BiHaAlotecha 5764
In Parashat BiHaAlotecha, the Pasuk writes in Perek 10, Pasuk 33, "VaYisu MeHar Hashem Derech Sheloshet Yamim", that the Jewish people journeyed from the mountain of Hashem a 3 day distance. Although this Pasuk seems quite innocent, the Gemara says however, that this was one of the tragedies that took place in the dessert. Not that they left Har Sinai, but the attitude with which they left. Chachamim say they left with the attitude, ‘KiTinok HaBoreach MiBet HaSefer’, like a child that is running away from school. The school in this case being Har Sinai where they received the Torah. The Torah calls this a ‘Poranut’, a tragedy, in the attitude the way they left.
There is an obvious question on this though. The Jewish people did not travel on their own accord. They traveled based on the Anane Kavod, (following the Clouds of Glory). And once the clouds started to move, so the Jewish people were instructed and knew to follow it. So what is this KiTinok HaBoreach MiBet HaSefer? They didn’t decide to leave. The clouds started to move, so they started to follow the clouds. They had no choice. What was expected of them to do? Should they have stayed stationery while the Clouds of Glory moved on? It was not an option. So why is there a claim against the Jewish people?
To understand the explanation of this claim, we need to compare this departure to the time when the Jewish people departed out of Egypt. The Pasuk says when they got to Yam Suf, they were still collecting all the spoils of the Egyptians, and Moshe Rabenu had to force the people to continue traveling. The Gemara says that he had to force them to travel against their will. Why? Because they were too busy collecting the spoils of Egypt. They were making money. They didn’t want to move forward, so Moshe Rabenu had to force them. He had to urge them and push them. So the claim against the Jewish people is when the Clouds of Glory started to leave from Har Sinai, nobody complained. The Jewish people just packed their bags and they left. But when it came to collecting the money, Moshe Rabenu had to force them to leave. They were very acquiescent when it came time to leaving Har Sinai. The attitude should have been to resist and to request from Moshe to stay an extra day. They should have wanted to seek yet more Kedusha. Moshe should have had to force them to continue traveling, but such was not the case. Therefore, the fact that they didn’t travel against their will, that’s considered ‘KiTinok HaBoreach MiBet HaSefer’.
From here we learn a great lesson regarding not only the study of Torah, but the attitude that we should have when we finish studying Torah. When the lessons are over, it shouldn’t be that we can’t wait until we run out and go back to our secular ways. To the contrary, we have to have an attitude where it’s difficult for us to get up, where we have no choice but to get up. So you see here, it’s not only the learning that is important, but the attitude as well is just as important.
Shabbat Shalom U’Mevorach.
