Page 627 - BAMIDBAR

#
#26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Bamidbar-EYAL | 20 - B | 18-08-19 | 13:48:27 | SR:-- | Yellow 26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Bamidbar-EYAL | 20 - B | 18-08-19 | 13:48:27 | SR:-- | Magenta 26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Bamidbar-EYAL | 20 - B | 18-08-19 | 13:48:27 | SR:-- | Cyan 26347-EYAL-6BOOKS - 26347-Bamidbar-EYAL | 20 - B | 18-08-19 | 13:48:27 | SR:-- | Black

seed, akin to defiling the entire Torah. Every drop of seed contains untold
neshamot, each containing 613 organs, corresponding to the 613 mitzvot.

The Torah lauds Yaakov Avinu, who never saw a drop of keri in his life.
His son, Yosef, merited protection from the wiles of Potiphar’s wife Moshe Rabbeinu did not allow himself to become angered over the
because he was inspired by the image of his father, who was so vigilant request of the two shevatim who wished to remain east of the Jordan,
in this area. although they were deserving of it. He veered from his usual custom and

The ashes of the parah adumah purified the defiled. The red heifer hints did not confer with Hashem regarding their request.
to the lifeblood of man. Its ashes symbolize man’s humble beginning, as Moshe knew that the quality of anger is abominable and liable to make
dust of the ground. When the ashes are sprinkled on a person, his flesh him forget the halachah. Therefore, he made sure to admonish these
and blood become reinvigorated, and he is like a new person, free of sin. shevatim gently.

Moshe Rabbeinu did not ask for Hashem’s advice, for it was Hashem’s
When Bnei Yisrael brought before Moshe the gold of the Midianite voice which emitted from Moshe’s throat. This was because Moshe was
women whom they had taken captive, he rebuked them severely. He felt able to preserve Hashem’s Shechinah within himself by distancing himself
that they should not have taken these women captive, for they posed a from the trait of anger.
spiritual threat. Bnei Yisrael had already sinned once with devastating
results; they should have been more careful.

“Moshe and Elazar the Kohen took the gold Moshe chastised them, stating that although they had not actually sinned
from them, every fashioned vessel” with these women, they had certainly entertained improper thoughts
regarding them. Wrong thoughts can be worse than sin itself. After one
(Bamidbar 31:51) sins, he is beset with remorse and does teshuvah. But one does not see the

“Moshe and Elazar the Kohen took the gold necessity of doing teshuvah for merely thinking wrong thoughts. He
from the officers of the thousands and the therefore continues following the lusts of his heart. “The children of Reuven and the children of
hundreds and brought it to the Tent of Meeting, Bnei Yisrael brought the jewels as atonement for the improper thoughts Gad had abundant livestock – very great. They
a remembrance for the Children of Israel that they had previously entertained. The words “every fashioned vessel” saw the land of Yazer and the land of Gilad, and
teaches us that wrong thoughts are the tools which eventually cause one
before Hashem” to do the actual sin itself. behold! – the place was a place for livestock
(ibid. vs. 54) They said: If we have found favor in your eyes,
“The eye sees and the heart desires…” One must guard his eyes very let this land be given to your servants as a
well, so that he should not fall into negative thoughts, which can
germinate into misdeeds. heritage; do not bring us across the Jordan”
(Bamidbar 32:1)