This week's parsha
Unless otherwise noted, "This week's Parsha" comprises articles taken from contributors to the Chabad.org website. We show the original author's name here, so that proper attribution is given. For the sake of brevity, footnotes cited in the original author's writings are omitted from this website. If you need to see the citations, please refer to the original articles on the Chabad.org website.
Hearing Voices
The Torah tells us that when Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with G-d, he would hear a voice addressing him from above the cover that was on top of the Ark.
G-d's voice could not be heard outside the Tent. The same tremendous voice that spoke at Sinai stopped short at the door of the Tent and did not travel further. At Sinai and in the Tent, G-d's voice was stopped. At Sinai, after the revelation, a shofar, horn, was sounded signaling the departure of G-d's presence and voice -- a time-based limitation. In the Tent, this cessation was space-related, the voice reaching a certain point and not going any further.
Much as we might want it to be otherwise, G-d's voice cannot resound everywhere and at all times. If it did, we would not have freedom of choice. A world where G-d's voice is constantly heard does not challenge us. It was G-d's desire to create a world where we uncover G-d's concealed voice through our own efforts. Our task is to take what we heard at Sinai and in the Tent - each of us has heard G-d's voice in some place and at some moment, however fleeting - and carry it over to all times and all places, wherever we may be.
Not Just a Number
There are three types of people in this world: those who can count and those who can't.
This week's Parsha begins the book of "Bamidbar", often referred to in English as the book of Numbers. The name "Numbers" is not a literal translation of Bamidbar, which means "in the desert". Nonetheless we find the name Numbers used in Hebrew also -- "Chumash Hapekudim." The choice of this alternative name for the whole book reflects the importance of the census which takes place in this week's Parsha, when the Children of Israel are counted.
Don't Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride
This week's Torah reading speaks about the prohibition of lending money on interest. The problem with lending on interest is that the money has now passed on to the other party, yet I continue to receive benefit for the use of the money despite its no longer being in my possession. I receive profits in return for a one-time effort a long time ago, even without any continuing effort on my part.
In whatever field it may be -- work, family life, educating children, etc. -- we find ourselves, at one time or another, in a position to influence others and to advise and guide people in a positive manner. When we feel we have had an impact -- that we have managed to impart positive values, methods or attitudes to another person -- it gives us a feeling of accomplishment.