Trust
– In Memoriam of Mr. David M. Warren
(Mencahem Dovid ben Harav Yosef Z’L)
During its forty
years in the Wilderness, Israel was
led by the Clouds of Glory during
the day and a pillar of fire at
night. When the Clouds moved, so did
Israel. When the Clouds rested, so
did Israel.. “By the word of G-d,
Israel traveled and, by the word of
G-d, Israel encamped.” (Numbers
9:18)
The Sforno Rabbi
Ovadia ben Yaakov; 1475 – 1550,
Bologna, France) comments that the
Torah is expressing Israel’s loyalty
towards G-d. Even when G-d would
have Israel encamp “in the wastes of
a howling wilderness”(Deuteronomy
32:10; as translated by Artscroll),
Israel still followed G-d.
What is perplexing is
that, in the same verse the Sforno
quotes, the Torah continues, “He
(G-d) encircled Him (Israel)”. As
Rashi explains, G-d was constantly
protecting Israel through the Clouds
of Glory, “like an eagle protecting
its nest, hovering over its young.”
(Deuteronomy 32 : 10-11) As the
Yalkut Shemoni (228; Late
compilation of Jewish Homiletic;
Author unknown, Approx. 11th
Century) teaches, the Jewish people
had seven clouds of glory
surrounding them - four on each
side, one above, one below, and one
leading the way. The clouds
protected Israel from all elements,
even smoothing the ground for easy
walking. In addition to the Clouds,
Israel was also provided Manna from
heaven and water from Miriam’s well,
which traveled with them.
Why would the Sforno
argue Israel’s actions demonstrated
loyalty rather than simple
self-preservation? Had Israel not
followed the Clouds of Glory, it
would have been subjected to the
“howling wilderness” without any of
G-d’s protections.
The answer lies in
our original verse. “By the word of
G-d, Israel traveled [into a howling
wilderness] and, by the word of G-d,
Israel encamped [in a howling
wilderness].” Again and again, the
Children of Israel placed themselves
at the complete mercy of Hashem by
traveling to and settling in places
where they could only be saved by
the miraculous. That is an
extraordinary show of loyalty and
faith.
Today, we are often
presented that same challenge. Our
livelihoods, our relationships, and
even our safety can be placed at
risk by our steadfast adherence to
the Torah – G-d. Yet, faith in
Hashem requires both faith in the
present and faith in the future. May
G-d grant us the strength of our
forefathers to uphold His Torah
wherever that may lead us.
Shabbat Shalom
