Bamidbar Efer Bamidbar Is Called “Chumash Has Survived Until Today
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2019 Torah Wellsprings 111 TorahWellsprings Parashas Bamidbar efer Bamidbar is called “Chumash has survived until today. Why don’t they S HaPikudim ” the “Chumash of become áåøá ìèá , lost among the Counting,” though the tallying mentioned multitudes, among the myriads of other in this Chumash is merely a fraction of nations who don’t believe in the Torah? the topics discussed in this Chumash. The answer is, this count saved them. Apparently, it is called “Chumash As the Chidushei HaRim zt’l writes, HaPikudim ” the “Chumash of Counting” “Hakadosh Baruch Hu didn’t want them because the counting is so significant. TorahWellsprings- Bamidbar to become áåøá ìèá among the goyim chas Parashas Bamidbar begins, ...äùî ìà 'ä øáãéå veshalom . That is why He counted them, ...úåîù øôñîá ...ìàøùé éðá úãò ìë ùàø úà åàù , because something that is counted “Hashem said to Moshe… ‘Count the doesn’t become batel , not even in a 111 entire nation of Bnei Yisrael... [gather] thousand (see Beitzah 3:).” the number of their names…” A second gain from this count is that it Rashi writes, “Since He loves them, He reveals to the nation how much Hashem counts them all the time.” A person who loves them — as a nation, and as an loves a certain item, will count it often individual. to make certain nothing is missing, or Therefore, Hashem initiated this count simply because he loves to count them with the words ùàø úà åàù . The Kli Yakar over and over again. Hashem is always (1:2) writes, “Rashi (Shemos 30:12) counting us, which demonstrates that He writes that åàù means ïåáùç úìá÷ , to tally loves us immensely. up the numbers, to know the amount. Hashem counts us úåîù øôñîá , by our The word åàù is specifically used for this names. This means each and every count because åàù also means to raise, to individual is special to Hashem. He isn’t elevate. By counting them, they are merely a number; he is a name with a raised and exalted above all nations, personality, with a mission to because the nations of the world don’t accomplish. He is cherished and beloved have a number. To explain, we draw an by Hashem, and therefore Hashem wants analogy from straw. A farmer isn’t able to count him. to tell you how many stalks of straw he has in his fields [because it is not What is gained come from counting? The important for him to count them. Chidushei HaRim zt’l (Likutei HaRim , Similarly, the nations of the world don’t Bamidbar ) explains that it is truly have a number, because they aren’t phenomenal that the tiny Jewish nation important to count them]…. But Bnei isnt batel even ( דבר שבמנין) The halachah is that an item that is sold by the number .1 when found among a thousand other items. 222 Torah Wellsprings --- Bamidbar Yisrael are counted… Each of them is instituted the custom that Bnei Yisrael important like an entire nation. As it should read the tochachah [curses/ klalos states (Shemos 19:21), áø åðîî ìôðå , ‘many of parashas Bechukosei ] before Shavuos, will fall.’ [Chazal explain], even if only and the tochachah [curses/ klalos in one Yid dies, Hashem considers it like parashas Ki Savo ] before Rosh many died... 222 This implies…that each of Hashanah. Why? Abaya (and others say them has hashgachah pratis .” Reish Lakish) explains, so the year with This counting of the Yidden called åàù , its curses should end.” raises their spirits and helps them Shavuos is also called Rosh Hashanah, as understand that they are important to the Gemara says, “Yes, also Shavuos is Hahem, who leads them with a new year, as we’ve learned, ‘The hashgachah pratis . A billion people live judgment for fruit is on Shavuos.’” in China, and close to that number live Therefore, we read Bechukosei before in India. Hundreds of millions of people Shavuos, so the year with its curses populate the U. S. We don’t have to be should end, and a new year with its afraid by these numbers, because brachos should begin. Hashem doesn’t count them. Hashem counts the Jewish nation all the time (as Bechukosei is actually read a couple of Rashi wrote) and each individual is weeks before Shavuos. It is never read counted by name. There is special on the Shabbos right before Shavuos. hashgachah pratis for each Yid. This Tosfos (Megillah 31:, úåìì÷ ä"ã ) explains realization ùàø úà åàù , raises our heads, that the reason is, úåìì÷ä êéîñäì àìù éãë and fills our hearts with pride. úøöòì éú÷åçáù , “so the curses of Bechukosei shouldn’t be near Shavuos.” When one knows that he is special and We want to read the curses at the end of counted, he recognizes that his Torah the year, but we also want a separation study is important to Hashem. Perhaps he between the curses and the yom tov . will never become a renowned scholar, Therefore on the Shabbos before but since he is counted, by name, by Shavuos we read parashas Bamidbar to Hashem, we can be certain that Hashem interrupt between the curses and the yom rejoices with whatever strides he takes in tov . 333 Torah. The Gemara (Megillah 31:) states, “Ezra Reb Moshe Feinstein zt’l (Darash Rachel cries for , רחל מבכה על בניה מאנה להנחם על בניה כי איננו ,(It states (Yermiyahu 31:14 .2 her children. She refuses to be consoled about her children, because he is gone. Notice , כי איננו ,that the pasuk begins speaking in plural, that she lost her children, and concludes he is gone. This hints that each individual is important and special, and the loss of one Yid is too much. 3. Similarly, the tochachach of Ki Savo is never read on the Shabbos prior to Rosh Torah Wellsprings --- Bamidbar 333 Moshe, Shavuos ) writes that also in the because the neshamos are divided into realm of drush , we can explain why we several sparks. But the essence of klal read Bamidbar before Shavuos. He Yisrael is 600,000 souls.) There are also writes, “Parashas Bamidbar is very 600,000 letters in the Torah. The source associated with Shavuos [because of each Yid is in a letter of the Torah. If parashas Bamidbar carries the lesson one letter is missing, the sefer Torah is that everyone should devote themselves pasul . So too, every Yid is indispensible. to Torah]. There are lazy people who No one is superfluous. We count them don’t want to study Torah. Their excuse because each Yid is important. is that they think they will never become Each one of the 600,000 letters of the great in Torah. To correct them, Torah has to be completely surrounded [parashas Bamidbar states] ùàø úà åàù , with white parchment (ìéåâ ó÷åî ). This ‘Count the nation.’ åàù also means to means the letters can’t be connected, not raise the nation. Counting the nation will even a tiny bit. The Rema MiPano raise the morale of each individual. One (quoted in Shlah HaKadosh á"ö÷ äîëç úéá ) sees he is counted as ‘1,’ just as the explains that this hints that every Yid has gedolim , the Torah scholars, are counted his personal shlichus and mission in life, as ‘1.’ Thereby, one understands that he and he shouldn’t try to do the task of has potential to reach high levels. Before others. Shavuos, we read parashas Bamidbar , the parashah of counting, because this The Chidushei HaRim zt’l (Likutei enables us to accept the Torah and to HaRim beginning of Bamidbar ) writes, learn Torah.” “Everyone is a messenger from heaven to serve Hashem... When he fulfills his Chazal tell us that there are shlichus …he merits finding his letter of six-hundred-thousand neshamos in klal the sefer Torah. Because, as the sefarim Yisrael. (Although there are many more teach, there are 600,000 letters in the than 600,000 Yidden in the world, that’s Torah and 600,000 neshamos .” 444 is read then. Once again, this is to separate the curses from the וילך Hashanah. Parashas new year. מונה ,(One's name represents his personal mission in the world. It states (Tehillim 17:4 .4 Hashem] counts the stars by number. Each is called by its] , מספר לכוכבים לכולם שמות יקרא name, because each star has its own mission. Bnei Yisrael is compared to the stars, because every Yid has his individual mission to fulfill. The Chidushei HaRim ztl (Likutei HaRim , beginning of Shemos ) teaches, when one looks at the stars, they appear small and insignificant, because we see them from the distance. Actually, each star is enormous and special. Similarly, people look at Yidden and think their specialness is in their numbers, but individually they arent singificant. Actually, each Yid is an entire world, with his own personal shlichus to accomplish. 444 Torah Wellsprings --- Bamidbar The Flags make them flags, as they desired…’ In Parashas Bamidbar also discusses the the future, I will redeem you, in the merit banners of the Jewish nation. It seems of the flags.” from the pesukim that there were four It still begs for explanation. What is the flags. To the east of the Mishkan dwelled significance of the flags? Lehavdil , the the tribes Yehudah, Yissachar, and nations of the world have flags so people Zevulan. They were all one group, under will know where to go, to find their Yehudah’s banner, as it states (2:3) ìâã group. Certainly the Jewish nation has a äãåäé äðçî etc. To the south of the far more profound intention in their Mishkan dwelled Reuven, Shimon, and flags.