‘Parsha Growth Spurts’[1]
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Bamidbar 5773
“Hashem spoke to Moshe in the Wilderness of Sinai…” (Bamidbar 1:1)
Rav Shimshon Pincus zt’l (Tiferes Torah, Bamidbar) asks why Matan Torah took place in the desert? The gemara (Bava Basra 158b) famously states that the very air of Eretz Yisroel adds wisdom. Wouldn’t it have been more apropos for the Torah to be given in Eretz Yisroel?
He answers by quoting the final Mishna in Ta’anis which, expounding on a pasuk in Shir Hashirim, notes that Matan Torah was analogous to our chasuna with Hashem. In other words, our inextricable bond to Hashem is through our steadfast devotion to Torah.
A chasuna, and the subsequent yichud, does not take place in the home of the choson or kallah. If it did the kallah may be thinking about the new dishes she received that she could use to make supper for her choson, or any of the other myriad responsibilities they now have. Instead, the chasuna and yichud take place in a wedding hall which doesn’t belong to the choson or kallah, so that they have nothing else to think about except each other and their newfound marriage.
Similarly, Hashem gave us the Torah in the desert where there were no distractions or diversions. In Eretz Yisroel, its holiness notwithstanding, Klal Yisroel would have many responsibilities. When the Torah was given, and our bond to Hashem was consummated, there could be nothing on our minds other than the Torah itself, and our mission to be a holy Torah nation.
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“Now you appoint the Levites over the Mishkan of Testimony…” (Bamidbar 1:50)
Ba’al Haturim notes that the word ‘hafked – appoint’ appears twice in Tanach. Aside for its mention in the aforementioned pasuk, it is mentioned in Tehillim (109:6) “Appoint a wicked man over him.” Ba’al Haturim explains that this is reflective of the dictum that ‘one does not become an officer below (in this world), until he has become wicked above (in the celestial world).
The Ba’al Haturim is difficult to understand. Were the Levites appointed because they were wicked? It would seem that the opposite was true.
Darash Mordechai quotes Ya’aros Devash who explains that Shaul Hamelech forfeited the monarchy of Klal Yisroel because he had been too compassionate over Agag and the Amalekite animals. A king must know the balance between compassion and justice. He must know when to unyieldingly assert his authority and stand his ground, even when he knows he will be censured and hated for it. Dovid Hamelech lived up to this standard. Although his righteousness and compassion were extreme, when he had to go to war, he unhesitatingly led his charges with valiance and courage.
This was the message to the Levites who were now being appointed to leadership. It was not sufficient for them to be compassionate and sensitive to the needs of the people. They had to also know that leadership entails standing up for kavod shamayim when necessary, even if it will stir up tempers and cause a commotion.
Shevet Levi was worthy of leadership because they had demonstrated their understanding of this requisite balance. After the Chet Ha’egel, at the behest of Moshe, they gathered arms to fight their own relatives who had sinned.
A leader must know, and teach, that his foremost allegiance is to Hashem and His Torah.
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“Draw near the tribe of Levi, and have them stand before Aharon the Kohain, and they shall serve him.” (Bamidbar 3:6)
The Medrash on this pasuk draws a parallel to the pasuk in Tehillim (92:13) “A righteous man will flourish like the date palm, like a cedar in Lebanon he will grow tall.”
The Ba’al Shem Tov explained that there are some tzaddikim who serve Hashem devotedly and wholeheartedly, albeit in seclusion. There are other tzaddikim however, who not only serve Hashem personally, but also seek to influence and inspire others to do the same.
The first tzaddik is analogous to the mighty cedar tree. Although robust and imposing, it does not produce any fruit. The second tzaddik is analogous to the date tree, which is also tall and beautiful, but more importantly, produces sweet fruits that others can enjoy as well.
The Medrash compares Shevet Levi to a date tree, because they performed the Avodah in the Bais Hamikdash on behalf of Klal Yisroel. Their alacrity, meticulousness, and enthusiasm was an example for the entire nation.
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Sources: Ba’al Shem Tov – quoted in V’karasa L’Shabbos Oneg
[1] This series was originally written for and printed in Hamodia.