B'Haalotcha: someone else is picking up the tab

Parshat B'Haalotcha

In 11:4-5 we are told about the Jews complaining that they did not have meat. They say, "מי יאכלנו בשר. זכרנו את הדגה אשר נאכל במצרים" - who will feed us meat? we remember the fish we ate in Egypt for nothing, the gourd, the melons, etc....

Rashi tells us they had plenty of meat available - the Torah told us earlier about the herds of cattle they took with them out of Egypt, but they were simply looking to complain.

They complain about the lack of meat, but then they remember and refer to what they ate in Egypt and there is no mention of meat. They ate fish and vegetables in Egypt. So why are they complaining about the lack of meat now if they never had meat anyway?

The complaint is "Who will feed us meat". Since they left Egypt, the have gotten used to having everything handed to them on a silver platter. They have not had to do anything. Hashem takes care of all their needs. They put forth no effort at all for anything other than serving Hashem.

They got used to having a free ride and that is why they are not willing to use their own animals for meat. Let Hashem give us meat, why should we use up our own!! Not only that, but when people get things for free on a regular basis, they lose the perception of the giver.

If one works for a living and has to buy food from his own money, he is careful not to overspend, and to buy within his budget and this type of food rather than that type of food. But when somebody gets used to having everything covered and he has nothing to worry about and no responsibilities, he wants the best. After all, it is not his money he is spending - it is someone else's. He loses the perception of what is necessary and what is extra.

In Egypt they never ate meat. But in Egypt they had to work for their food. In the desert they were handed everything with no effort on their part, so now they need meat. On someone else's tab it is easy to insist on luxuries.

Bamidbar: functioning properly and efficiently

Parshat Bamidbar

In this weeks parsha, we see a detailed description of the formation of the Jewish Nation in their tribal groups for the travelling through the desert.

I think we can learn a lesson from the detail. Bnei Yisrael could have travelled in a large mass of people, with everyone walking with their friends and family and whoever they wanted. Nothing really would have been wrong with that. So why didn't they travel like that? Why were the instructions of where everyone should be so specific?

I think we can learn a lesson from thsi that everyone has his place in the community. Everybody has what he is supposed to do and where he is supposed to be. Haphazard is no good. We need order and direction in order to function properly and efficiently.

the familiar tzorres

Parshat B'Shalah

The Jews are leaving Egypt. The route seems a bit roundabout, so the passuk describes in 13:17 that Hashem did not lead them through the short route via the land of the Philistines, lest they should see the potential for a war breaking out and that would frighten them to running back to Egypt.

Why would they want to go back to Egypt? After all the suffering they went through, after the beatings, the hard work, the oppression, etc. They have finally broken out and are free, yet we are still concerned that they might want to go back at the slightest threat of violence?

Also, let's say they went via the land of the Philistines. Let's say they would be afraid of battle. Woudl they want to go back and not trust Hashem after all they have seen Hashem do until now? Was it really such a concern that they would want to return to Egypt? Would they not think Hashem could/would help them be victorious?

People prefer what they are familiar with. In Egypt they had their routines. True, it was not pleasant. But they knew what to expect. They had gotten used to it.

To go into the desert and find yourself in a situation of possible war, they very well might prefer the evil with which they were already familiar rather than the new concerns.

Because of that, Hashem had to be concerned they might want to go back, despite all that He had already done for them.

pleasant weather in the desert

Parshat Bo

At the end of the parsha this week Moshe tells the Jewish people that they should remember this day that they are leaving Egypt and not eat chametz, etc.. He then says in 13:4, "היום אתם יוצאים בחודש האביב" - This day you are leaving in the month of the spring.

Rashi points out that we already know when they are leaving, so why does it need to be siad specifically in this fashion?

Rashi explains that it is telling us the great chessed that Hashem did for them that He took the nation out in the spring when the weather is pleasant, rather than in hot or cold weather when it would have been less pleasant.

My question is, why is this such a big chessed - we know the Jews were encircled and protected by the ananei hakavod - the clouds of glory - and they were a form of climate control. We know they were not affected by the weather and elements because of the clouds. So who cares what the weather was like when they left?

My initial thoughts are that while it is true that when they left Egypt they were not affected by the weather, however they did not know that would be the case. They knew they were about to leave Egypt and maybe they were nervous that they were running out in the heat or cold. So Moshe, to allay their concerns told them that Hashem scheduled it as a chessed that they are leaving in pleasant weather. Even though the facts are that it would not matter later. It was to calm their fears.

Answer: I still think there might be something to the above answer I suggested, I now have a better answer.
My 7 year old son gave me an answer that I think is correct. I asked the question at the shabbos table and he answered right away.
The ananei hakavod were only put into place when bnei yisroel travelled from Sukkos, which at the beginning of parshat B'Shalach we see was on the second day after having left Egypt. The first day they travelled from Ra'amses to Sukkos and did not yet have the clouds of glory or the pillars of fire.
That being the case, they needed the good weather for that cloudless day.