‘Parsha Growth Spurts’
Rabbi Dani Staum
Parshas Bamidbar/Shavuos
“The Children of Israel shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their father’s household…” (Bamidbar 2:2)
Chumash Bamidbar begins with the counting of Klal Yisroel and the instruction about the precise formation in which each tribe would travel surrounding the Mishkan. If the Jews were meant to travel in this formation, why did they not begin to do so immediately after leaving Mitzrayim?
Rav Yaakov Kamentesky zt’l explained that instructing each tribe to travel in its unique place with its own flag and insignia can lead to divisiveness, as each tribe begins to vie for supremacy. The only way to ensure that this would not happen is if there was a central focus to which everyone subjugated themselves. In other words, if they had a constant reminder that ultimately they all shared one mission, it would serve as a constant reminder that their individual roles and greatness would be part of the greater mission which everyone shared.
It is analogous to an army which has many factions. While each faction has its own unique role to play, ultimately they all share one unified mission.
Therefore, it was only after the Mishkan was constructed, that they could begin to march with their won flag emphasizing their individual uniqueness. At that point it became clear that, no matter where a tribe stood or what color and insignia appeared on its flag, they all paid allegiance to the Mishkan in the center. The Mishkan symbolized their mission of being a holy people.
On the first of Nissan the Mishkan stood complete, on the first of Iyar they were taught how they would march in the desert.
Even in exile when we lack the Bais Hamikdash, as Jews we are united at heart, for in our hearts we all surround the Bais Hamikdash and strive to live lives of holiness according to the Torah.
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Rav Mendel MI’Vorke noted that just as the Shabbos before Pesach is called Shabbos Hagadol, and the Shabbos before Yom Kippur is called Shabbos Shuva, the Shabbos before Shavuos also merits a special name.
Chazal say (based on Vayikrah Rabbah 9:3) ‘Derech Eretz kadmah laTorah’ one must be a mentch before he can learn Torah. Thus the Shabbos before Shavuos is called “Shabbos Derech Eretz”.
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“All agree that on Shavuos we also need ‘lachem’” (Pesachim 68a)
The Gemara (Pesachim 68a) records a dispute between Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua regarding the proper balance one should maintain on Yom Tov. They debate whether the entire day should be dedicated ‘l’Hashem’ – spiritual pursuits – or ‘lachem (‘to you’) – physical celebration and enjoyment – or whether it should be divided between both.
The Gemara states that everyone – even the opinion that Yom Tov should be dedicated l’Hashem – agrees that on Shavuos one’s celebration must include ‘lachem’ – an aspect of physical enjoyment and indulgence; “because it is the day that the Torah was given.”
The commentators question why the opposite isn’t true. Shouldn’t we devote the day the Torah was given primarily to spiritual pursuits?
The Gemarah Shabbos (88b) relates that when Moshe ascended Har Sinai to receive the Torah the ministering angels questioned why there was a mortal among them. When Hashem replied that he had come to receive the Torah, they asked why Hashem would allow His holy Torah to descend into our world.
Hashem instructed Moshe to respond, whereupon Moshe told the angels that the Aseres Hadibros begins with Hashem declaring that He took us out of Egypt and slavery. He asked them, “Did you descend to Egypt as slaves?” He then repeated each of the Aseres Hadibros, and questioned the angels if any of them were applicable to them: “Do you ever have to swear that you must refrain from doing so in G-d’s Name? Do you have parents whom you must honor? Do you have a desire to kill, steal, or covet?
When they heard Moshe’s argument, the angels acquiesced to our receiving the Torah.
Based on this account, Rav Shlomo of Radomsk zt’l explained that we merited receiving the Torah specifically because we are mortals of flesh and blood. We need the Torah’s guidance to teach us how to navigate the challenges of life. Therefore, on the anniversary of the day when we received the Torah our observance must include physical celebration, because the Torah was given to us so that we can become a holy people within our physical world.
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Sources: Rav Yaakov Kamentesky – Emes L’Yaakov; Rav Shlomo of Radomsk – V’karasa laShabbos Oneg