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Bamidbar
This week, we begin studying a new book of the Torah, beginning with the Parsha of Bamidbar.
This Parsha speaks about G-d asking Moshe to count the Jewish people. The total numbers came out to 603 550 males of draftable age and the tribe of Levi counted 22 300. The Levites would serve in the Sanctuary instead of the firstborns who had participated in serving the Golden Calf.
The Torah continues by explaining how the Jewish camp would settle and pack up before and after every stop.
In the camp, each tribe had their designated spot, leader and flag with their color and emblem.
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49 Days Later… The Torah Is Here!
Shavuot is a two-day Jewish holiday (June 1- 3) that commemorates the date when G‑d gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai over 3,000 years ago. Preceded by 49 days of counting in eager anticipation, Shavuot is celebrated through desisting from work, candle-lit dinners, staying up all night to study Torah, listening to the reading of the Ten Commandments in synagogue, enjoying dairy foods and other festivities.
Chabad.org
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The Torah’s Dairy Secret
On Shavuot, it is customary to eat dairy foods, like cheesecake and blintes. Why?
Here are two reasons:
Chabad.org
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King David to Moshiach: One Lineage, One Purpose
King David passed away on Shavuot.
It is written in many places in Scripture that Moshiach will be a descendant from David. One of the proofs of this is that when David was anointed, he was told that the kingship will remain in his family forever and will never depart from his descendants. One of Moshiach’s jobs will be to spread Torah knowledge to the entire population and ensure that the holy words given to us at Mt. Sinai won't just stay on paper, but be widespread.
Michael’s Torah Dream
Before giving the Torah to the Jeiwsh people, Hashem chose the children to be the guarantor. Here is a story that shows the deep and beautiful connection a Jewish child has to his identity.
It was Shavuot morning. Our synagogue in Tyumen, Siberia, was filled with men, women and many children who had all gathered to hear the Ten Commandments. After lunch, we drew raffles for prizes for all the kids. Some kids wound up with small games; others received a book of Psalms, a prayer book or other books. Finally, there were just two prizes left : a scooter and a pair of roller blades. We pulled out the last two tickets and named the winners.
As the children gathered in groups to admire their new items, I noticed that one boy was not joining in the fun. Five-year-old Michael was apart, crying. I assumed he was jealous of his brother who won the scooter. It was only after everyone had left that one of our teachers revealed the situation.
“Since Passover,” she explained, “Michael’s been learning about Shavuot, which comes after 49 days of counting the Omer. Every day, he eagerly added another sticker to the chart hanging on his classroom wall, preparing for the day when G-d gave us the Torah.
Finally, the big day arrived, and there in the synagogue were stacks of prizes, including Torah books. As the raffle progressed, he waited with anticipation for “his” Torah to be given to him. When the raffle ended and all he had was a game in his hand, he burst out crying. Disappointed, he refused to participate in the rest of the program.
As we walked home from services with our children, my wife, Sterni, and I marveled at this young boy’s sincerity. Suddenly, Our 6 year old daughter Mussie, who'd won a russian set of Halacha books piped up. “Ima, Abba,” she began. “You know what? I want to give Michael my prize. I already have this set in Hebrew. This morning, as soon as they arrived at kindergarten, Mussia handed Michael his new book. The joy on his little face was indescribable. Michael had received the Torah.
Yerachmiel Gorelik
