This Parsha is the 1st in a series of פרשיות discussing unfortunate episodes that accured in the מדבר, including Korach, the מרגלים and בנות מואב. We read in the Parsha about the מתאוים, who cried
מי יאכילנו בשר?… ועתה נפשנו יבשה אין כל בלתי אל המן עינינו
The people complained that all they had to eat was the מן, of which they were sick and tired. The פסוק continues:
והמן כזרע גד הוא ועינו כעין הבדולח
The Torah describes the מן as having the look of a crystal gem.
והיה טעמו כטעם לשד השמן
It had the taste of sweet fried oil. Rashi points out that while בני ישראל were busy complaining about the מן, Hashem describes it as appealing both in look and in taste. And Rashi continues:
כלומר ראו באי עולם על מה מתלוננים בני, והמן כך וכך הוא חשוב
“See what My children are complaining about, The מן is wonderful in so many ways!”
The Torah is highlighting the aggrevation Hashem has when כלל ישראל complains. Rav Avraham Pam notes that this is applicable even today. When a person complains, instead of focusing on all the good the enjoy, הקב”ה says ראו באי עולם על על מה מתלוננים בני. For instance, a man comes home from work to his wife and kids at night and finds the house a mess, and no supper ready. The kids’ toys are strewn all over the floor. In exasperation, he raises his voice at his wife: ” Don’t you know how to run a household?”
Says Rav Pam: how many people would give everything they own to be married and come home to a house full of kids? So many are not fortunate to be blessed with these great privileges. And when someone is lucky to have these blessings, he should be overflowing with gratitude to Hashem, and learn to overlook the small mishaps he may experience.
And just like complaining brings the רבש”ע aggrevation, thanking Him for the good in our life gives him נחת רוח. And that is our role as יהודים, the nation that knows how to be מודה and give thanks to Hashem.
In June 2023, smoke from Canadian wildfires resulted in New York City briefly having the worst air quality in the world. It was almost impossible to stand outside without experiencing burning eyes and coughing fits. Thankfully, this episode lasted only for a few short days. A rare event like this reminds us that
על כל נשימה ונשימה תהלל קה
We should thank Hashem for the clean and fresh air we get to breath each and every day.
This week the אדירי התורה event took place. 25,000 people came together in support of the Yungerlieit of Lakewood’s Beth Medrash Gavoah, whose current number stands at over 8,000. This staggering number is even more impressive when taking into account that when Rav Ahron Kotler started BMG in 1943, he had a total of only 14 תלמידים! Indeed, when we examine the explosive growth of תורה in our generation, we see the fulfillment of Hashem’s promise כי לא תשכח מפי זרעו. And that too should lead us to give Him thanks.
We’ll conclude with a story that highlights this point. Rav Elya Meir Bloch escaped Europe to America in 1941. On a visit to a Seforim store on the Lower East Side, he asked the proprietor for the classic Sefer קצות החושן. The man climbed a ladder and removed a dusty copy of the קצות. Handing it to Rav Bloch he said: ” Be careful with this Sefer. It’s the last קצות that will ever be sold in America” ” Rav Bloch replied Torah WILL flourish in America.and many many more קצות will be yet sold.”
Thank You Hashem that we merit to see the fulfillment of that declaration with our own eyes!
Weekly Parsha Shiur 