Fear of the Unknown

Parshas Behaaloscha

Posted on May 30, 2018 (5778) By Rabbi Berel Wein | Series: Rabbi Wein | Level: Beginner

 

Human beings are by their very nature creatures who are eternally dissatisfied and fearful. It is a rare person that, even at a joyous family occasion, can grasp the moment and fully enjoy it. Even as the bridal couple stands under their marriage canopy, observers and the families of those concerned are already fretting about what the future will hold for the young couple. Rarely can a person truly live and enjoy the present.

In the Torah reading of this week the generation that left Egypt, received the Torah on Sinai and witnessed all of G-d’s miracles on a first-hand basis, nevertheless begins to fray and fall apart. Their main concern, the doubt that hovers in their minds throughout the 40 years of existence in the Sinai desert, is how they will fare when they finally do reach and settle the promised land of Israel.

This task appears to be so daunting that it frightens them. The reassurance given them by Moshe, that G-d will continue to perform miracles on their behalf does not resonate with them. Their frustration will eventually burst forth in the Torah reading of next week with the story of the spies and their evil report regarding the land of Israel. The father-in-law of Moshe himself leaves them and no arguments or persuasions can change his mind. In its way, this was a crushing blow to the morale of the Jewish people and only confirmed their doubts as to whether they have a future in the land of Israel.

In effect, the mindset of the people was that today’s miracles do not guarantee the presence of miracles tomorrow and that the land of Israel is too risky an adventure to entertain.

The fear and disaffection for the land of Israel lies at the root of all of the upheavals and rebellions that we will read about this Shabbat and in the coming Torah readings as well. They may complain about food, their leaders and all sorts of other gnawing issues that trouble them but that is only a cover for their fear of the future and for the unknown that the land of Israel represents to them.

This is a situation that exists even today in the Jewish world. It is a lack of self-confidence that we paper over with bravado. Deep down we are aware of the precarious nature of our situation and of the hostility of the world towards our state and us. To a great extent we whistle when passing the graveyard because of our lack of faith in ourselves, our future and even in the G-d of Israel.

We cannot be satisfied with the moment because of our concerns, no matter how unwarranted they may be regarding the future. Naturally, we are somewhat traumatized by our past and it is not a simple matter to simply ignore the problems and enemies that loom over us. Nevertheless, we are bound to rely upon our faith that all will yet turn well for the Jewish people and the state of Israel and we attempt to live our lives and order our priorities accordingly.

Shabbat shalom

Rabbi Berel Wein

The Ever New in the Never Old

Parshas Behaaloscha

Posted on June 7, 2012 (5772) By Rabbi Label Lam | Series: Dvar Torah | Level: Beginner

 

HASHEM said to Moshe saying, “Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you “light-up” the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light.” Aaron did so- (Bamidbar 8:1-2)

Aaron did so: To teach you the praise of Aaron that he did not change. (Rashi)

What’s so great that Aaron lit the lights? Anybody could do that! Why would he do differently than what he understood with perfect clarity G-d had told him to do? So what’s the great praise for?

The Sefas Emes offers an answer that not only did Aaron not deviate in the behavior of lighting the first time but for all forty years in the desert he maintained the same high degree of intensity and excitement as if it was the first time. Even though people are naturally dulled by repetitive actions and driven to search for something fresh the “first time” is the choicest of them in terms of pure passion!

The $64,000.00 question is, “How do we bottle the enthusiasm of that “first time”? Perhaps that’s why people hire photographers and videographers for weddings and Bar Mitzvos! That alone does not do the job! Not only is this a curious psychological point but it might touch upon the greatest challenge of our time and understood properly may yield the secret to our real happiness. How does one always enjoy the old and not be tempted to constantly search for new stimulation!

The Sefas Emes quotes a well-known Rashi on a familiar verse in the 2nd Paragraph of Shema, “And it will come to pass if you continually hearken (accept and review) My commandments that I command you today…” (Devarim 11:13) Rashi explains the double expression of listening, “If you will listen to the old you will understand the new!” On the latter word “today” he says that words of Torah, the commandments should be new and fresh to you as if you heard it spoken to you today!

A joke is told about a general that heard his troops were grumbling and complaining and it disturbed him even more when he discovered that they were upset about the food! He assembled his men and gave them a piece of his mind. Drawing on his knowledge of the history of war, he asked rhetorically, “Do you think Napoleon’s men at the Waterloo complained about the bread being stale!?” Just then one of the soldiers interjected, “No sir! It was fresh then!”

How does one retain freshness of that which is no longer “new”? Our national commitment to Torah was 3324 years ago and privately at the time of our Bar Mitzvah and so it is with a marriage! What’s the secret? The answer is that there is no such thing as “old” in the world of the spirit! We recite twice daily, “Who renews continually with His kindliness the action of creation.” Everything is actually new!

Reb Aryeh Levin ztl. of “A Tzadik in Our Time” fame was observed gazing at a flickering flame! When what he was doing, he replied joyfully, “I’m drinking in the light!” “Simple” things do not lose their luster to spiritually sensitive individuals! The candle is casting off fresh light each moment! A glass of water can be more enjoyable to a tuned-in person than a can of coke to the man on the street! King Solomon says, “The person with a good heart is always drinking!” His good thoughts lead him to become intoxicated by any and all aspects of life! The “old” is as fresh as a “first time”! One need only to go up to the light- like Aaron!

One of my boys once told me he was bored! I told him that he is not bored! He’s boring! To prove the point I asked him to survey the room and find anything blue. Then I blindfolded him and asked him to tell me what in the room is brown! He immediately reminded me that I had said blue. However, now I want what’s brown! Then I asked, for what’s green-glass-round-metallic- etc. He realized that he had never explored the room. He never looked at that room or any other the same – and we had only just begun. We may not yet merit the hidden joy of the “new” until we first encounter the ever new in never old.

DvarTorah, Copyright © 2007 by Rabbi Label Lam and Torah.org.