Tag: Behaalotecha

motzei Shabbos: Beha’alotecha 5782

“And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the L-rd, and Satan standing at his right hand to thwart him.” – Zechariah 3:4

In parashas Beha’alotecha, a brief description of a critique against Moses is given, concerning Miriam and Aaron, co-leaders of Israel (see Micah 6:4) as well as prophets in their own right, who feel diminished by Moshe’s apparent uniqueness, when he separates himself out from family life, in order to be more prepared to receive H’Shem’s presence at all times. And they said: ‘Hath the L-RD indeed spoken only with Moses? hath He not spoken also with us?’ And the L-RD heard it” (Numbers 12:2).  

H’Shem responds by rebuking Miriam and Aaron, reminding them that the level of prophecy that Moses received is such that the L-RD speaks with him face to face, and that Moses is the trusted one in all His house. He asks Miriam and Aaron, “wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?” (Numbers 12:8, JPS).

Then H’Shem strikes Miriam with leprosy; although, upon Moshe’s immediate plea to heal her, the L-Rd heals her; yet, she is placed in quarantine for seven days. She as treated as a metzorah (similar to a leper), wherein she is removed to the outer limits of the camp. This, like any metzorah who receives the same treatment, will give Miriam time to reflect.

Thus, as mentioned in the haftorah, for the sake of comparison, and this is the parallel theme to the parasha, an accusation made against Joshua, the next kohein gadol (high priest), and his subsequent acquittal, so to speak, through the defense laid out by the prophet Zechariah.

Although we are not on the same level as Moses or Joshua, the kohein gadol, we are still subject to the protection of H’Shem if we are in good standing with Him. G-d is our defense, he will avail us, when we are in need, on an individual basis, if place our trust in Him. And, he will also redeem us as a people, K’lal Yisrael, in due time at the Final Redemption.

parasha Beha’alotecha 5782 – Our Refuge

d’var for parashas Beha’alotecha 5782

parasha Beha’alotecha 5782


“In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, that the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle of the testimony.” – Numbers, 10:11, JPS 1917 Tanach

The first journey made by B’nei Yisrael, after the encampment at the foot of Mount Sinai was on the twentieth of Iyar, ten days shy of one year, from their arrival at Sinai on the first of Sivan. The departure was well organized, ahead of time, for the sake of an orderly procession, tribe by tribe, to the next encampment.

First the tribe of Judah, then, as they began to march, the tabernacle would be disassembled, and placed in the care of the three Levite families. Two of the families followed the tribe of Judah; the third Levite family followed the tribe of Reuben. The rest of the tribes followed in formation, according to the Jerusalem Talmud either in the shape of a diamond, or in a straight line, tribe by tribe.

“And the cloud of the L-RD was over them by day, when they set forward from the camp” (Numbers 10:34, JPS 1917 Tanach). Thus, during their three day journey, H’Shem’s Presence in the form if a tangible cloud, sheltered them from the heat of the day.  “Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tent, then after that the children of Israel journeyed; and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel encamped” (Numbers 9:17, JPS).

Consider how G-d’s Presence guided the B’nei Yisrael, during the wandering in the desert. “Thou goest before them, in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night” (Numbers 14:14, JPS). This points toward H’Shem’s role in our lives to guide us in the right direction, to be a compass in an uncertain world, and a light in the darkness, as well as a refuge from the tumults of life.

Sanctified Be

parasha Beha’alotecha 5782

“In the second year from their exodus from the land of Egypt, in the first month…” – Numbers 9:1-2, JPS 1917 Tanach

This was the only year wherein the B’nei Yisrael partook of the Pesach offering in the wilderness. It would have been a hop, skip, and a jump, figuratively speaking, into the Promised Land after this, wherein the Pesach offering would have continued to be brought within the land of Israel. Tragically, ten well-renown leaders of Israel who were chosen to spy out the land gave an ill report; the Children of Israel were condemned to wander in the desert for forty years.

So, the Pesach offering was not made again until B’nei Yisrael crossed into Eretz Canaan, under the leadership of Joshua (Joshua 5:10). Thus, rather than a continuous annual commemoration of the Exodus, through the celebration of Pesach, the Passover was delayed for thirty-nine years. If you have ever wondered why plans may not work out the way that you had in mind, or why goals have been offset, and deterred until H’Shem created all of the proper circumstances to fall into place, we have a clue in this narrative.

Because of a lack of emunah (faith), the Children of Israel were subject to wander in the desert for forty years; not until the new generation entered the Promised Land, did the people celebrate the Passover. The forty years was a time of testing in the wilderness, “to know what was in thy heart” (Deuteronomy 8:2). When, the covenant was renewed through circumcision, and they were made whole, and Joshua declared, “This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you” (Joshua 8-9). Now, they could partake of the Pesach offering.

H’Shem will cause us to be made whole, by way of the nisyanos (challenges) in our lives. Thus, we must be patient, until the time that we merit to be made whole through the sanctity that He will bestow upon us, as a result of our own personal spiritual growth and character development. If we make an effort to sanctify ourselves, we will be sanctified from Above (Yoma 39a).

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The Sin of Slander

motzei Shabbos: parashas Behaalotecha 5781

In parashas Beha’alotecha, a brief description of a critique against Moses is given: Miriam and Aaron, co-leaders of Israel (see Micah) as sell as prophets in their own right feel diminished by Moshe’s uniqueness, when he separates himself out from family life, in order to be more prepared to receive H’Shem’s presence at all times. And they said: ‘Hath the L-RD indeed spoken only with Moses? hath He not spoken also with us?’ And the L-RD heard it” (Numbers 12:2, JPS).


H’Shem responded by rebuking Miriam and Aaron, reminding them that the level of prophecy that Moses received is such that the L-RD speaks with him face to face, and that Moses is the trusted one in all His house. He asks Miriam and Aaron, “‘wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?’” (12:8).


Then H’Shem strikes Miriam with leprosy; although, upon Moshe’s immediate plea to heal her, the L-RD heals her; yet, she is placed in quarantine for seven days. She as treated as a metzorah (similar to a leper), wherein she is removed to the outer limits of the camp. This, like any metzorah who receives the same treatment, will give Miriam time to reflect. Her transgression is slander, one of the sins that normally leads to the spiritual malaise of tzarras, a skin affliction similar to leprosy.


This event is recorded towards the end of the parashas. The next reading from the Torah, parashas Shelach includes the narrative concerning the slander of the ten spies against the land that was promised to Israel. Their slander demoralizes the nation, compelling them to curtail the attempt to enter the land, only one year after leaving Egypt. Apparently, the lesson in regard to the slander against Moses by Miriam had not made a strong enough impression upon them, in order to take into consideration the nature of their own complaints.


Perhaps, as a lesson, this may serve as a reminder of the ease of humanity to recognize transgression in others; yet, to so easily overlook our own faults. Slander, and being critical of others is an especially prolific sin, that seems almost commonplace; however, anyone such as myself, who is serious about their relationship with G-d and man, needs to examine the conscience, as well as one’s speech, in order to uproot this sin from the soul.