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26 Iyar 5759, May 12 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Living with Kovod
by Rabbi Shmuel Globus

"Bnei Yisroel shall camp with each person near the banner having his paternal family's insignia. They shall camp at a specified distance around the Mishkon." (Bamidbor 2:2)

Extending for eight miles, the encampment of Bnei Yisroel in the desert was certainly a breathtaking sight. Millions of Jews living in magnificent order; and in the center was the Mishkon.

Surrounding and protecting the Mishkon was the camp of the Leviim. Around the Leviim were the Twelve Tribes, arranged in four groupings. Each grouping had its own banner; each person knew his place. Their forefathers had used the same formation when they brought Yaakov Ovinu to burial.

What is the significance of this encampment? HaRav Yitzchok Isaac Sher, disciple of the Alter from Slobodke, opens this subject (Leket Sichos Mussar): " . . . At matan Torah, Klal Yisroel saw the angels encamped according to banners -- and desired it for themselves. Hashem granted them this gift. Who can understand this mystery? . . .

"However, we have already learned that the Torah is an `expert educator' (Bereishis Rabba 1:1). This means that the Torah is able to instruct each pupil according to his level of understanding . . . "

Chazal describe the encampment in the midbor in phenomenal terms: " . . . Bnei Yisroel were great and holy on account of their banners. All the nations observed them and were astonished. They said, `Who is that, beautiful like the dawn?' (Shir HaShirim 7:1) The nations further said to them, `Return, return, perfect one (ad loc.). Join with us! Come to us, and we will make you rulers. Return, return that we may gaze at you . . . ' (ad loc.).

"Klal Yisroel replied to them . . . `What greatness can you offer us? . . . Can you match the greatness Hashem gave us in the desert? [We have] the banner of the camp of Yehuda, the banner of the camp of Reuven . . . '

"Even Bilaam gazed on them, and his eye popped out because he could not harm them. Thus it is written, `Bilaam lifted up his eyes, and saw Bnei Yisroel dwelling according to their tribes . . . ' (Bamidbor 24:2). This refers to the banners. [Bilaam] began to say, `Who can harm these people? They know their fathers and their families; as it says, dwelling according to their tribes!'

"We see from this that the banners gave greatness (gedula) and boundaries (geder) to Klal Yisroel. Thus it is written, `Each person near the banner having his paternal family's insignia . . . '" (Bamidbor Rabba 2:3).

HaRav Yitzchok Isaac Sher explains this midrash. "We learn from the midrash that the banners possessed two characteristics: greatness and boundaries. The mystery of `greatness' is beyond us; but we can comprehend the `boundaries' -- or designated areas -- which the banners marked out.

"It is written, ` . . . They camped under their banners . . . and so did they travel: each person with his family, according to his father's household' (Bamidbor 2:34). Bilaam also noted when he viewed the banners that they demarcate the people's fathers and families.

"An important rule of life arises from this: `Each person with his family, according to his father's household.'

"Because of the long golus, we are far from this way of life. But we must know that it is the Will of Hashem to live this way, as our forefathers did.

"While they were still in Egypt, Bnei Yisroel were commanded to eat the Korbon Pesach in family units. They also left Egypt in amazing order. The sea split for them into twelve paths. Each tribe passed through in its own `lane.'

"Later, when Miriam Hanevi'a took a drum in her hand and all the women followed her with drums and dances, there must have been a tremendous tumult. In a nation of over three million, how did each woman find her way home? Certainly, each knew her place and the location of her tribe and family. They must have had markings leading from tribe to tribe and from house to house.

"Chazal say that channels of water would lead from the Well in the midbor to each banner; and from the banners there were channels to each tribe, and from there to each family -- with astounding order.

"Here we discover a new mitzvah, which our forefathers kept: `And Bnei Yisroel did all that Hashem commanded Moshe . . . each person with his family, according to his father's household' (Bamidbor 2:34). For our forefathers in the desert, their orderly formation was not a mere matter of expedience or habit. It was service of Hashem, the fulfillment of a mitzvah.

"Why were they thus commanded? In order to instruct us in the ways of avodas Hashem. We are meant to join and bond together, each with his family and his father's household. It is the family's honor that the head of the family be its king, with all the family's members called after him and following his wisdom and Torah-teachings.

"The father should know that he is king of his home, the family's patriarch, that he is king over his family, and the leader of the family clan that he rules over his clan. This should be accompanied by the proper dignity, each one higher and more regal than the next.

"In this way, all of Klal Yisroel is unified in kedusha and malchus. The children follow their fathers, and the fathers educate their children. Together they all obey their leaders and elders. This is the discipline that Hashem desires from His People."

Home and family, so sorely lacking in today's world, constitute a superior way of life; as every Jew knows. But it is more than that: It is the Will of G-d. A mitzvah.

The mitzvah of `each person with his family, according to his father's household,' although great in itself, leads to something even more exalted. It provides a sure link with the Borei Olom. It not only connects people to each other; it also connects them to their source.

HaRav Sher explains: "The people camped according to their banners on four sides, and in the middle of them was the Mishkon. Everyone witnessed that Hashem dwelled among Bnei Yisroel. He was the center from which everything originated; and everyone surrounded Him.

"From Him was everything; and everything was directed to Him. This is the only way to live a Torah life, according to Retzon Hashem: to live as a family; that the family should have a head; that he should obey the leaders -- and that all should be subservient to the Mishkon of Hashem."

Giving kovod where due is important; no one can deny this. We honor parents, talmidei chachomim, HaKodosh Boruch Hu . . . But do we know what is true kovod? Can we explain the difference between real kovod and lip service?

HaRav Shlomo Wolbe uncovers the profound roots of kovod (Alei Shur I, ch.24): " . . . The neshomoh is called kovod, as in; `lema'an yezamercho kovod -- kovod will sing praises to You' (Tehillim 30). We see from here that the very nature of the neshomoh is kovod . . . .

"Kovod is not a matter of politeness and manners. It is recognizing the value of something, and showing it. When I honor a person, I am showing to all his value and importance. When I honor a talmid chochom, I am recognizing and showing the kedusha of the Torah. When I honor Hashem Yisborach, I am recognizing and showing His Divinity. I am demonstrating that `Ein od milvado', there is nothing other than Him . . . .

"What gives us the ability to honor? It is only the neshomoh -- whose very essence is kovod. This is the primary function of the neshomoh: to honor and demonstrate the greatness of the Creator, the greatness of man, and the greatness of the Torah and talmidei chachomim . . . .

"In fact, here lies the malady of our times: true kovod is disappearing, and its enemies are multiplying . . . . Whoever is more disrespectful is applauded, and the most sublime matters are scorned. Torah Jews in this generation are called upon to keep the middo of zilzul (disrespect) out of their midst . . . .

"This is what it means to work on kovod: to recognize and appreciate the true value of everything. One who does this will find a new world surrounding him; a world in which smallness and lowliness do not exist. For even the least of Hashem's creations contains wonders.

"`Uveheicholo kulo omer kovod -- In His Palace, everything says kovod!'"


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