Naso- Shavuos
The passuk states: “ויקריבו נשיאי ישראל… הם נשיאי המטות, and the Nesi’im brought… they are the Nesi’im of the matos. What does Nesi’im of the matos mean, and what is its significance? Rashi explains these Nesi’im were shotrim, officers, over Bnei Yisrael in Mitzrayim to make sure they would build the number of bricks that the Egyptian oppressors commanded. The Bnei Yisrael would prepare the bricks and sometimes would not be able to fulfill the complete amount. The bricks would be given over to the oppressors who would check whether they fulfilled the orders. When they saw that Bnei Yisrael did not complete the amount because the officers didn’t push them, the oppressors lashed the Yisraelim officers, who then took the blame and guilt in place of the Bnei Yisrael. The officers cared about their friends and had pity on them, so they did not press them to do more. The Sifsei Chachamim explains that the Nesi’im of the matos means of the staffs, with which they were hit and received lashes. The title “Nesi’im of the matos” hinted to the mercy that they had for the Bnei Yisrael.
In Parshas Be’ha’alosicha Hashems tells Moshe to gather 70 men from the elders of Yisrael, “אשר ידעת כי הם זקני העם ושטריו, that you know about them that they are the elders of the nation and its officers. Rashi explains: you recognize that they were the same people who were appointed over Bnei Yisrael as officers in Mitzrayim while the people were forced to do back-breaking labor. They had pity on them and were smote instead of them which was a significant act of kindness. Hashem said that because of their kindness and mercy they will be appointed with their greatness since they were in pain for the peoples’ distress. Just as they lowered themselves to feel the pain of Bnei Yisrael, so they will be raised above with greatness. They merited to be the Sanhedrin and to receive the ruach of prophecy upon them.
The passuk mentions that the Nesi’im gave 6 wagons and 12 oxen for the Levi’im to use to transport the planks and other heavy parts of the Mishkan. HaRav Lazer Ginsberg shlita said, these Nesi’im are the same Nesi’im-officers who felt the pain of others and cared about them. Here too, they thought about the difficulty for the Levi’im to have to carry the heavy planks and other heavy parts of the Mishkan. They came up with an idea of how to help them alleviate the weight, by providing wagons to carry the weight and oxen to pull the wagons.
My Rosh Ha’Yeshiva HaRav Yaakov Freidman shlita said, just as a person is obligated to learn at least one time in the morning and evening, so too a person is obligated to do chessed one time in the morning and in the evening. There is a story that displays an important lesson about chessed. HaRav Shia Landow zatzal would go to speak to the Chazon Ish from time to time and people would request him to ask the Chazon Ish to give them berachos for different things. Once Rav Landow returned to the Chazon Ish quite soon after the previous visit and was afraid of what the Chazaon Ish might say about wasting time to travel so soon from far away. So, Rav Landow said, “I apologize for coming again so soon, but people request favors from me.” The Chazon Ish responded, “On the contrary, you are doing chessed with others, this will make you into a better receptacle to hold Torah. Torah is a ruchnious chachma, and in order to acquire it, one needs ruchnious keilim. The keilim with which to acquire the Torah are acts of chessed that you do with others. Because of it you will merit growth and success.”
May we be kind to others and be zoche to growth and success in Torah!
