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Dvar Torah For Parshat BamidbarBased on Likutey Halakhot, Hilkhot Kriat Shema 5:1-6
These are King David's words; I know. I alone for the vision of God's greatness cannot be shared. You may have a vision, but even with yourself you cannot share it. Today you may be inspired and see a new light. But tomorrow, you will no longer be able to communicate it, even to yourself. ''I know" - as I am now. For the vision cannot be brought back. The Rebbe said: Look at the next verse, ''All that God wants, He does, in heaven and on earth." It is a different thought, speaking of something else entirely, King David says, ''I know," and can go no further, for words are no longer adequate. A perception of God
cannot be communicated. It is so lofty higher than high, that words cannot
express it. It is written (Proverbs 31:23),
''Her husband is known by the gates." The holy Zohar states that the husband
is the vision of God which each man perceives through the gates of his own
heart. The heart is hidden and the gates do not open to another. Not so new you say? Well, it should be. No two days are the same. After all, today is a brand new creation - it never was before and never will be again. And God? There's no fathoming His greatness. There's always something new to discover in His world and how to be aware of His presence. But it's up to you to make it new. The purpose of creation today is what it was way back when, when it all first began: to reveal His Godliness until everyone in the world knows Him. So Hashem (God) re-creates the world hoping (as it were) that more and more of us will catch on. We all know that the Shema is basic, essential to Judaism. It's the first verse that a child learns when he begins to speak and (ideally) the final words one utters as he leaves this world. The Shema, together with the phrase Borukh shem kavod malkhuto l'olam vaed (Blessed is the name of His kingdom forever and ever), consists of 12 words and 49 letters. These 12 words are the roots for some other 12s. The 12 words of the Shema include the 12 tribes - each and every Jew is rooted in the Shema, we each have the potential for the deepest faith. The 12 words of the Shema contain the elements of time: the 12 months of the year and the 12 hours of day and of night. Thus, all of time is included within the Shema, so that at any instant one can renew and begin to believe in Hashem and His Torah. But it has to be yours, you alone have to make it. You must prepare yourself because it just doesn't happen by itself, it's kol chad k'foom mah d'meshaer b'libei (each one as he estimates in his heart). ''Her husband is known by the gates." The Shema, its faith, your faith, is the basis for the entire Torah. And this faith is yours alone that no other person, not even Moshe Rabbeinu, can give to God. This is one of the lessons we can learn from what our Sages teach about the mitzvah of saying Shema: it may be said in any language (not just Hebrew) and it must be said audibly, so that you hear what you're saying. Even though we all deal with mundane affairs and suffer thoughts outside the pale of belief and holiness Shema can be said in any language, even if it's not the language of the Torah. But it must be audible, you have to hear the faith and one only hears what his heart is attuned to. Even the person on the lowest rung can feel God's presence by paying attention to the words of prayer that leave his mouth. So you have to "say Shema" from time to time, remind yourself that you're a Jew who believes in the Living God, King of the World. If you do this you can cling to God wherever you are, even in the worst hell. As Reb Noson writes, "Every person in the world has to make use of this [suggestion]." Now, just in case you're wondering what this has to with Parshat Bamidbar: The time limit for saying the morning Shema is until 1/4 of the day (i.e., of the daylight hours). Of the four camps the first one, nearest the Mishkan (where God often spoke to Moshe Rabbeinu), was Judah's. (The four camps represent the four seasons and the four letters of Hashem's name.) And in the first fourth of the day the Jew has to reveal Godliness by reciting the Shema. And the first season of the year (the months of Nisan, Iyar, Sivan) is the main time for revelation. In it we live the miracles of Pesach , the 49 day Omer-Count (preparing our hearts for receiving the Torah) and the greatest revelation of all: I am the Lord your God. agutn Shabbos! |
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