Parshas Chukas-Balak 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
מה טבו אהליך יעקב משכנתיך ישראל ... (כד-ה)
Many times, when we are lucky to lain two parshiyos on one Shabbos, it is difficult to select from the many available posukim and topics what to write on. Presumably, expounding on a posuk that’s recited by all daily, can be relevant to everyone.
Chazal have myriad derashos on the above posuk. Rashi quotes the Gemara in Bava Basra (60a) that lauds Klal Yisroel: How beautiful their houses are, because their windows are positioned not to be aligned with those of their neighbors; thus respecting proper privacy and tznius boundaries. Targum Yonason says that this posuk refers to their בתי מדרש, as the Gemara in Sanhedrin (105b) indicates that Bilaam desired to curse our shuls and yeshivos. Although there’s no mitzvah to reconcile two differing pshatim, as אלו ואלו דברי אלקים חיים, and words often have varied explanations, perhaps we can suggest the following machshava the Zaida, Baal Machsheves Halev, would appreciate.
There’s another diyuk in these words. The posuk begins with "מה טבו אהליך יעקב" - starting with Yaakov; but closes with "משכנותיך ישראל". In Parshas Yisro, Rashi tells us "בית יעקב"refers to the נשים - the women, of Klal Yisroel. This may be the key to uniting the two Maamarei Chazal. True, our shuls and בתי מדרש are beautiful, incredible institutions; bastions of spiritual growth. They are so, ONLY due to the ‘Yaakov’ portion of Klal Yisroel; the women, who ensure that our batim, our homes, are places worthy of השראת השכינה. When our homes are permeated with kedusha, sholom bayis, and Torahdike hashkafos, then those values will spread to our shuls and yeshivos, enabling them to be a spiritual oasis amidst today’s prevalent sea of decadence, where every Yid, be it a baal habayis, a yeshivah bochur, or a Bais Yaakov girl can continue growing.
Yehi Ratzon ... that our homes reflect the homes of old, built with the same מסירת נפש of our forebears, so that our homes’ influence will extend to our מקומות הקדושים as well.