פרשת במדבר - חג השבועות

Parsha Section:

The Little Things Count

(במדבר א:מט) אַךְ אֶת־מַטֵּה לֵוִי לֹא תִפְקֹד וְאֶת־רֹאשָׁם לֹא תִשָּׂא בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:

Bamidbar is known as the Book of Numbers. Though the Hebrew word Bamidbar means “in the desert”, the name Numbers was derived from the fact that the first Parasha begins with a count. Moshe is told to count the entire populace ­ males that is ­ from twenty and up. One tribe, however, was not counted together with the general population. Shevet Levi was counted separately and differently. Though all the other tribe’s males were counted only from age twenty and older, even the babies of the tribe of Levi were counted. Even infants from age thirty days and above were counted!

All the other tribes were counted in relation to military age - twenty-years-old. What made the tribe of Levi different? Why were the infants counted? In fact, even a day old baby would have been counted if not for the fact that until one-month of age the infant was of questionable viability. Why is Shevet Levi’s count intrinsically different?

Each tribe had a role for the Jewish nation. But the tribe of Levi’s role was unique. Their members were the teachers and mentors of the Jewish people and therefore they were counted differently. And being that their role was different, they were counted in a totally different manner — separately and beginning at a much younger age.

The Torah teaches us that when counting the tribe of teachers, one need not start appreciating only those who are ordained as official rabbis. One need not focus his appreciation for those who are over twenty, or even over Bar-Mitzvah. He can learn from a child who is one-month-old as well. Even the child whose tzizit are flying as he runs home from playing in the yard has something to teach. If he is immersed in the world of the Levite — the world of teaching Torah, then he is part of the teacher tribe — and he counts! And if he counts, you can count him as well!

1)         What is another name for this ספר? Why?

2)         Since Hashem knows everything, why did the בני ישראל have to be counted?

3)         What documents did the people bring when they were counted?

4)         Who counted the בני ישראל?

5)         Why are אהרון’s sons called “sons of אהרון and משה?”

6)         Which שבט was the biggest שבט?

7)         Which was the smallest שבט besides שבט לוי?

8)         What was the duty of the לויים?

9)         What did each שבט have to identify themselves?

10)       What was the signal for the camp to travel?

Shavuot Section:

To be a hero

(רות ב:יא) וַיַעַן בֹעַז וַיֹאמֶר לָה הֻגֵד הֻגַד לִי כֹל אֲשֶר עָשִית אֶת חֲמוֹתֵךְ אַחֲרֵי מוֹת אִישֵךְ וַתַעַזְבִי אָבִיךְ וְאִמֵךְ וְאֶרֶץ מוֹלַדְתֵךְ וַתֵלְכִי אֶל עַם אֲשֶר לֹא יָדַעַתְ תְמוֹל שִלְשוֹם:

“It was told to me…” (Ruth 2:11)

When Boaz met Ruth for the first time, we find that he greeted her and told her “It has been told to me all that you have done for your Mother-in-law… and that you left your mother and father, and your homeland and followed a nation you had not known before.”  The Targum (a commentary) explains that Boaz had been told through prophecy that because of these two actions, Ruth would be the mother of the Kingdom of David and Mashiach.

The question is; It would seem that giving up one’s homeland, nationality, and family should be a much greater act than just being nice to an old woman who lost her family.  Why does the Pasuk list this in the reverse order?

The order teaches us a very valuable lesson.  Sometimes we think that it is more important for us to do the Mitzvot which seem to be a “heroic” Mitzvot; for example, Ruth leaving home.  However, in truth, the power of the very simple and obvious Mitzvot which are acts of kindness to another person is really the greatest acts which we can do. 

We should learn from this, that to be a real hero, one need not overlook the basic opportunities of Chessed which come our way.

Special Shavuot Questions:

1)         How many days are there between פסח and שבועות?

2)         What historic event took place on שבועות?

3)         When the Jewish people arrived in the סיני desert the Torah teaches says בַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה בָּאוּ מִדְבַּר סִינָי. Why does it say on THIS day and not on THAT day?

4)         Upon arriving at הר סיני, the Torah tells us in the singular that the Jewish people camped at הר סיני. What can we see from these words?

5)         What is ביכורים?

6)         Why is שבועות an עצרת to פסח?

7)         Where did the מנהג of eating dairy on שבועות come from?

8)         What is the reason for the מנהג of staying up and learning Torah on שבועות?

9)         What is another for בעז? (Think שופטים)

10)       What messages can we take from the story of Ruth?

Shavuot CHEESECAKE

Crust Ingredients

·         10 full-size honey graham crackers

·         1/2 cup walnut pieces

·         1/4 cup powdered sugar

·         1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

·         1/4 tsp nutmeg

·         Pinch salt

·         2 tbsp melted unsalted butter

Cheesecake Ingredients

·         2 lbs cream cheese (4 bricks)

·         4 large eggs

·         1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

·         3/4 cup sour cream

·         1/2 cup half and half

·         1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

·         1/4 cup baking flour

·         2 tsp vanilla

Blueberry Topping Ingredients (optional)

·         1/3 cup water

·         1/4 cup granulated sugar

·         4 tsp cornstarch

·         1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries

·         1 tbsp lemon juice