Parshas Behaaloscha (5762)

Bs”d

Parshas Behaaloscha (5762)
by Mordechai Dolinsky

I wish to share a striking difficulty for which I don’t have an explanation. At the beginning of sefer Bamidbar 1:5 the names of the Nisiim of all of the shevatim are presented. Later in 2:1 at the detailed formation of the camp in conjunction with the names of the shevatim they are again all presented. In 7:12 when the Chumash enumerates the presentations of all the Nesiim they are again all mentioned by name. In our sedra 10:13 in the framework of the movement of the shevatim again the Chumash elaborates on the specific name of the Nesiim, to our great wonderment.

In the Medrash 15:18 we find a striking Chazal. The throne of Hashem rests on Clal Yisroel when they are in a state of unification, what an inspiring and beautiful concept. What about bringing it into the world of reality? We are living in a time of anxious excitement of caring for our brothers but in the raw truth when we get down to the nitty gritty of reality of life there is a tremendous callousness to the sensitivity of the people in the orbit of our relationships. Love mankind—love Clal Yisroel—love your neighbor—love your family, parents and children—are magnificent ideals. To put it into a realistic fulfillment means bother, patience, a disruption of our own comforts and interests, and certainly deserves the throne of Hashem to rest upon us.

Have a wonderful Shabbos.