Does anyone have a davar Torah on parshat Bamidbar?

Answer 1

Bamidbar If someone came up to you and said "you remind me of the desert", would you take that as an insult or a compliment? In this weeks parsha we begin the sefer Bamidbar (literally, in the desert) known as the book of numbers. At this period of the Torah the nation of Israel receive the Torah for the second time...this time, in the desert. Why did Hashem specifically choose the desert to give the nation of Israel the Torah? Let's first discover the greatness of the desert... The Bamidbar Rabbah states "one who does not make himself like the desert will not know Torah and mitzvot." Additionally, the Gemara (Eruvin, 54a) adds that if a person makes himself like a desert then the Torah is given to him as a gift and his learning will endure. If, however, he doesn't make himself like a desert then his learning will be forgotten. What exactly does it mean to make oneself like a desert? And why exactly is there such a severe punishment for not doing so? The commentators explain that the desert symbolizes humility for it is low, empty and people walk all over it. Therefore, the lesson seems to be that one must become humble (like the desert) in order to be able to properly learn Torah and retain all the knowledge. However, why is there such a severe punishment for not being humble? The Gemara (Sotah, 4b-5a) discusses the severity of arrogance. For example, the Gemara states that anyone who is haughty is considered an idol worshipper. Additionally, it is as if he has broken all the laws of sexual immorality. Furthermore, he should be excommunicated...etc (see Gemara for full details). Again: Why is there such a severe punishment for arrogance? The Gemara (Shabbat, 31a) relates the strength and greatness of Hillel Hanasi's (the prince) patience. Once, Reuven bet Shimon 400 zuz that he could anger Hillel (the Gemara doesn't place names on the 2 people, but for the sake of re-telling the story we'll say "Reuven" and "Shimon"). What did Reuven do? He went by the door of Hillel's house on Erev Shabbat while Hillel was washing his hair and screamed out, "Who here is Hillel?" (This already was very disrespectful, for he was calling the prince by his first name and pretending as though he didn't know who he was). To which Hillel came out and asked what he could do for him. Reuven asked: Why do people of Bavel have round heads? (Hilel himself was from Bavel-This question was asked simply to get Hillel angry). To which Hillel responded, "That is an important question...the answer is because their midwives are unskilled"(Meaning, when a baby is born the head is very soft...the Babylonian midwives were unskilled and didn't know how to shape it correctly when taking it out of the womb). Reuven then waited for Hillel to resume washing his hair and then went by the door and began asking, "Who here is Hillel?" (as though Hillel was so unimportant that he had already forgot who he was). Once again, Hillel came out and asked what he could do for him. Reuven then asked: Why do Chinese people have round eyes? (Again, this question was asked simply to annoy Hillel). To which Hillel answered: "That is an important question...the answer is because they live amidst the sand (their round eyes therefore block the sand from entering). Once again, Reuven waited for Hillel to resume washing his hair and then began screaming at the door, "Who here is Hillel?" For the third time, Hillel came out and asked what he could do for him. Reuven then asked: Why do Africans have wide feet? (Yet again, this question was asked just to anger Hillel). To which Hillel answered: "That is an important question...the answer is because they live amidst the swamps" (their wide legs prevent them from sinking in). Reuven then told Hillel: I have so many more question but I fear that you'll get angry! To which Hillel responded that he could ask whatever he wants. Reuven then asked: Are you Hillel? The one whom they call the prince of the nation of Israel. Hillel then said "yes." To which Reuven responded: There should not be more like you in Israel! Hillel then asked, "why not?" Reuven answered: Through you I lost 400 zuz for you did not get angry...To which Hillel responded: It is fitting that you lose 400 zuz and yet another 400 zuz for I will not get angry...The Maharsha notes that not only was Hillel unnaturally patient, but he also thought that Reuven was genuinely curious and sincere, as indicated by his answers--"You have asked a very important question." We can learn from Hillel, a true role model of the greatness of patience... However, the Gemara (Shabbat, 30b) sought to show the greatness of Hillel's humility, not his patience!?! What connection is there between patience and humility? To answer this question, we must first understand the importance of patience: As we saw from the story with Hillel (Shabbat, 31a), Reuven tested the power of Hillel's patience. What was Reuven's goal? To get Hillel angry (and thus win the bet of 400 zuz). We therefore see that lack of patience leads to anger...Now, what's so bad about anger? The Gemara (Shabbat, 105b) relates that one who gives in to his anger is like one who serves idolatry. What's the connection between anger and idolatry? The answer is that when one gets angry he is serving a foreign g-d--that g-d being himself! How is that so? Anger comes when a person thinks too highly of oneself, and therefore gets irritated when they feel they're not being shown the proper honor. One who is truly humble and doesn't search for honor (like Hillel) will never get angry, even when his patience is put to a real hard test. Therefore, it could be that the Gemara (Shabbat, 30b) sought to show the greatness of Hillel's humility by proving his great patience because humility and patience run hand in hand. If not for Hillel's great attribute of humility, he would have never been able to withstand the patience test. Similarly, arrogance and anger seem to run hand in hand, for it is only through arrogance that one could become angry. We could now understand why there is such a severe punishment for arrogance. The character trait of arrogance ultimately leads to anger, and both of these character traits, the Gemara (Pesachim, 66b) relates cause the wise/prophets to lose their wisdom/prophecy. We could also now answer why Hashem specifically chose the desert to give the nation of Israel the Torah. The desert symbolizes humility, and without the character trait of humility, one is easily angered which then turns to idol worshipping. Summary: Hashem chose the desert to give the nation of Israel the Torah because the desert symbolizes humility, which is required in order to retain Torah knowledge and keep from idol worshipping. Therefore, we must all make ourselves humble like a desert in order so that we may properly follow in the path of Hashem. So, the next time someone comes up to you and says, "you remind me of a desert," don't be angered...That is an absolutely huge compliment.