Parshat Behaaloscha 5783
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha that Bnei Yisrael complain to Moshe Rabbeinu about their food in the desert. The Torah tells us (Chapter 11, Pasuk 4), התאוו תאוה, they had a desire, and demanded meat, and said, מי יאכלנו בשר? Who will feed us meat? Rashi comments that the request for meat was strange. We understand from other pasukim in the Torah that they already had the necessary animals to eat meat. Therefore, Rashi concludes that this request was a ruse and an excuse to complain against Hashem.
The Sfas Emes writes in a few different places that it is inconceivable that the generation of the desert, the דור דעה, should so easily slip into a petty argument with Moshe and Hashem about food. He, therefore, explains the different trials and tribulations of Bnei Yisrael in the desert in a more complex manner. He describes the extreme challenges of life in the desert, and how their various spiritual achievements nonetheless included certain risks, and ultimately even setbacks.
In one early teaching, he discusses the meaning of the term התאוו תאוה. Though Rashi attributes this statement specifically to the Eirev Rav, the Sfas Emes learns differently. He understands from this word that Clal Yisrael didn’t have a physical desire and lived life in the desert on a higher plane. They ate the mahn, לחם מן השמים, and drank water from the באר of Miriam. When they asked for meat, they wanted to have a regular desire for physical pleasure. This is how the Sfas Emes learns התאוו תאוה; they attempted to create for themselves a desire. They wanted to be more human and less angelic.
The reason for this is because they wanted to serve Hashem through physical desire; they wanted to take their physical eating and drinking, and sanctify it by dedicating it to the service of Hashem. They complained to Hashem and said (Chapter 11, Pasuk 6), ועתה נפשנו יבשה אין כל; they complained that their souls were dry. The Medrash Rabbah on parshat Va’Eschanan (4,37) teaches on the words בכל לבבל ובכל נפשך, בכל נפש ונפש שברא בך; with every soul Hashem has created within you. The soul has many components and they felt there was a certain part of their being which was not being utilized; it was “left out to dry”. They wanted to serve Hashem with all parts of their soul, including by controlling and limiting temptation and focusing it towards Avodas Hashem.
But their request was not accepted nor looked upon positively by Hashem. They didn’t consider the great risk involved in activating one’s yetzer hara, even when attempting to use it for the positive. They felt that only through having desire and controlling it would they truly have merit. What reward could there be when there was no challenge in following the way of Hashem?
However, it would have been more prudent to instead focus on not failing from the potential danger rather than shooting for the heavens. Though we might feel our desire for greater challenge comes from a good place, it’s usually a result of arrogance and false pride that leads us to put ourselves in a state of spiritual risk. We need to accept that our lot is meant for us as is, and not attempt to create challenges for us where they don’t and shouldn’t exist.
The ultimate lesson of the downfall at קברות התאווה is that the greatest achievement is to be a simple Jew. One should not put himself in spiritually challenging situation and try to “force the hand” of Hashem in our relationship with Him. He knows better than we do what we need, and accept our situation with all the good and all the reward it offers us.
Good Shabbos
Print this article