Parshas Beha'alos'cha 5766

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

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Aharon felt remiss because he did not take part in the dedication ceremony of the Tabernacle. G-d reassured him that he would be given the mitzvah of kindling the menorah in the Tabernacle instead. This was considered to be a greater merit, since it was not merely a one-time mitzvah, but rather a mitzvah that was fulfilled each day.

Ramban adds that Aharon’s merit was passed down to his descendants too. Many years later, the Greeks desecrated the Second Temple. It was the descendants of Aharon, the Maccabees, with their desire to serve in the Temple, who fought the war victoriously. There too, they were rewarded with the merit of re-kindling the menorah. Commemorative of Aharon’s desire, we continue to kindle the menorah each year during Chanukah.

Another incident is recorded about people who felt remiss about not being able to perform a mitzvah. There were some individuals who were unable to bring the Passover offering the year after the Exodus, because they had come in contact with a human corpse. Some opinions say they were the ones who had carried Joseph’s bones. Others say they were the ones who had buried Nadav and Avihu, Aharon’s sons. They complained to Moshe and Aharon that they too wanted to have a part in the Passover offering. Although they knew that, being impure, they could not have brought the Passover sacrifice, they wanted another chance. Moshe brought their complaint before G-d, and G-d responded with the mitzvah of Pesach Sheni.

If a person was unable to bring the offering on the fourteenth day of Nissan, the eve of Passover, he would have a second opportunity to bring it on the fourteenth day of Iyar, the following month. This day was not considered a holiday, and the prohibition against having leavening in the house did not apply. However, the sacrifice itself was eaten together with matzo and bitter herbs, like the regular Passover offering. The other laws concerning the sacrifice, i.e. the obligation to finish it before the next morning, and the prohibition against breaking any of the animal’s bones, were also applicable.

These occurrences teach us that if a person truly wants to fulfill mitzvos, he will be granted ample opportunities.

At the end of the portion, Miriam spoke disparagingly to Aharon about Moshe. She didn’t understand why his prophecy was any different than theirs. Although her intentions were not malicious, G-d punished her for speaking against Moshe. G-d explained that Moshe’s prophecy was greater than that of any other human being, thus requiring a different standard of behavior. Miriam was punished with leprosy, yet the entire nation waited for her to recover before they continued their travel.

“By the mouth of G-d they would travel, and by the mouth of G-d they would camp” (Num. 9:20)

In the desert, the Jewish people traveled and camped according to G-d’s will, putting their complete faith in G-d. Rav Mechel of Zlatchev used to say that his father taught him never to worry about two things—those things he could change, and those things he could not. The things he could change, he should change, and there would be no need to worry. For those things he could not change, there is nothing to be gained by worrying, so why worry?

Did You Know...

When the Ark is opened it is customary to stand up. When the Torah is removed from the Ark it is obligatory to stand until the Torah is put down. In some congregations it is customary to follow the Torah to the Bima (the lectern where it is read), and back again to the Ark.

It is also proper to kiss the Torah when it passes, as a sign of our love. Some authorities feel it is preferable to touch the Torah and kiss one’s fingers, for sanitary reasons. Others feel it is more respectful to kiss the Torah directly, unless, of course, one is ill.

The congregation recites the Berich Sh’meih prayer when the Torah is removed from the Ark. Once the Torah is opened to begin the reading, the prayer may no longer be recited.