Today we will focus on one verse from the travelogue (Numbers 33:25), a verse that suddenly casts the whole travelogue in a new light. In our discussion we will consider what Rabbi Abramowitz discussed in her sermon today -- the notion of inhabiting ones journey in life as a goal in itself, and not just a means to a destination. This verse illuminates the Torah's attitude toward place as not simply a physical experience, but an emotional one, one that defines a life from more perspectives than simply a spatial one. In the course of our discussion, this new understanding of biblical space should help to illuminate what it means for the Children of Israel to arrive in the Promised Land.
מקהלות -- קהל -- מקהלה -- a chorus, a gathering, celebration
In a place of trembling there should also be celebration.
תאוה -- Lust/Desire
דְּרַב יְהוּדָה הֲוָה מְצַיֵּין נַפְשֵׁיהּ, וַהֲדַר מְצַלֵּי. אֶלָּא אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק מֵהָכָא: ״עִבְדוּ אֶת ה׳ בְּיִרְאָה וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה״. מַאי ״וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה״? אָמַר רַב אַדָּא בַּר מַתְנָא אָמַר רַבָּה: בִּמְקוֹם גִּילָה שָׁם תְּהֵא רְעָדָה. אַבָּיֵי הֲוָה יָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבָּה חַזְיֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה קָא בָדַח טוּבָא. אֲמַר ״וְגִילוּ בִּרְעָדָה״ כְּתִיב! אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא תְּפִילִּין מַנַּחְנָא. רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה הֲוָה יָתֵיב קַמֵּיהּ דְּרַבִּי זֵירָא. חַזְיֵיהּ דַּהֲוָה קָא בָדַח טוּבָא אֲמַר לֵיהּ: ״בְּכׇל עֶצֶב יִהְיֶה מוֹתָר״ כְּתִיב? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנָא תְּפִילִּין מַנַּחְנָא. מָר בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבִינָא עֲבַד הִילּוּלָא לִבְרֵיהּ, חֲזַנְהוּ לְרַבָּנַן דַּהֲווֹ קָבָדְחִי טוּבָא.
Rav Yehuda believed that one who comes before the King must wear his most beautiful clothing. The Gemara has yet to find a source for the halakha that one must approach prayer from an atmosphere of gravity. Rather, Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said it can be derived from here, from this verse: “Serve the Lord in fear and rejoice with trembling” (Psalms 2:11). Having cited this verse from Psalms, the Gemara asks: What is the meaning of rejoice with trembling? Rav Adda bar Mattana said that Rabba said: One may not experience unbridled joy; even where there is rejoicing, there should be trembling. On that note, the Gemara relates: Abaye was sitting before his teacher Rabba, and Rabba saw that he was excessively joyful. He said to Abaye: It is written: Rejoice with trembling, one’s joy should not be unrestrained.
דָּרַשׁ בַּר קַפָּרָא: אֵיזוֹהִי פָּרָשָׁה קְטַנָּה שֶׁכָּל גּוּפֵי תוֹרָה תְּלוּיִין בָּהּ — ״בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ וְהוּא יְיַשֵּׁר אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ״.
Bar Kappara taught: Which is a brief passage upon which all fundamental principles of Torah are dependent? “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).
In all your ways know God. One should not seek to know God through other matters, because since one is engaged in Avodah (service/worship) God is, as it were, present at one's side in this mode of service specifically, and there one will find God -- and not in some other place. The truth is that there is nothing in the world that is not for the honor of the Blessed Holy One, hence everything one does will be according to God's commandment and will -- and in each action one should search for God. When one strives with all one's intelligence and with all one's abilities to carry out every action with the summit of perfect wholeness in all its dimensions -- then one will know the Blessed Holy One in every way (בכל דרכיו).
Cited by Shai Held
We serve God by being fully present wherever we are.