BESHALACH: 19. And Moses said to them, Let no one
leave over [any] of it until morning. 20. But [some] men did not obey Moses and
left over [some] of it until morning, and it bred worms and became putrid, and
Moses became angry with them.
HAFTORAH:
she struck Sisera,
pierced his head,
and wounded and penetrated
his temple.
TALMUD
SOTAH: Daf 36 – The
Ephod
Abijam
They
journeyed from Zalmonah and camped in Punon.
Week 36 is the week of Shavuot. The section of Beshalach for this week describes how
Moshe told the people not to leave any of the mannah until morning. However, some did not obey Moshe, and the mannah spoiled. This is similar to Shavuot itself, when in the initial
giving of the Torah the people overslept, and Moshe reprimanded the people for
it. This is the basis for the custom to spend all night studying Torah (ie. not
leaving it until morning).
The Haftorah verses speak of Yael’s brave actions. If, like in week 34,
we take the words out of the context of Yael’s actions, they could actually be
a reference to the tremendous experience of Mount Sinai. There, the Torah
pierced and penetrated our minds in a way that left an indelible mark in every
Jewish soul.
Daf Lamed Vav (Folio
36) of Sotah continues the discussion of how the Jewish people entered the
Land of Israel, how the tribes stood at Mount Grizim and Mount Eival, and also
of how the names of the tribes were inscribed on the Ephod. This is a symbol of
unity, also symbolized by Shavuot and
the month of Sivan in general. There
is also discussion of how there were 50 letters in the Ephod (the number 50 is also connected to Shavuot).
The daf also spends a considerable time describing Yosef, and the tests he overcame. Shavuot is also about miracles, and
about all of Israel standing at a mountain and entering into a covenant. Yosef
is also the consummate example of someone that followed the Torah, the very
definition of a Tzadik. (See Book 1, how being at Mount Sinai is
related to being on the level of tzadikim)
The
descendant of Judah for this week is Abijam, the son of Rehoboam. He is also
known at Abijah, which means “my father is Hashem.” Just as on Shavuot we received the Torah because
of our unity, so too Abiyah sought
to reunite the kingdoms of Judah and Israel. Despite his military victory,
however, he was unable to reach his goal.
As mentioned
in Book 2, as much as Shavuot is a day of celebration, the
unfortunate events that took place immediately following the giving of the
Torah (ie. the sin of the golden calf), required Hashem's great mercy, as well
as Moshe's begging on our behalf. Abiyah, the king of Judah
followed in the wicked ways of his father, and the Jewish people were
steeped in idolatry.
Interestingly,
like Rehoboam, Jeroboam, the sinful king of Israel (who actually built an “alternate
temple with golden calves!) also had a son named Abiyah. The child became
critically ill, died and was eulogized by all of Israel.[1] (The
eulogy, even if for the son of an evil king, also shows the theme of unity
connected to Shavuot)
In the
thirty-sixth week, the Jews journey from Zalmonah
and camp in Punon. Punon is the place where the Jewish
people complained and were bitten by snakes. It was also through Moshe’s copper
snake that they were healed. Punon comes
from the word “directed” (or faced) and also means death in Greek.[2]
During the giving of the Torah, the Jewish people all died and were immediately
revived. When they faced Hashem and heard Him speak, their souls left their
bodies. Punon also has two letter Nuns, perhaps also a reference to the
“50th” day of the omer,
which is Shavuot. The personal
journey for this week is to internalize the light of Shavuot in contrast to to the darkness of the omer, and now focus on being revived by the Torah as well.
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