THE Parshas Bamidbor
Torah Teaser
Q Questions to ask your children
1. 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. How does that name embody the story of Binyomin? Ans… The Rokeach says that Avidan is from the word Avud – lost. Gidon means to be ripped out of its natural place. Binyomin suffered many losses in his life starting from the moment he was born, as his mother was lost and torn away from him. Later, his only whole brother whom he looked up to was also 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.
2. 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 also the Nesi’im who donated the Avnei Shoham and Avnei Milu’im to the Mishkan.” Ans… 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, but only on their outstanding Torah and Yiras Shamayim.” Sometimes the people do get it right!
3. “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? Ans… 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 chazal say 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.
4. 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? Ans… 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 goals, 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 with the Degalim until the Avodas HaMishkan became the focal point of life in the Midbar. Only when there was a united goal of service to Hashem. 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 each of them their own specific mission.
5. We find in the Torah that many mitzvos are Zecher L’Yetzias Mitzrayim. We don’t find mitzvos that are Zecher L”Maamad Har Sinai. Rav Aharon Kotler asks, since the whole point of leaving Mitzrayim was to receive the Torah, aren’t we focusing on the wrong thing? Mitzrayim is only a means to the end of receiving the Torah. Shouldn’t we be concerned with remembering Har Sinai? Ans … He answers that memories are needed for something that happened in the past and isn’t here right now. We can’t move the past forward, so we take ourselves back in time. This applies to Yetzias Mitzrayim, where remembering is appropriate. However says Rav Aharon, Ma’amad Har Sinai is something that can happen every moment of every day. When a person learns the way he should, that moment itself is no less than when we stood by Har Sinai. Even people with short memories can constantly enjoy hearing the words of Hashem anytime and anywhere! (Kol MeiHeichal – Shavuos 5766)

This week is B’Zchus all those who were there and witnessed the giving of the Torah to Klal Yisroel.

Distributed by the Chevra Marbitz Achdus D’NMB

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