This week’s Parsha Preview is co-dedicated to the refuah of Menachem Mendel Ben Faigie Ruchel, Yocheved Bat Leah, Simcha Bat Mazel, Ofek Ben Tali, Shimon Ben Miriam, Sara Bat Hodda, Avraham Moshe Ben Miriam Tova, Baruch Kalman ben Leiben Jacobs, Kyla Chaya Bat Sarah Polson, Rav Moshe Refael Ben Chasiba Halevy, Baruch Ben Faigle, Leiba Bat Devorah Esther, Moshe Avraham Ben Chaya Freidel, Gilon Chaim ben Yonit and Tova Rochel Bat Chaya may Hashem grant them all a speedy recovery and a complete healing.This week’s Parsha Preview is also dedicated to the memory and Yartzeit of Rabbi Moshe Bensabat Bar Hacham may the Neshama have an aliyah.
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“Ad Meyah Vesrim Shannah”
Bamidbar
Numbers 1:1 - 4:20
Candle Lighting in
Candle Lighting in Thornhill 8:17 P.M.
Number Of Mitzvot in Parsha Bamidbar: None
Haftorah:(Additional portion, from Prophets, which is read after the Parsha)
Hoshea / Hosea 2:1 - 22
This week we study Chapter 6 of Pirkei Avot - "Ethics of the Fathers"
SUNDAY, MAY 16, 3 SIVAN, marks the beginning of the-three days before Shavuot, on which the Bnei Yisrael purified themselves before receiving the Torah.
Shavuot is Wednesday and Thursday May 19 - 20, 2010.
This week's Torah reading, Bamidbar, begins the Book of Bamidbar, the fourth of the Five Books of Moshe. This book of the Torah opens on the first of Iyar, one month after the inauguration of the Mishkan, and several weeks before the Jews will depart from
G-d commands Moshe to count all Jewish men of military age. G-d names one member of each tribe as the nasi, leader, of the tribe. Each nasi will assist Moshe and Aharon in taking a census of his tribe. An additional objective of this census was to establish the tribal lineage of every Jew.
After giving us the numbers for each tribe, the Torah gives us the grand total: 603,550. This number, however, does not include the Levites. Moshe was commanded by G-d not to include the holy tribe in the general census. Instead, the Levites are assigned the following holy tasks: dismantling, carrying, and re-erecting the Mishkan whenever the Jews traveled, and camping around the Mishkan, keeping guard over it and its vessels.
The Jews are instructed regarding their camping formation. The Mishkan was at the center of the encampment, surrounded by the "Flag of Yehuda" -- which included the Tribes of Yehuda, Issachar and Zebulun -- to the east; the "Flag of Reuben" -- Reuben, Shimon, Gad -- to the south; the "Flag of Ephraim" -- Ephraim, Manasseh, Benyamin -- to the west; and the "Flag of Dan" -- Dan, Asher, Naftali -- to the north.
The Levites are appointed to serve in the Mishkan, guard its vessels and assist the Kohanim with their Mishkan duties. This honor originally belonged to the Israelite firstborns, who were "acquired" by G-d when He spared them during the Plague of the Firstborn. This privilege was taken away from them when they participated in the sin of the Golden Calf -- and given to the Levites.
Moshe is now commanded to separately count all Levite males from the age of one month and older. The three Levite families are counted, and a leader is appointed for each of the families. The total of all (non-firstborn) Levites eligible for this census: 22,000. The family of Gershon camped due west of the Mishkan, and was put in charge of transporting the tapestries and curtains of the Mishkan and their accessories. The Kehot family camped directly south of the Mishkan, and was in charge of transporting all the holy vessels. The Merari family camped to the north of the Mishkan, and they were in charge of carrying the Mishkan beams, panels, and sockets. Moshe, Aharon, and their immediate families camped to the east of the Mishkan.
G-d then tells Moshe to count all the firstborn Israelites -- because the holiness of each Israelite firstborn was now to be "transferred" to a Levite. The census revealed that there were 273 more firstborn than Levites. Each of these "extra" firstborns (as determined by a lottery) gave five shekel to the Kohanim, and was thus "redeemed."
Moshe is commanded to take a census of the Levites of the family of Kehot, but only those eligible to transport the Mishkan and its vessels -- those between the ages of thirty and fifty. The results of this census are given in next week's Torah reading. This section then describes the duties of the Kehot family. When the Mishkan was to be dismantled, the Kohanim would cover all the holy vessels with specially designated sacks. The Kehot family would then take the covered vessels and carry them to their destination.
Parshat Bamidbar
This week’s parsha discusses the diglei midbar' - the flags of each tribe and the formation in which they camped and traveled. Why was it necessary to have these flags and this formation?
Rav Dessler writes that, in the physical realm, there are three reasons for order and organization.
1) There is order for the sake of order. One gets enjoyment from seeing things arranged in an organized fashion. (Maybe that’s why I am a control freak when it comes to organization).
2) There is order to enable us to find something when we need it.
3) There is order to bring a unity and an efficiency of action. An intricate piece of machinery will only function optimally if each piece is in its proper place, accomplishing its objective.
In the spiritual realm only the third aspect applies. Neither divided groups nor a confused mixture can accomplish our purpose in this world of 'kiddush shem shamayim' - sanctifying Hashem's name.
Each individual must develop according to who he is, in an environment that is conducive to, and promotes, such growth. All groups are working toward this same goal, and each is gaining and learning from the other.
When there is this diversity of experiences and this diversity of situations all leading to the same point, then the greatest kiddush shem shamayim is attained.
This is what we learn from the 'diglei midbar', the formation of encampment in the midbar. As the Ramban writes, Yehuda was royalty, Yissachar- Torah, Zevulun- wealth, Reuven- tshuva, etc. Each, necessary and crucial aspects of serving Hashem. Each tribe had its path to travel on. That was their midah, their attribute, their strong point. At the same time, each midah was necessary for all of the tribes to internalize. Each contributing his area of expertise to elevate the level of the group. All simultaneously combining their diverse talents into the symphony of kiddush shem shamayim.
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Shabbat Shalom Umevorach-A peaceful and Blessed Shabbat
Chodesh Tov-A Good Month
Chag Samayach-Happy
Yitzchak Alloul
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Actually, many Rabbis and Poskim say that today the Kohanim and Leviem have become lost and mixed due to our long exile. see www.kohen.co.uk
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