Why does the Torah place the concept of Shemitah directly after the Mekalel (one who cursed Hashem)? What is the depth of the concept of Shmitah and Shabbos? Why is the song of Shabbos a song of thanks? What was the mistake of the Mekalel?
Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.
Running Time: 19:08
3 comments:
I cannot help but feel bad for the young man was not allowed to make his camp with Dan and as a result made the sin. Is there any commentary that Moshe, after ruling that the young man could not camp Dan, was immediately going to find a good place for him to camp? I can't help but think of the child in elementary school who has no place to sit at lunch because the other children turn him or her away....one would hope that the teacher present in the cafeteria then takes special pity upon that child and makes a place for him to eat and encourages the child feel better.
Does the camp of Dan somewhat, in the slightest sense, share in this sin because they didn't show kindness and let him make camp with them? In the podcast it says that the young man actually wanted to be close to Hashem in desiring to camp with Dan. How could they turn him away? Please help me to understand.
*Please know that my understanding of Torah is below elementary level, so you must forgive any faults in the above thinking.
Your question is a good question. Of course, it is important to have a desire to come close to God. Each person needs to know their place in reality. If I am not of the lineage of Aharon, I am not a priest. There is nothing I can do to become one. If I try to be one, I am liable for death. It is appropriate to have a desire for nearness to God, but it must be within the confines of what God wants.
It is analogous to someone who wants to have a relationship with someone else, but does not respect the space of the other party. Relationship is a two way street.
That is one issue.
The other issue is that if someone wants a relationship, but does not get it - how do they respond? It is one thing to be upset. It is another thing to curse God! If one desires relationship with God, how can one curse the very God he wants a relationship with? This type of reaction shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what relationship is about.
Bottom line - while it is beautiful to want a relationship with Hashem, we must respect the boundaries that God creates, just as we must respect the boundaries of any person we wish to be in a relationship with. If we can not respect those boundaries, it is not a relationship, because a relationship is a function of two parties who mutually agree to the relationship.
that was beautiful! thanks! good shabbos.
Chayah NEchama
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