The Sad Story Of Shevet Binyomin In the beginning of Parshas Bamidbar it lists the names of the Nasi of each Shevet. The Nasi was not merely an individual, but a person who embodied the story of the whole Shevet as was indicative of his name.
The Nasi of Shevet Binyomin was Avidan ben Gidoni. The Rokeach says that Avidan is from the word Avud, lost. Gidon is to be ripped out of itd natural place. Binyomin suffered many losses in his life starting from the moment he was born, as his mother was was lost and torn away from him.
Later, his only whole brother, whom he looked up to, was lost and torn away from him when the Shevatim sold Yosef. Later, the entire Shevet barely survived extinction, as the war caused by Pilegesh BaGivah tore Shevet Binyomin away from the rest of Bnei Yisrael with whom they fought.
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A Democratic Vote That Got It Right On Rosh Chodesh Iyar, a month after the Chanukas HaMishkan, Hashem told Moshe to count the Bnei Yisrael. Joining him in the task would be the Nasi of each Shevet, and Hashem told Moshe the name of each Nasi. The Netziv asks, “Why does the Torah say that Hashem chose the Nesi’im on that day if these people were the Nesi’im who brought the Korbanos during the Chanukas HaMishkan? Even before that, they were the Nesi’im who donated the Avnei Shoham and Avnei Milu’im to the Mishkan.” The Netziv answers that earlier on, these were the leaders chosen by the people in each Shevet to lead their Shevet. Now, by the counting of Bnei Yisrael, Hashem chose the people whom He felt were fit to lead Bnei Yisrael. Lo and behold, they were the same exact people. “To the credit of Bnei Yisrael,” says the Netziv, “they didn’t choose people based on their wealth and good leadership skills, only on their outstanding Torah and Yiras Shamayim.” Sometimes the people do know!
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The Degalim Of Yaakov “Ish Al Diglo B’Osos L’Bais Avosam (Bamidbar 2:2); Each Shevet traveled with the flag they received from their father.” Rashi says, “This means with the Os or sign that Yaakov Avinu passed on to them to carry him out of Mitzrayim.” Why does Rashi say that Avosam is Yaakov as opposed to the other Avos?
Rav Yisachar Dov of Belz answers that Avrohom merited Kedusha when he traveled to the Akeida on Har HaMoriah. Yitzchok drew his Kedusha by going to daven at the Makom HaMikdash as Chazal say, “Vayeitzei Yitzchok Lasuach BaSadeh”; which means the Bais HaMikdash. Yaakov didn’t travel anywhere, “VaYifga BaMakom”; Har HaMoriah traveled to meet him. Yaakov was able to draw his Kedusha from the Makom HaMikdash wherever he was without being in the geographical proximity.
In the midbar Bnei Yisrael drew their Kedusha from the Mishkan. When they traveled the Mishkan was dismantled, and they traveled without a Makom of Hasraas HaShechina. Therefore, they traveled with the secret of Yaakov. The secret of drawing the Shechina to them wherever they were, even without a Mishkan. This was the secret of the Degalim.
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Degalim In The Midbar, Dividing Only To Conquer It was only after a year in the Midbar, that the Bnei Yisrael were counted in order to be set up under the Degalim, where each Shevet was given their own flag. Why did Hashem wait so long to give them this mitzva? Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky (Emes L’Yaakov) says that in principal creating the Degalim was a dangerous move. By dividing up a group of people with each one having their own banner and motto, competition could evolve with feelings of nationalism. However, if all of the groups have the same goal, and each contribute to the cause in their own unique way, this danger doesn’t exist. The eyes don’t compete with the ears since their roles are different. This way various factions can work together towards their mutual goal. The Mishkan was only put up in Nissan of the second year. Hashem wanted to wait for the Degalim until the Avodas HaMishkan become the focal point of life in the Midbar. Only then, was it safe to give a clear identity to each Shevet. That is why the pasuk says (Bamidbar 2:2), “Ish Al Diglo B’Osos L’Bais Avosam… Saviv L’Ohel Moed Yachanu,” only when their lives revolved around the Mishkan did Hashem divide them up and give them each their own specific mission.
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Who Is Fit For The Jewish Army? When counting Klal Yisrael, it is always the men between the ages of twenty to sixty who are counted, because they are fit to serve in the army. Yet, we see that when counting, there is great emphasis placed on counting the people in family groups. Each person must account for his yichus, lineage. The Iturei Torah brings from Rav Shamshon Rephael Hirsch that while in most armies, the best soldiers are battle hardened, brave, and strong warriors accustomed to the savagery of war, this is not so in the army of Hashem. Hashem’s army is best served by compassionate, merciful souls who do not enjoy murder. Even though in war a good soldier must kill when commanded to do so, however for a Jewish soldier, killing is not be an instinctive act.
In Kedushin (76) it says that anyone who fought in Dovid HaMelech’s army, did not have his yichus questioned. The most important background check before admitting someone into the army is to check the kind of family he comes from. People from good, stable, respectable families are the kind of soldiers Am Yisroel needs to fight Milchemes Hashem and be Mikadesh Shem Shamayim.

Created By Rov Avrohom Sherman
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