are numerous answers but one answer mentioned by the Midrash is that although each head brought the same offerings, what they had in mind was something different. For example, the leader of the tribe of Dan had in mind that everything he brought as being an allusion to Shimshon (Samson) who came from the tribe of Dan. Zevulun on the other hand had in mind things that supported Torah, since they were the ones who went into business to support Yissochar, who learned all day long. Although each tribal leader brought exactly the same things, their thoughts were very different.

This can teach us an important lesson: two or more people can do the same action but have very different thoughts. Ever play “Angry Birds” If you don’t know what this is, it is an addictive game where you shoot birds through the air and try to kill pigs. Personally, I think the best part of the game is listening to the birds scream as you shoot them through the air, but we can discuss that at a different point. The point I want to make is that two people can play Angry Birds and one can be doing something good while the other is not.

Player Number One has been working hard all morning and needs to take a break. He turns on Angry Birds and plays it for 10 minutes so he can relax his mind. This is fine. We are allowed to take breaks and relax for a few minutes.

Player Number Two feels like “wasting time”. He is not overloaded, but he’s just bored. He has work he can be doing or Torah he could be learning, but he just does not want to do anything. So, he turns on Angry Birds and plays it. This is bad. We do not believe in “wasting” time. Time is precious. If a person needs to take a break, it’s not wasting time. That is using your time to relax so you can continue functioning at a good level. To throw away time because you do not want to do anything is unacceptable. Player Number Two is not doing something good.

It might look like people are doing similar things, but their intentions are what is most important. Although science fiction books have been written about people who could read other people’s minds, in the real world, we cannot do this. But there is one person’s mind we can understand and that is our own. Before we do actions, we should make sure that our intentions are proper. Even if we see hundreds, thousands, or even millions of other people doing the action, we need to make sure that we have the right thoughts and good reasons for what we are doing. It could be that the others are doing the act for the right reason while we are doing it for the wrong reason. Or it could be that others have bad intentions when they do something, while we have pure reasons for what we do.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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