Beha’alotekha Weekly Bulletin on the Parshah June 2nd 2018 19th of Sivan 5778 Pachad David 751 Published by Mosdot “Orot Chaim U’Moshe” in Israel Under the auspices of Moreinu v’Rabbeinu Hagaon Hatzaddik Rabbi David Chananya Pinto, shlita Son of the tzaddik and miracle-worker Rabbi Moshe Ahron Pinto, zt”l, and grandson of the holy tzaddik and miracle-worker Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy”a Maskil Lé'David Weekly talk on the Parshah given by Moreinu v’Rabbeinu Hagaon Hatzaddik Rabbi David Chananya Pinto, shlita Like a child running away “They traveled a distance of three days” from the Mountain of the L-rd like a child running (Bamidbar 10:33) away from school. Chazal explain that they traveled from Mount Si- It is true that they were obligated to travel from nai a distance of three days like a child running away the place according to Hashem’s command, as it is from school. This implies that the giving of the Torah stated, “At the bidding of the L-rd, the children of at Mount Sinai was a heavy burden upon them, Israel traveled, and at the bidding of the Lord, they which they sought to escape, so they ran away. encamped.” But they shouldn’t have left the place This Midrash requires explanation. We are talking joyfully and hurriedly. Inwardly, they should have about important people who are called by Chazal, felt sorrow and difficulty in having to leave, and a the “dor de’ah – generation of wisdom.” They had disadvantage, that it was too bad that they had to just received the Torah and saw Divine revelations. leave such a holy and sanctified place. They should Eye to eye, they saw the Shechinah of Hashem, and have expressed longing for the Mountain of the L-rd, the revelation of Hashem at Mount Sinai. Certainly a place that was so holy that even the animals were they were instilled with the love of Hashem and His prohibited in grazing nearby, and now they had to Torah; then why did they suddenly want to escape leave the place suddenly. But instead they left the Chevrat Pinto NYC the place like a child running away from school? place without feeling any loss, and this is the proof that their acceptance of the Torah was like a burden 207 West 78th Street • New York NY 10024 • U.S.A We need to understand how one infers from the and not a privilege. Chazal explain that they feared Tel: +1 212 721 0230 • Fax: +1 212 721 0195 words “They traveled a distance of three days,” [email protected] that perhaps Hashem would add more command- that they were running away like a child escaping. ments. This is surprising because they should have Why can’t we explain the words “They traveled” Jerusalem • Pninei David understood that a person without Torah is like a like by all other journeys that they simply traveled body without a soul. So too at Mount Sinai, as long Rehov Bayit Va Gan 8 • Jérusalem • Israel in the Wilderness, without explaining that they as they were there and Hashem was at the mountain Tel: +972 2643 3605 • Fax: +972 2643 3570 looked to escape? In addition, we can explain that [email protected] top, Mount Sinai remained holy. However, after the words “They traveled a distance of three days the holy Shechinah departed from there, and they from the Mountain of the L-rd” signifies that they Ashdod • Orh ‘Haim Ve Moshe had to leave the place, the place became like any took with them the impression of the Mountain other location. Now it was incumbent upon Bnei Rehov Ha-Admour Mi-Belz 43 • Ashod • Israel of the L-rd and the revelations there, as the Ohr Yisrael to create in every place that they would be Tel: +972 88 566 233 • Fax: +972 88 521 527 Hachaim Hakadosh says regarding the pasuk, “They [email protected] a dwelling where the Shechinah would reside. But journeyed from Rephidim,” (homiletically – laxity) they behaved exactly in an opposite manner and explaining that they departed from their laxity in Ra’anana • Kol ‘Haïm ran away like a child running away from school, Torah, meaning that now they reinforced their without bothering to create a dwelling for Hashem Rehov Ha’ahouza 98 • Ra’anana • Israel study of Torah. in another place, as Mount Sinai had been. Tel: +972 98 828 078 • +972 58 792 9003 [email protected] I would like to suggest with siyata d’Shemaya, And so it is regarding prayer. Even if one prayed that Chazal explain like this because the behavior with concentration and devotion, but at the end of of Bnei Yisrael was very puzzling. A short while after the prayer, when reciting “Aleinu l’shabayach” he Hillulah of Bnei Yisrael received the Torah and rose up to ex- already left the Beit Haknesset, he demonstrates Tzaddikim alted heights spiritually, they suddenly experienced that the entire prayer was a burden and hardship for a steep drop, which manifested itself in various him, and he was just waiting for the moment that complaints against Hashem and His messengers; 19 – Rabbi Shaul Sathon Devah he could remove the heavy burden from his neck… whether complaints about the lack of water, or Certainly such a prayer is not successful and it is not 20 – Rabbi Chaim Mordechai lack of meat, and afterwards finding fault with Eretz wholehearted. Similarly, when Bnei Yisrael left the Levaton Yisrael and slandering the Land. Mountain of Hashem and immediately sinned and 21 – Rabbi Shimon Sofer Chazal were perplexed by these cases and asked voiced false accusations against Hashem and His 22 – Rabbi Itamar Rosenbaum The how it was possible that those who received the leadership, it indicates that they ran away as a child Torah accompanied by thunderous lightning and the Admor of Nadvorna who runs away from school, and they were glad to sound of the Shofar, and saw wondrous miracles, leave Mount Sinai quickly, because they still didn’t 23 – Chacham Raful Alshvili, zt"l suddenly rebelled and fell time after time into the understand fully the value and importance of the Rabbi of Georgian Jewry trap of the Yetzer Hara. Why didn’t the Torah protect Torah. This is why even accepting the Torah did not 24 – Rabbi Massoud Hacohen Elchadad and guard them? After all the Torah is the antidote protect them and help them improve their ways, to the Yetzer Hara. Thus Chazal concluded that it because if they had appreciated the magnitude 25 – Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu must be that there was indeed some flaw in their and importance of the Torah, they would have felt acceptance of the Torah. Consequently, the Torah bad leaving the holy site of the Mountain of the did not influence them to change their ways for L-rd, even though they were obligated to continue the better. What was the flaw? That they ran away on their journey according to Hashem’s command. Walking in their Ways Tidbits of faith and trust penned by Moreinu v’Rabbeinu Hagaon Hatzaddik Rabbi David Chananya Pinto, shlita No one is infallible His astonishment did not last long, and in a broken voice Mr. Rivero told him that suddenly he did not feel well. When There is a story that illustrates to what extent challenges he was rushed to the hospital, he underwent tests and the Words of our Sages bring a person closer to Hashem. Even if he is not a Jew, he result was that he was diagnosed with the cursed disease, can recognize Hashem clearly. My dear disciple, Mr. Haver, may G-d have mercy on him. whom I merited with the help of Hashem to bring him to full In a flash, his peaceful life turned chaotic. He found The humility of our leaders repentance, met his friend, Mr. Rivero, in Argentina, who himself in a storm and turbulent sea of treatments and “Now this man Moshe was exceedingly humble, is not Jewish. medications, and he was beside himself. In his grief, he more so than any person on the face of the earth” This man was enormously wealthy and had many assets. recalled his meeting with Mr. Haver, who spoke to him about (Bamidbar 12:3) He was missing nothing. In their emotional meeting (on the Rabbi’s blessing, and now he wanted to be blessed in the How was it possible for Moshe Rabbeinu, who was the May, 2011) after greeting each other warmly, an interest- merit of his saintly ancestors to be saved and get cured. greatest of all people, to be humble? ing conversation developed between them. My disciple Mr. Within a few hours, he came to see me and told me the Haver told Mr. Rivero that his Rabbi, Rabbi David, shlit”a, The Chafetz Chaim explains that Moshe claimed that story. I turned to him and blessed him with all my heart was presently in Argentina, and he asked if he would ac- there was no comparison between him and Bnei Yisrael, that Hashem should send him a complete cure and restore company him to receive a blessing from the Rabbi as well. since he had ascended to Heaven and merited learning his health as before. I am sure that if he would recover, it Mr. Rivero replied proudly with complete self-assurance, “I Torah from Hashem. Therefore, he did not take any credit would cause a great Kiddush and Hashem and Hashem’s for himself. have everything, so why do I need a blessing…I have lots of Name would be glorified.