Parshas Bamidbar/Shavuot - Clothe The Needy
"These are the generations of Aaron and Moshe on the day that HaShem spoke with Moshe on Mount Sinai. And these are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nodov the firstborn, Avihu, Elazar and Itamar." (Numbers 3:1,2)
Rashi quotes the Talmud that although the verse states that "These are the generations of Aaron and Moshe", only Aaron's sons are listed. This teaches us that whoever teaches one's neighbor's children Torah, as did Moshe, is considered as if they had given birth to them.
The Chofetz Chaim cites this principle and writes that it is a very great mitzvah to teach Torah to people who would not learn it otherwise. He also cites the Tana D'vei Eliyahu: If you see people who have not studied Torah, bring them into your house and teach them to recite the Shema Yisrael and Amidah prayers. Teach them a verse or a law every day, and encourage them to fulfill the commandments, for there is no person as "naked" as one who does not possess Torah and the merit of fulfilling the commandments. The Chofetz Chaim goes on to explain that we are obligated to clothe the needy. All the more so are we obligated to supply spiritual "clothing" for those who lack it. (Ahavas Chesed)
The school of Hillel taught: "A person should teach to everybody. For there have been many who transgressed who were taught Torah and their descendants were righteous and pious". That is, not only were they themselves transformed, but their children and children's children were also righteous. (Avos D'Reb Noson)
The proceeding portion of dvartorah was taken from the book Love Your Neighbor by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin.
We find ourselves on the launching pad to the festival of Shavuot.
Who wants life?....Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking falsehood. Turn from Evil and do good....(Psalms)
Shavuot is the anniversary of the transmitting of the Torah from HaShem through Moshe to the Jewish nation. It is the culmination of the exodus from Egypt as the newly-freed nation turned from the evil that Egyptian slavery and culture represented. Unhampered by the stresses of slavery and the influences of a foreign culture, they were able to adjust their sights to loftier tiers. They seized the moment and set their sights on the goal at hand which was to use their freedom for spiritual elevation and put it into action - to "do good".
Parshas Bamidbar is the perfect prelude to potential spiritual elevation - Shavuot.
Serious Torah learning has blossomed, exploding old myths, inspiring new growth and enhancing already established commitments (not unlike a landscaper's dose of "weed and feed"!)
Text Copyright © 2000 Rabbi Dovid Green and Project Genesis, Inc.