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ture he should say, Moshe Rabbeinu. He would present his B’ezras Hashem “I am going to do this case first. Then his opponent would make with Hashem’s permission, and for the his claim. Moshe Rabbeinu would then “A ccording to the word of Hashem, sake of His Name.” He should pray a decide. This was the legal system here the Bnei Yisrael journeyed, and According short prayer, “Master of the World! Your during the forty years of wandering in the to the word of Hashem they encamped. holy words state, ‘One who trusts in desert. All the days that the cloud (of glory) Hashem is surrounded by chessed.’ ‘You “This is my wagon. He stole it from me” would rest upon the Mishkan, they give sustenance to all (living things).’ Bless The second man countered. would encamp. When the cloud stayed a this venture that I am about to undertake long time over the Mishkan, the Bnei with a portion of Your chessed.” “Absolutely not. It is my wagon. I bought Yisrael would keep Hashem’s restrictions it from you.” and not travel. Sometimes the cloud A person should believe that every- would be upon the Mishkan for a number thing that happens to him is from the Moshe Rabbeinu pondered the claims for of days; according to the word of Holy One, Blessed Be He. Even unpleas- a moment. Hashem would they encamp and accord- ant things are from Him. Wicked people “I see. Do either of you have any proof?” ing to the word of Hashem would they who hurt us are just his messengers. journey. And sometimes the cloud would Therefore, whether good or bad things Both men reluctantly answered. remain from evening until morning, and happen to him, he should believe in the “No.” the cloud would be lifted in the morning Almighty and say, “This is from Hashem.” “Then we will wait until tomorrow and and they would journey; or for a day and Hashem will show us who is right.” a night, and the cloud would be lifted and they would journey. Or for two E days, or a month, or a year, when the very night, the miraculous food called cloud would linger over the Mishkan, mun (manna) fell in the desert. The Jewish resting upon it, the Bnei Yisrael would people did not have to work at all for encamp and not journey, but when it was their food. It came to them straight from lifted they would journey” (Bamidbar Heaven. However, not everyone received 9:18-22). This passage describes how the it in the same way. The tsaddikim (com- Bnei Yisrael were instructed to travel, pletely righteous people), received their camp, and guided on their way in the mun right by their doorsteps, baked cakes midbar. All of their travels and encamp- ready to eat. The beinonim (those who ments were “al pi Hashem” – According were neither completely righteous nor to the word of Hashem. completely evil) had to gather their mun and bake it into cakes. The reshaim (evil T he sefer Eved HaMelech cites the people) had lots of work to do. They had Shelah HaKadosh who illuminates this to travel far to get their mun, then they parasha with a brilliant insight. The Torah had to grind it, knead it, and bake it. That is hinting to an important mussar thought. night, after the claimants had approached Before a person begins any activity or Moshe Rabbeinu, the mun fell by the movement, he should say, “Im yirtzeh home of the first man and not by the Hashem” (If Hashem wishes [it to be so]), home of the second man. They returned or B’ezras Hashem (With Hashem’s help). to Moshe Rabbeinu the next day. If he takes a trip, he should say, “I am “The mun fell by my house today.” traveling with Hashem’s help and I would “That is Hashem’s sign that you are the like to reach my destination with His Kinderlach . . . rightful owner of the wagon.” help, if He so wishes.” When he arrives, The Shelah HaKadosh is describing the he should give thanks and praise to The reality of the world. Everything that hap- Kinderlach . . . One who brought him here by saying, pens to us is decreed from Above. The The Gemora (Yuma 75a) relates several “Behold, with Hashem’s help I have Holy Shelah then gives us the tools to in- incidents like this one, where the mun reached this place!” In this way, he will ternalize that reality and live with it. Talk revealed necessary information about constantly mention the Heavenly Name to Hashem! Observe His ways! Realize people. In those days, a person did not when he decides to do something, while that He is The One who will grant you have to guess whether he was right or he is doing it, and when he successfully success or failure in any undertaking. wrong. The mun was his judge. What completes it. Therefore, ask for His help and blessing about judgment in our times? Are we do- before you begin. If He grants you success, ing the right thing or not? How will we S imilarly, when he engages in buying thank Him. If the outcome is not pleasant, know? Today we do not have the mun to or selling merchandise he should say, “I acknowledge that He is trying to teach decide for us. However, we do have par- trust in Hashem that He will give me suc- you something. Examine your deeds, learn ents and Rabbis. Hashem gives them spe- cess.” If he profits he should say, “I prof- the lesson, and correct the problem. Bring cial siyata di’shmaya (Heavenly assistance) ited with Hashem’s help” as the verse the Almighty and His ways into your regu- to make the right decisions. Yehoshua Ben states in parashas Eikev, “Then you shall lar conversation. Live with Him every Prachiya said (Pirkei Avos 1:6), “Appoint a remember Hashem your G-d: that it was moment of the day! “According to the Rav for yourself.” When we have a Rav, He who gave you the strength to make word of Hashem, the Bnei Yisrael jour- we can ask him all of our questions. He wealth” (Devarim 8:18). Similarly, if he neyed, and According to the word of will then guide us along the right path. fails, cholila (Heaven forbid), he should Hashem they encamped.” say, “The came to me from Hashem for a sin that I committed.” He should then Parasha Questions: • With what do we eat the Korbon search his deeds measure for measure, The Judge perhaps he was dishonest in a monetary Pesach? (9:11) • Who would blow the chatzosros when manner, or withheld tsedaka from a poor “Y es, gentlemen please step forward person. He should return the money, and present your claims.” the camp traveled? (10:8 and Rashi) • At what other times were the chatzos- admit his mistake and confess to the Al- The first man nervously approached the mighty. If a person begins a business ven- ros blown? (10:9-10)
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