This D’var Torah should be a Zechus L’Ilui Nishmas my mother Chaya Rochel Bas Dovid Tzvi (Hareini Kaparas Mishkavah), my sister Kayla Rus Bas Bunim Tuvia A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my maternal grandfather Dovid Tzvi Ben Yosef Yochanan A”H, my paternal grandfather Moshe Ben Yosef A”H, my paternal grandmother Channah Freidel Bas Avraham A”H, my uncle Reuven Nachum Ben Moshe & my great aunt Rivkah Sorah Bas Zev Yehuda HaKohein,

It should also be in Zechus L’Refuah Shileimah for:

-My father Bunim Tuvia Ben Channa Freidel

-My grandmother Shulamis Bas Etta

-MY BROTHER: MENACHEM MENDEL SHLOMO BEN CHAYA ROCHEL

-Mordechai Shlomo Ben Sarah Tili

-Noam Shmuel Ben Simcha

_R’ Simcha Yitzchak Ben Mirela Yudka

-Chaya Rochel Ettel Bas Shulamis

-It should also be a Z’chus for an Aliyah of the holy Neshamos of HaRav HaGa’on V’Sar HaTorah Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Ben HaRav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky A”H, Dovid Avraham Ben Chiya Kehas—R’ Dovid Winiarz ZT”L, Miriam Liba Bas Aharon—Rebbetzin Weiss A”H, as well as the Neshamos of those whose lives were taken by terrorists (Hashem Yikom Damam), COVID-19, and other tragedies.

-It should also be a Z’chus for success for Tzaha”l as well as the rest of Am Yisrael, in Eretz Yisrael and in the Galus.

בס”ד

פרשת במדבר 

“A Lifetime of Color War?”

     פַּרְשַׁת בַּמִדְבַּר teaches us about how the בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל prepared to travel through the desert towards אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל. The בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל were counted and divided by tribe. Each division of tribes had its own flag with its own special colors and logos.

 

Question: Why did ה׳ create tribes in the first place? Aren’t we supposed to be one nation and one team? Having tribes with different flags and colors is like one national Color War. Color War might be fun for a few days, but think about how many people argue, fight, and cry during just one or two days of Color War. Now, could you imagine a whole lifetime of Color War? That’s just too much. Is that what ה׳ wants? Won’t having different tribes lead to fights?

 

Answer: It is true that having different tribes can and sometimes does lead to fights. But, ה׳ assigned us different tribes on purpose to teach us one of the most important lessons.

     Even though the בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל traveled by tribe, all of the tribes stood around the כֹּהַנִים and לְוִיִים who carried the מִשְׁכָּן and its parts. That teaches us that ה׳ is always the center. If we remember that, it doesn’t matter what tribe we are in! Just like the stones surrounding יַעֲקֹב’s head became one, we have to realize that we are all one.

 

     Yes, ה׳ put us in different tribes. That is because everyone is different, and that is okay! ה׳ still wants us to respect each other even though we are different. As long as we are keeping ה׳’s תּוֹרָה properly, no tribe is “better.” We are all on ה׳’s team. We are all a part of team עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל. Fights only happen when we forget that! 

 

     Let’s remember that we are all on ה׳’s team and have a wonderful שַׁבָּת!

 

Rabbi Eisenberg, Grade 3