{"id":7309,"date":"2018-05-30T01:47:40","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T01:47:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=7309"},"modified":"2018-07-26T00:05:31","modified_gmt":"2018-07-26T00:05:31","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-behaalotcha-unrepentant-disobedience-to-gods-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-behaalotcha-unrepentant-disobedience-to-gods-word\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05ea \u05d1\u05d4\u05e2\u05dc\u05ea\u05da, Parashat Behaalotcha, Unrepentant Disobedience to God\u2019s Word"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"youtube-embed\" data-video_id=\"d-zwguk0et8\"><iframe title=\"Bits of Torah Truths, \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05ea \u05d1\u05d4\u05e2\u05dc\u05ea\u05da, Parashat Behaalotcha, Unrepentant Disobedience to God\u2019s Word\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/d-zwguk0et8?feature=oembed&#038;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>In this week\u2019s reading the people were very discontented saying the following, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u05d5\u05d9\u05d4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e2\u05dd \u05db\u05de\u05ea\u05d0\u05e0\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05e8\u05e2 \u05d1\u05d0\u05d6\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05de\u05e2 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d7\u05e8 \u05d0\u05e4\u05d5 \u05d5\u05ea\u05d1\u05e2\u05e8\u05be\u05d1\u05dd \u05d0\u05e9 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05ea\u05d0\u05db\u05dc \u05d1\u05e7\u05e6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05de\u05d7\u05e0\u05d4 11:1 The people took to complaining bitterly before the LORD. The LORD heard and was incensed: a fire of the LORD broke out against them, ravaging the outskirts of the camp. \u05d5\u05d9\u05e6\u05e2\u05e7 \u05d4\u05e2\u05dd \u05d0\u05dc\u05be\u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d9\u05ea\u05e4\u05dc\u05dc \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05dc\u05be\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05ea\u05e9\u05e7\u05e2 \u05d4\u05d0\u05e9 11:2 The people cried out to Moses. Moses prayed to the LORD, and the fire died down. \u05d5\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0 \u05e9\u05dd\u05be\u05d4\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd \u05d4\u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05ea\u05d1\u05e2\u05e8\u05d4 \u05db\u05d9\u05be\u05d1\u05e2\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05dd \u05d0\u05e9 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 11:3 That place was named Taberah, because a fire of the LORD had broken out against them. \u05d5\u05d4\u05d0\u05e1\u05e4\u05e1\u05e3 \u05d0\u05e9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e7\u05e8\u05d1\u05d5 \u05d4\u05ea\u05d0\u05d5\u05d5 \u05ea\u05d0\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05d1\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d1\u05db\u05d5 \u05d2\u05dd \u05d1\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d5\u05d9\u05d0\u05de\u05e8\u05d5 \u05de\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d0\u05db\u05dc\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d1\u05e9\u05e8 11:4 The riffraff in their midst felt a gluttonous craving; and then the Israelites wept and said, \u201cIf only we had meat to eat! \u05d6\u05db\u05e8\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05d3\u05d2\u05d4 \u05d0\u05e9\u05e8\u05be\u05e0\u05d0\u05db\u05dc \u05d1\u05de\u05e6\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d7\u05e0\u05dd \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05e7\u05e9\u05d0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05d0\u05d1\u05d8\u05d7\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d0\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05d7\u05e6\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d0\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05d1\u05e6\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d0\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05e9\u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05dd 11:5 We remember the fish that we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. \u05d5\u05e2\u05ea\u05d4 \u05e0\u05e4\u05e9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d9\u05d1\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05db\u05dc \u05d1\u05dc\u05ea\u05d9 \u05d0\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05de\u05df \u05e2\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 11:6 Now our gullets (\u05e0\u05e4\u05e9\u05e0\u05d5) are shriveled. There is nothing at all! Nothing but this manna to look to!\u201d \u05d5\u05d4\u05de\u05df \u05db\u05d6\u05e8\u05e2\u05be\u05d2\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d5\u05e2\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5 \u05db\u05e2\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05d1\u05d3\u05dc\u05d7 11:7 Now the manna was like coriander seed, and in color it was like bdellium. \u05e9\u05d8\u05d5 \u05d4\u05e2\u05dd \u05d5\u05dc\u05e7\u05d8\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d8\u05d7\u05e0\u05d5 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d7\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05d5 \u05d3\u05db\u05d5 \u05d1\u05de\u05d3\u05db\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d1\u05e9\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d1\u05e4\u05e8\u05d5\u05e8 \u05d5\u05e2\u05e9\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea\u05d5 \u05e2\u05d2\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d8\u05e2\u05de\u05d5 \u05db\u05d8\u05e2\u05dd \u05dc\u05e9\u05d3 \u05d4\u05e9\u05de\u05df 11:8 The people would go about and gather it, grind it between millstones or pound it in a mortar, boil it in a pot, and make it into cakes. It tasted like rich cream. \u05d5\u05d1\u05e8\u05d3\u05ea \u05d4\u05d8\u05dc \u05e2\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05de\u05d7\u05e0\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d9\u05e8\u05d3 \u05d4\u05de\u05df \u05e2\u05dc\u05d9\u05d5 11:9 When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall upon it. \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05de\u05e2 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05e2\u05dd \u05d1\u05db\u05d4 \u05dc\u05de\u05e9\u05e4\u05d7\u05ea\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d0\u05d9\u05e9 \u05dc\u05e4\u05ea\u05d7 \u05d0\u05d4\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d7\u05e8\u05be\u05d0\u05e3 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05de\u05d0\u05d3 \u05d5\u05d1\u05e2\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9 \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e8\u05e2 11:10 Moses heard the people weeping, every clan apart, each person at the entrance of his tent. The LORD was very angry, and Moses was distressed.<\/span><\/em> It is interesting how the Scriptures say that <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cthe fire broke out against them ravaging at the outskirts of the camp.\u201d<\/span><\/em> Note how the people mingled with the nations while they were wandering in the wilderness (see Parashat Pinchas). This draws in the context of <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cnear and far\u201d<\/span><\/em> in relation to the people in their nearness to the Lord who is at the center of the camp (at the Mishchan [Tabernacle]). Could a conclusion be drawn, those who are near have greater faith than those who are far? This could be analogized to those who sit at the feet of their rabbi (going to the front of the synagogue) as opposed to those who pop in and sit in the back? It could be those who were in the outskirts of the camp did not have a proper view of the Lord God Almighty and fell into sin in their hearts leading to the intense and bitter complaining before God? Could it also be those who were at the outskirts of the camp were the ones who would sneak off to mingle with the nations? The people say, \u05d5 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d9\u05b0\u05d1\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b5\u05d9\u05df \u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05df \u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc: <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">11:6 Now our gullets are shriveled. There is nothing at all! Nothing but this manna to look to!\u201d<\/span><\/em> Note how <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cgullets\u201d<\/span><\/em> is the word \u05e0\u05b7\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc meaning <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cour souls.\u201d<\/span><\/em> the people are saying this food isn\u2019t enough, the Lord God Almighty isn\u2019t enough, even our souls are shriveled, dried up, and as dead people. The people were not just complaining about the food. Their complaint had a much deeper spiritual component. Rashi has a similar interpretation in his commentary on <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Bamidbar \/ Numbers 11:1 Part 2<\/span><\/em> states the following, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201c\u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05e0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u2014 The term \u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05e0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd denotes [people who seek] \u201ca pretext\u201d \u2014 they seek a pretext how to separate themselves from following the Omnipresent. Similarly is stated in the narrative of Samson, (Judges 14:4) \u201cfor he sought a pretext (\u05ea\u05d5\u05d0\u05e0\u05d4) [against the Philistines]\u201d (Sifrei Bamidbar 85).\u201d<\/span><\/em> This pretext is designed to find a reason to be discontented and this was evil in the sight of God. <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Daat Zkenim on Bamidbar \/ Numbers 11:1 Part 1<\/span><\/em> states, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201c\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05e0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd, \u201cthe people were like murmurers;\u201d the people were already mourning the potential casualties they would incur when going into battle against the Canaanites in order to conquer their land. They were lacking in faith and dreading warfare.\u201d<\/span><\/em> This interpretation states the people were seeking reasons to be discontented and this was connected to their lack of faith and their expectation of war on entering the Promised Land. The idea is instead of marching joyfully towards their destination, the Holy Land, being delivered from bondage, being set free from slavery, they marched grudgingly. This is why in the verse, , <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05e0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e8\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d6\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d7\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05e8-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd \u05d0\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b7\u05dc \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e6\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4: 11:1 The people took to complaining bitterly before the LORD. The LORD heard and was incensed: a fire of the LORD broke out against them, ravaging the outskirts of the camp,<\/span><\/em> the reason the word \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05ea\u05b0\u05d0\u05b9\u05e0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd is spelled with the prefix \u05db (<em>a preposition describing something in relative terms, i.e. \u201cas if\u201d<\/em>) is because at this point in the journey they did not yet dare verbalize their feelings of discontent. They did not want Moses to hear their complaint. This is why the Torah describes God as <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201chearing\u201d<\/span><\/em> unspoken complaints by the people. As we go through life living out our faith, are we doing the same thing the people here were doing? Ibn Ezra explained, \u201c<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">It is the same language as \u2018evil,\u2019 like it is used in the phrase \u2018your evil thoughts\u2019 (Jeremiah 4:14)&#8230;that is, they spoke evil words.\u201d<\/span><\/em> Discontentment can lead to evil thoughts, and these thoughts are known by the Lord God in heaven. This week\u2019s Torah portion speaks to us of not just remaining faithful before God, but of the importance of not joining ourselves to the ways of the nations, and to being joyful before the Lord for such a great salvation He has provided!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/BTT_Parashat-Beha\u2019alotcha-2018.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Beha\u2019alotcha-2018<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this week\u2019s reading the people were very discontented saying the following, \u05d5\u05d9\u05d4\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e2\u05dd \u05db\u05de\u05ea\u05d0\u05e0\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05e8\u05e2 \u05d1\u05d0\u05d6\u05e0\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e9\u05de\u05e2 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d7\u05e8 \u05d0\u05e4\u05d5 \u05d5\u05ea\u05d1\u05e2\u05e8\u05be\u05d1\u05dd \u05d0\u05e9 \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d5\u05ea\u05d0\u05db\u05dc \u05d1\u05e7\u05e6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05de\u05d7\u05e0\u05d4 11:1 The people took to complaining bitterly before the LORD. The LORD heard and was incensed: a fire of the LORD broke out against them, ravaging the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7309","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7309","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7309"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7309\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7309"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7309"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7309"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}