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Parashas Beha'alosecha 21 Sivan, 5769 June 13, 2009 Daf Yomi: Bava Metzia 49
In this week’s parsha, we read:
ויאמרו האנשים ההמה אליו אנחנו טמאים לנפש אדם, למה נגרע, לבלתי הקרב את קרבן ה' במעדו בתוך בני ישראל : (במדבר פרק ט פסוק ז)
Those men said to him, “we are contaminated through a human corpse; why should we be diminished by not offering HaShem’s offering in its appointed time among the children of Israel?” (Bamidbar 9:7).
Are they crazy? Can we imagine a student saying, “Teacher, I want more homework please” or “it’s not fair that I am excused from this assignment. I want to do it.” If I was given an exemption, I would jump for joy. Wouldn’t you?
Or would you?
Let us answer this question using the lomdisha method, by asking another question. Rashi explains that the subject of contamination on Pesach was fit to have been stated directly through Moshe, like the rest of the Torah was. However, these men merited for the subject to be stated through them because HaShem brings about good things through worthy people. Was Moshe not worthy, not good enough, for the subject to have been brought about directly through him?
While we are in the questioning mode, let us add on a third question. These people were ritually contaminated in the most serious way possible. They touched a human corpse. Everyone knows that an impure person can not bring a karbon Pesach, so what was their complaint?
In order to answer these questions, we must take into account the statement of Chananiah ben Akashya.
רצה הקדוש ברוך הוא לזכות את ישראל לפיכך הרבה להם תורה ומצות (משנה מסכת מכות פרק ג משנה טז)
HaShem wants to find sources of merit for Israel; therefore, He gave them many commandments.
Mitzvoth are not just an extra assignment to burden us. No! They represent opportunities to do HaShem’s will and develop a closer relationship with Him.
But there’s more!
If we look at the story of Pesach, we see something special in the making. The Jewish people were an oppressed people, overworked, tortured, humiliated, and forced to do all sorts of degrading and backbreaking labor. So what does HaShem do? He does not just take the Jews out. No! He does more, a whole lot more. He takes them out through miracles and wonders. He brings the plagues on the Egyptians, uses His clouds of glory to protect the Jews, and splits the sea. Who does he do all this for? He does this for us, Am Yisrael, the nation of Israel.
Wow! We are so lucky to have this close relationship with our Creator. Everything about Pesach, including the karbon Pesach, represents this close relationship that HaShem has with Klal Yisrael. Those people realized this close relationship, envied it, and wanted to be part of it. Such a strong desire to connect with HaShem is truly amazing. We now understand why the Torah chose to deliver the laws of Pesach Sheni through these remarkably devout people.
In a final act of desperation, these people asked for a way to be included in the karbon Pesach. They too wanted to be part of the community and join in the joyful declaration of G-d as our Master and perform His will. The Kli Yakar adds that these people knew that a ritually contaminated person can not possibly bring a karbon Pesach. However, they also knew that this law is limited to an individual, not a community. The community can bring a karbon Pesach in a ritually impure state. These people wanted to be part of the karbon Pesach, itself a karbon Tzibbur. By being left out of this mitzvah they are also being removed from Klal Yisrael, removed from the close relationship that the Jewish community shares with HaShem. Never would they want to lose that, and neither should we.
Good Shabbos.
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