Perashat Beha'alotekha 5776

Perashat Beha'alotekha 5776

The Torah uses three different expressions concerning the mahn - the miracle food that sustained B’nei Yisrael for forty years in the desert. In this week’s perasha it states, “u’beredet ha-tal al ha-mahane Layla, yered ha-mahn alav " - “And when the dew fell upon the encampment in the night, the mahn fell upon it." [Bamidbar 11:9]  The implication in this pasuk is that there was no effort involved in gathering this staple food.  In Perashat Beshalah it states, “v’yayss’eu ha-‘am v’laketu debar yom be-yomo” - "And the people went out and gathered a portion every day." [Shemot 16:4] The gathering of the mahnwas not as easy as in the other instance, but it was still done within the camp, i.e., within the reach of the people.  The third verse says, “shatu ha-‘am v’laketu” - "The people scattered, and gathered it." [Bamidbar 11:8] This pasuk indicates effort. The people had to travel a distance; they had to go beyond the environs of the encampment, in order to gather the mahn that they desired.

The Talmud [Yoma 75a] asks, what explanation is there for these three diverse expressions concerning the gathering of the mahn?  The answer that the sages give is quite profound. They say that, “Saddikim yardu el petah bateyhem” -the righteous ones found the mahn at their doorsteps. “Benonim yasse’u v’laketu” - the average people went out and picked it up. “Resha’im shatu v’laketu” - the evil ones had to scatter, and pick up the mahn from various places. 
This rabbinic saying is an accurate description of life. Everyone of us wants lehem min hashamayim - Bread from the Heavens; a bit of ‘Heaven on Earth.’ There are those who find it at their doorstep. They enjoy the good Jewish life right there - in their own homes. They practice the teachings of their faith together with their families on Shabbatot and Holidays with pizmonim and dibrei Torah and a festive meal. Their homes are their castles, where the father is king, the mother is queen and the children are princes and princesses.  Such people do not have to chase after mahn from heaven. They find it right at their doorstep.  These are the Saddikim among us.

Next come the Benonim - the average people; those who find their mahn close by, ba-mahane - inside the camp. These people are those who, “yase’u v’laketu” - who feel that they may have to go a reasonable distance to find some satisfaction in life. The Benonim feel that they need something more than home, family and friends to stimulate them. They often seek novel experiences and thrills to chase away their boredom. They may go to exotic locales and fly to exciting places which serve as a diversion from everyday life.  Judaism teaches us that if we begin looking elsewhere in order to serve our own curiosity and vanity, then we may begin to stumble down the wrong path. Consequently, we will have to expend much effort to make up for our own folly when we realize that we already had exactly what we needed right here at home.  

In their unceasing quest for mahn from heaven the third group goes far afield from the mahane - from the camp of their people. In time, this quest robs them of their identity and their roots. In their rush to quench an insatiable thirst for pleasure, they end up estranged from their families, and in many cases, turn against their own people. They bring isolation upon themselves and end up in a state of spiritual stagnation. One often finds these Resha’im - these shameless people, colluding with groups that favor the destruction of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.  They may also be found in the ranks of authors and journalists, and even among the so-called pundits, who malign and slander the name of Jews and Judaism.
As we embark on the summer, while many of us are preparing to physically leave our community on vacation, let us make sure that we don’t leave it spiritually.  In the more relaxed atmosphere of the summer months and vacation time, let us continue to maintain our high moral standards as G-d fearing Jews - not going too far afield, and strive to be not only Benonim - average - but Saddikim - righteous, so that when we return to our “mahane” - our camp - after the summer, we will be privileged to be written for another year of life in the Book of the Saddikim, the Book of the Righteous.  May we merit to find the blessing of Boreh Olam immediately within our homes and may all of Israel always find the blessing of Boreh Olam - the mahn - right at their doorstep!

(Based on a thought of my grandfather, Rabbi Dov Aryeh Berzon, z”l)