Beha'aloscha: The Complainers

ויהי העם כמתאננים רע באזני ד' וישמע ד' ויחר אפו ותבער בם אש ד' ותאכל בקצה המחנה 

“The people took to seeking complaints; it was evil in the ears of Hashem, and Hashem heard and His wrath flared, and a fire of Hashem burned against then, and it consumed at the edge of the camp”

After describing the beautiful encampment of the Jewish People, the flags, the organization of the tribes, the special trumpets, and the orderliness of travel, we learn about the “complainers”. It isn’t even clear from the verses what the complaining was about, and why it brought about such wrath. 

Rashi, citing the Sifri, states that the expression of מתאוננים   means עלילה  which is generally translated as an ‘accusation’ intimating some false, outrageous claim that one maliciously files against another. Indeed, Rashi says they were looking for an excuse to distance themselves from Hashem, and deliberately complained in a way that their words would reach the ears of Hashem. 

This is a severe allegation against the Jewish People, and it definitely warrants investigation into  what exactly they were saying, or complaining about. 

Rashi says that they were saying “woe is to us, this was such a difficult trip, we are weary from the three days of travel”.  

Rav Yeruchem Levovitz z”l, famed Mashgiach of pre war Mir, wonders how this ‘complaint’ can hardly be called a false accusation, or trying to distance themselves from Hashem; seemingly they were just ‘kvetching’ about the difficult time in the desert?!

Explains Rav Yeruchem, that the Torah looks deeply into the human heart and mind, and was able to discern something much deeper; if someone really appreciates what they are doing, and sees the value in what they are accomplishing, they would never complain. 

Imagine if you were offered a three-day opportunity to collect diamonds; we would collect and collect, even foregoing sleep, to grab as many as we can. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! It would not occur to anyone to complain about the labor involved, or the lack of sleep he endured. 

Why did the people complain about such a trivial matter? It must be they did not appreciate the goal; of traveling to Eretz Yisroel, and becoming the Nation of Hashem. 

Of course, as the generation of the receivers of the Torah, who witnessed all the miracles of the exodus, were held to a higher standard. But this is a message for all of us on our level as well; we are given such a treasure of Torah and opportunity to serve Hashem. Let’s appreciate every minute of it, and utilize it, as much as we can!

May we all merit to reach our potential, and serve Hashem with joy! Have a wonderful Shabbos!