Sponsored by Jessica and Brent Levison in memory of Brent’s mother’s Yohrtzeit, Chana Necha bas Yakov Levison – Iyar 29

• The Ramban says that this teaches us that the counting of the Jews mentioned in this Torah portion occurred while they were still camped at Mount Sinai, as opposed to the count which took place 39 years later when the Jewish people were camped at the plains of Moav on the banks of the Jordan river.
• The Ibn Ezra says that the Torah is informing us that although the Jewish people were still camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, the revelation to Moshe came not on the mountain, but rather in the Sinai Desert, in the Mishkan (tabernacle). The Midrash[2] expands on this and points out that up until the building of the Mishkan, G-d communicated with Moshe in various locations as needed. First at the burning bush,[3] then in Midian,[4] then in Egypt,[5]and finally at Mount Sinai.[6] Once the Mishkan was built, however, G-d chose to communicate with Moshe only in the privacy of the Mishkan in keeping with the verse, “The honor of the princess is within.”[7]
• The Midrash[8] says that the verse points out that the Torah was given in the desert to teach us an important lesson: Just as the desert has no owner and is open to all, so, too, the Torah belongs to every Jew. Anyone can study it and achieve great heights in doing so, as the prophet Isaiah said, “Let all those who are thirsty come to water (i.e., Torah).[9] In addition, in order to acquire Torah one must treat himself like a desert, i.e., forgo the comforts and amenities of life in his pursuit of Torah knowledge. Another Midrash[10] says that the Torah is compared to a desert because just as a desert has no end (as far as the eye can see), so too there is no end to the depth of understanding found in the Torah.

• With fire as it says, “Mount Sinai was completely covered in smoke because G-d had descended on it with fire.”[12]
• With water as it says, “Also the heaven dripped and the clouds dripped with water.”[13]
• In the desert as it says, “And G-d spoke to Moshe in the Sinai Desert.”

• Water, which flows downward, represents that fact that the Torah can be retained only by humble people.
• The desert, too, represents humility as it is open to all. Also, just as the Jewish people in the desert ate the manna and had no delicacies, so, too, one must spurn the comforts of life to be successful in studying Torah. Finally, just as the Jewish people were miraculously sustained in the desert, so, too, G-d sustains those who are involved in Torah study even in miraculous ways. An example of that is how He sustained Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son who were studying in the cave for 13 years.
• Fire, which gives light, represents how the Torah brightens our paths and shows us how to lead our lives. The Talmud[16] says that the Torah written by G-d was black fire engraved onto white fire. The black fire represents those who study Torah but do not maintain a high standard of observance of the mitzvot. Because they are perceived by the community as Torah scholars, their sins have a more negative impact on the community. They are therefore punished to a greater degree than an ordinary person for the same sin. This is symbolized by the fire (Torah) of blackness (punishment). The white fire on the other hand, represents the blessing and success that G-d bestows upon those who study and observe the Torah.

• Fire corresponds to “נֵר מִצְוָה- a mitzvah is a candle” and refers to the zeal with which a person must strive to rise upwards and cleave to G-d through the Torah and mitzvot just like a fire (on a candle) leaps upwards.
• Water corresponds to “תוֹרָה אוֹר – the Torah is light” referring to the shining of G-d’s holiness that reaches downwards to us, from above to below, through the Torah. Light (from the sun) also travels downwards, from above to below, as water does.
• The desert, a place that is ownerless and represents humility, corresponds to “וְדֶרֶךְ חַיִּים תּוֹכְחוֹת מוּסָר – disciplining rebukes are the path of life.” This refers to the general attitude one must have towards G-d and His Torah, that we are completely nullified to His rule.