Dvar Torah - Shavuos - From Rabbi Yitzchok Wolpin

This week we are privileged to read the first portion of the fourth book of Torah, Bamidbor. This book is also known as the book of Numbers, as the first portion The portion begins with Hashem recounting klal Yisroel one tribe at a time. Later the tribe Levi is counted separately.

One very important lesson one can learn from this count and it is repeated when later in the book of Bamidbor we learn the order in which the Jewish nation traveled. The Tribe Don was extremely large and they were actually last to journey, behind all other tribes, because Don numbered 62,000. Don, the son of Yaakov, had only one son, named Chushim. Chushim, was deaf. Sometimes people tend to make conclusions and just give up. Let’s think, if Don the son of Yaakov would have just given up on this only son, who was an invalid, the largest tribe of Klal Yisroel would not be. The important lesson to us is, One never knows the potential of an individual.

The words l’mishpichosom l’beis avoisom - according to their families, according to their fathers’ household, are repeated many times in this portion. The Medrash tells us that when the Jews received the Torah the nations of the world were jealous. Why are the Jews so privileged? Hashem responded with one request “bring me your daily trees, as the Jews do”, as is written l’mishpichosom l’beis avoisom - according to their families according to their fathers’ household. The commentaries explain that the Torah is eternal, and in order for it to continue, there needs to be a strong bond between father and son to grandson,  to create a mesora - tradition passed on from generation.
Shavuos, and bamidbor are strongly intertwined and the message to us is that our eternity is dependent on how much effort we put in to our future generations. A hint to this is also written in the first mishna in Rosh Hashono, B’atzeres al peiros ho’ilan - on Shavuos G-d judges the fruit of the trees”, according to many, this is a hint to our fruit, our children.

Let us remember to utilize this special Holiday and pray to merit an understanding of Torah and reaffirm our commitment to Torah and mitzvohs.

Gut Shabbos
Gut Yom Tov