Guidance and Obstacles

Quick brainstorm: What are the contents of the parsha?

(טו) וּבְיוֹם֙ הָקִ֣ים אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן כִּסָּ֤ה הֶֽעָנָן֙ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן לְאֹ֖הֶל הָעֵדֻ֑ת וּבָעֶ֜רֶב יִהְיֶ֧ה עַֽל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן כְּמַרְאֵה־אֵ֖שׁ עַד־בֹּֽקֶר׃ (טז) כֵּ֚ן יִהְיֶ֣ה תָמִ֔יד הֶעָנָ֖ן יְכַסֶּ֑נּוּ וּמַרְאֵה־אֵ֖שׁ לָֽיְלָה׃ (יז) וּלְפִ֞י הֵעָל֤וֹת הֶֽעָנָן֙ מֵעַ֣ל הָאֹ֔הֶל וְאַ֣חֲרֵי כֵ֔ן יִסְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבִמְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר יִשְׁכׇּן־שָׁם֙ הֶֽעָנָ֔ן שָׁ֥ם יַחֲנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (יח) עַל־פִּ֣י ה׳ יִסְעוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְעַל־פִּ֥י ה׳ יַחֲנ֑וּ כׇּל־יְמֵ֗י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁכֹּ֧ן הֶעָנָ֛ן עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יַחֲנֽוּ׃ (יט) וּבְהַאֲרִ֧יךְ הֶֽעָנָ֛ן עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וְשָׁמְר֧וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת ה׳ וְלֹ֥א יִסָּֽעוּ׃ (כ) וְיֵ֞שׁ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִהְיֶ֧ה הֶֽעָנָ֛ן יָמִ֥ים מִסְפָּ֖ר עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן עַל־פִּ֤י ה׳ יַחֲנ֔וּ וְעַל־פִּ֥י ה׳ יִסָּֽעוּ׃ (כא) וְיֵ֞שׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶ֤ה הֶֽעָנָן֙ מֵעֶ֣רֶב עַד־בֹּ֔קֶר וְנַעֲלָ֧ה הֶֽעָנָ֛ן בַּבֹּ֖קֶר וְנָסָ֑עוּ א֚וֹ יוֹמָ֣ם וָלַ֔יְלָה וְנַעֲלָ֥ה הֶעָנָ֖ן וְנָסָֽעוּ׃ (כב) אֽוֹ־יֹמַ֜יִם אוֹ־חֹ֣דֶשׁ אוֹ־יָמִ֗ים בְּהַאֲרִ֨יךְ הֶעָנָ֤ן עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ לִשְׁכֹּ֣ן עָלָ֔יו יַחֲנ֥וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְלֹ֣א יִסָּ֑עוּ וּבְהֵעָלֹת֖וֹ יִסָּֽעוּ׃ (כג) עַל־פִּ֤י ה׳ יַחֲנ֔וּ וְעַל־פִּ֥י ה׳ יִסָּ֑עוּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֤רֶת ה׳ שָׁמָ֔רוּ עַל־פִּ֥י ה׳ בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ {פ}

Numbers 9:15-23

(15) On the day that the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the Tabernacle, the Tent of the Pact; and in the evening it rested over the Tabernacle in the likeness of fire until morning. (16) It was always so: the cloud covered it, appearing as fire by night. (17) And whenever the cloud lifted from the Tent, the Israelites would set out accordingly; and at the spot where the cloud settled, there the Israelites would make camp. (18) At a command of ה׳ the Israelites broke camp, and at a command of ה׳ they made camp: they remained encamped as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. (19) When the cloud lingered over the Tabernacle many days, the Israelites observed יהוה’s mandate and did not journey on. (20) At such times as the cloud rested over the Tabernacle for but a few days, they remained encamped at a command of ה׳, and broke camp at a command of ה׳. (21) And at such times as the cloud stayed from evening until morning, they broke camp as soon as the cloud lifted in the morning. Day or night, whenever the cloud lifted, they would break camp. (22) Whether it was two days or a month or a year—however long the cloud lingered over the Tabernacle—the Israelites remained encamped and did not set out; only when it lifted did they break camp. (23) On a sign from ה׳ they made camp and on a sign from ה׳ they broke camp; they observed יהוה’s mandate at יהוה’s bidding through Moses.

Numbers 9:15-23 The divine fire-cloud.
This passage is strategically placed just prior to Israel’s resumption of the desert march which was interrupted by their encampment at Sinai (Exod 19:1-Num 10:1). The fire-cloud, God’s manifestation to Israel, guides the movement of the traveling camp as a cloud by day and a fire at night…

The cloudy fiery aura of the Lord is a divine feature also found in non-Israelite societies… In other Priestly writings this divine fire is called kavod, God’s presence or glory. (Ex 24:16-17; 2 Chron 7:3).
In the account of the burning bush (Ex chapter 3) and Ezekiel’s vision of the divine chariot (Ezekiel chapter 1), God also manifests himself as, or from within, fire.
- Jewish Study Bible comment on Numbers 9:15-23

This is not the first appearance of the guiding cloud. Where else have we seen it?

שמות י״ג:כ״א-כ״ב

(כא) וַֽה׳ הֹלֵךְ֩ לִפְנֵיהֶ֨ם יוֹמָ֜ם בְּעַמּ֤וּד עָנָן֙ לַנְחֹתָ֣ם הַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וְלַ֛יְלָה בְּעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ לְהָאִ֣יר לָהֶ֑ם לָלֶ֖כֶת יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃ (כב) לֹֽא־יָמִ֞ישׁ עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וְעַמּ֥וּד הָאֵ֖שׁ לָ֑יְלָה לִפְנֵ֖י הָעָֽם׃ (פ)

Exodus 13:21-22

(21) God went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, that they might travel day and night. (22) The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Apparently, YHVH has not told Israel the way to Canaan. He instead sends the pillar. Moses has already been to Horeb [Sinai] and could probably lead the way himself. But the miraculous apparition simultaneously legitimates his authority and tests Israel’s faith. They do not know their path even a day in advance.
Cloud and fire are in a sense opposites, corresponding to the primal antithesis of dark and light (Gen 1:2-3). Cloud becomes visible by negating the daylight, and fire dispels the night. Yet, in another sense, cloud and fire are complementary: ‘Anan connotes smoke as well as cloud, and the Israelites considered lightning a form of combustion. Thus the pillar simultaneously evokes images quite distinct for us: a storm cloud and a smoking fire.
- WHC Propp, Anchor Bible Exodus, comment on Exodus 13:17-15:21

שמות י״ד:י״ט-כ׳

(יט) וַיִּסַּ֞ע מַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹקִ֗ים הַהֹלֵךְ֙ לִפְנֵי֙ מַחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיִּסַּ֞ע עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּֽעֲמֹ֖ד מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ (כ) וַיָּבֹ֞א בֵּ֣ין ׀ מַחֲנֵ֣ה מִצְרַ֗יִם וּבֵין֙ מַחֲנֵ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיְהִ֤י הֶֽעָנָן֙ וְהַחֹ֔שֶׁךְ וַיָּ֖אֶר אֶת־הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְלֹא־קָרַ֥ב זֶ֛ה אֶל־זֶ֖ה כׇּל־הַלָּֽיְלָה׃

Exodus 14:19-20

(19) The messenger of God, who had been going ahead of the Israelite army, now moved and followed behind them; and the pillar of cloud shifted from in front of them and took up a place behind them, (20) and it came between the army of the Egyptians and the army of Israel. Thus there was the cloud with the darkness, and it cast a spell upon*and it cast a spell upon From root ’-r-r, “cast a spell” or “curse.” Others “and it lit up.” the night, so that the one could not come near the other all through the night.

The two pillars were probably one, a columnar cloud enveloping a fire that was visible through it only in the dark. Hence Exodus 14:24 refers to it as a single “pillar of fire and cloud” at daybreak, when the fire was still partly visible as the cloud gradually became opaque.
Their role here may reflect the ancient practice of carrying a burning, smoking brazier at the head of an army or caravan to indicate the line of march by day and night.
- Jewish Study Bible comment on Exodus 13:21

שמות י״ט:ט׳

(ט) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ה׳ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֘יךָ֮ בְּעַ֣ב הֶֽעָנָן֒ בַּעֲב֞וּר יִשְׁמַ֤ע הָעָם֙ בְּדַבְּרִ֣י עִמָּ֔ךְ וְגַם־בְּךָ֖ יַאֲמִ֣ינוּ לְעוֹלָ֑ם וַיַּגֵּ֥ד מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֥י הָעָ֖ם אֶל־ה׳׃

Exodus 19:9

(9) And ה׳ said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, in order that the people may hear when I speak with you and so trust you ever after.” Then Moses reported the people’s words to ה׳,

שמות י״ט:ט״ז-י״ח

(טז) וַיְהִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י בִּֽהְיֹ֣ת הַבֹּ֗קֶר וַיְהִי֩ קֹלֹ֨ת וּבְרָקִ֜ים וְעָנָ֤ן כָּבֵד֙ עַל־הָהָ֔ר וְקֹ֥ל שֹׁפָ֖ר חָזָ֣ק מְאֹ֑ד וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד כׇּל־הָעָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (יז) וַיּוֹצֵ֨א מֹשֶׁ֧ה אֶת־הָעָ֛ם לִקְרַ֥את הָֽאֱלֹקִ֖ים מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיִּֽתְיַצְּב֖וּ בְּתַחְתִּ֥ית הָהָֽר׃ (יח) וְהַ֤ר סִינַי֙ עָשַׁ֣ן כֻּלּ֔וֹ מִ֠פְּנֵ֠י אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרַ֥ד עָלָ֛יו ה׳ בָּאֵ֑שׁ וַיַּ֤עַל עֲשָׁנוֹ֙ כְּעֶ֣שֶׁן הַכִּבְשָׁ֔ן וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד כׇּל־הָהָ֖ר מְאֹֽד׃

Exodus 19:16-18

(16) On the third day, as morning dawned, there was thunder, and lightning, and a dense cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud blast of the horn; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. (17) Moses led the people out of the camp toward God, and they took their places at the foot of the mountain. (18) Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke, for ה׳ had come down upon it in fire; the smoke rose like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled violently.

שמות מ׳:ל״ג-ל״ח

(לג) ...וַיְכַ֥ל מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶת־הַמְּלָאכָֽה׃ (פ) (לד) וַיְכַ֥ס הֶעָנָ֖ן אֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וּכְב֣וֹד ה׳ מָלֵ֖א אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ (לה) וְלֹא־יָכֹ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֗ה לָבוֹא֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד כִּֽי־שָׁכַ֥ן עָלָ֖יו הֶעָנָ֑ן וּכְב֣וֹד ה׳ מָלֵ֖א אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ (לו) וּבְהֵעָל֤וֹת הֶֽעָנָן֙ מֵעַ֣ל הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן יִסְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּכֹ֖ל מַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃ (לז) וְאִם־לֹ֥א יֵעָלֶ֖ה הֶעָנָ֑ן וְלֹ֣א יִסְע֔וּ עַד־י֖וֹם הֵעָלֹתֽוֹ׃ (לח) כִּי֩ עֲנַ֨ן ה׳ עַֽל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וְאֵ֕שׁ תִּהְיֶ֥ה לַ֖יְלָה בּ֑וֹ לְעֵינֵ֥י כָל־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכָל־מַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃

Exodus 40:33-38

(33) ...When Moses had finished the work, (34) the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and God's Presence filled the Tabernacle. (35) Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it and God's Presence filled the Tabernacle. (36) When the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on their journey, (37) but if the cloud did not lift, they would not set out until it did lift. (38) For over the Tabernacle, God's cloud rested by day, and fire would appear in it by night, in the sight of the whole House of Israel throughout their journey.

[The cloud] was the manifestation of God's Presence in the Tabernacle.

Ovadia Sforno, c.1470-1550 (Italy)

במדבר י׳:ל״ג-ל״ו

(לג) וַיִּסְעוּ֙ מֵהַ֣ר ה׳ דֶּ֖רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֑ים וַאֲר֨וֹן בְּרִית־ה׳ נֹסֵ֣עַ לִפְנֵיהֶ֗ם דֶּ֚רֶךְ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת יָמִ֔ים לָת֥וּר לָהֶ֖ם מְנוּחָֽה׃ (לד) וַעֲנַ֧ן ה׳ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם יוֹמָ֑ם בְּנָסְעָ֖ם מִן־הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (׆) (ס) (לה) וַיְהִ֛י בִּנְסֹ֥עַ הָאָרֹ֖ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֑ה קוּמָ֣ה ׀ ה׳ וְיָפֻ֙צוּ֙ אֹֽיְבֶ֔יךָ וְיָנֻ֥סוּ מְשַׂנְאֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶֽיךָ׃ (לו) וּבְנֻחֹ֖ה יֹאמַ֑ר שׁוּבָ֣ה ה׳ רִֽבְב֖וֹת אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (׆) (ס)

Numbers 10:33-36

(33) They marched from the mountain of God for three days. The Ark of the Covenant traveled in front of them on that three-day journey to seek out a resting place for them; (34) and the cloud stayed above them by day, as they moved on from camp. (35) When the Ark was to set out, Moses would say: "Advance, O God! May Your enemies be scattered, and may Your foes flee before You!" (36) And when it halted, he would say: "Return, O God, upon Israel's tens of thousands!"

We might also consider YHVH’s vehicle of fire and cloud the literary analogue to the Covenant Ark, equally symbolic of the divine presence. Like the cloud pillar, the ark travels before the people “to scout out for them rest” and guide them (Num 10:33-36; Joshua 3:3-4). It also focuses YHVH’s protection over Israel (Num 14, Josh 3, 1 Samuel 4-6, 2 Samuel 11, 15). Further, just as the cloud is associated with the Red Sea crossing, so is the ark associated with the Jordan crossing (Josh 3-4). And the ark, too, appears to represent the storm, through its association with cherubim - not cupids, but winged monsters on which YHVH sits enthroned and rides to battle (2 Sam 22; Ps 104:3). The cherubim represent, among other things, the power and mobility of the storm (eg 2 Sam 22:8-16; Ezekiel 1; 10).
- WHC Propp, Anchor Bible Exodus, comment on Exodus 13:17-15:21

Not just one cloud of glory accompanied the travelling Israelites, but seven: one at each of the four sides; one above them; one beneath them; and one to lead the way. This last cloud, while advancing before the people, raised the lowlands and lowered the hills, turning them into level ground. In addition, it swept and sprinkled the road ahead of them to make their walking easier; it also killed snakes and scorpions along the way, and maintained the Israelites' clothes, keeping them fresh and clean.
Collected from midrashim in Mechilta Beshalach, Yalkut Shim'oni, Shir Hashirim Rabbah, and Pesiqta D'Rav Kahana

במדבר י׳:א׳-י״ג

(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר ה׳ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (ב) עֲשֵׂ֣ה לְךָ֗ שְׁתֵּי֙ חֲצֽוֹצְרֹ֣ת כֶּ֔סֶף מִקְשָׁ֖ה תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑ם וְהָי֤וּ לְךָ֙ לְמִקְרָ֣א הָֽעֵדָ֔ה וּלְמַסַּ֖ע אֶת־הַֽמַּחֲנֽוֹת׃ (ג) וְתָקְע֖וּ בָּהֵ֑ן וְנֽוֹעֲד֤וּ אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃ (ד) וְאִם־בְּאַחַ֖ת יִתְקָ֑עוּ וְנוֹעֲד֤וּ אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ הַנְּשִׂיאִ֔ים רָאשֵׁ֖י אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ה) וּתְקַעְתֶּ֖ם תְּרוּעָ֑ה וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹת הַחֹנִ֖ים קֵֽדְמָה׃ (ו) וּתְקַעְתֶּ֤ם תְּרוּעָה֙ שֵׁנִ֔ית וְנָֽסְעוּ֙ הַֽמַּחֲנ֔וֹת הַחֹנִ֖ים תֵּימָ֑נָה תְּרוּעָ֥ה יִתְקְע֖וּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶֽם׃ (ז) וּבְהַקְהִ֖יל אֶת־הַקָּהָ֑ל תִּתְקְע֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תָרִֽיעוּ׃ (ח) וּבְנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים יִתְקְע֖וּ בַּחֲצֹֽצְר֑וֹת וְהָי֥וּ לָכֶ֛ם לְחֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

(ט) וְכִֽי־תָבֹ֨אוּ מִלְחָמָ֜ה בְּאַרְצְכֶ֗ם עַל־הַצַּר֙ הַצֹּרֵ֣ר אֶתְכֶ֔ם וַהֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם בַּחֲצֹצְרֹ֑ת וְנִזְכַּרְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵי֙ ה׳ אֱלֹֽקֵיכֶ֔ם וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּ֖ם מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶֽם׃ (י) וּבְי֨וֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶ֥ם וּֽבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם֮ וּבְרָאשֵׁ֣י חׇדְשֵׁיכֶם֒*(בספרי ספרד ואשכנז חׇדְשֵׁכֶם֒) וּתְקַעְתֶּ֣ם בַּחֲצֹֽצְרֹ֗ת עַ֚ל עֹלֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעַ֖ל זִבְחֵ֣י שַׁלְמֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָי֨וּ לָכֶ֤ם לְזִכָּרוֹן֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֱלֹֽקֵיכֶ֔ם אֲנִ֖י ה׳ אֱלֹקֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
(יא) וַיְהִ֞י בַּשָּׁנָ֧ה הַשֵּׁנִ֛ית בַּחֹ֥דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֖י בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים בַּחֹ֑דֶשׁ נַעֲלָה֙ הֶֽעָנָ֔ן מֵעַ֖ל מִשְׁכַּ֥ן הָעֵדֻֽת׃ (יב) וַיִּסְע֧וּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל לְמַסְעֵיהֶ֖ם מִמִּדְבַּ֣ר סִינָ֑י וַיִּשְׁכֹּ֥ן הֶעָנָ֖ן בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר פָּארָֽן׃ (יג) וַיִּסְע֖וּ בָּרִאשֹׁנָ֑ה עַל־פִּ֥י ה׳ בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃

Numbers 10:1-13

(1) ה׳ spoke to Moses, saying: (2) Have two silver trumpets made; make them of hammered work. They shall serve you to summon [military bodies of] the community and to set the divisions in motion. (3) When both are blown in long blasts [tekiah], the whole company shall assemble before you at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting; (4) and if only one is blown, the chieftains, heads of Israel’s contingents, shall assemble before you. (5) But when you sound short blasts [teruah] the divisions encamped on the east shall move forward; (6) and when you sound short blasts [teruah] a second time, those encamped on the south shall move forward. Thus short blasts [teruah] shall be blown for setting them in motion, (7) while to convoke [military bodies of] the congregation you shall blow long blasts [tekiah], not short ones. (8) The trumpets shall be blown by Aaron’s sons, the priests; they shall be for you an institution for all time throughout the ages.

(9) When you are at war in your land against an aggressor who attacks you, you shall sound short blasts on the trumpets, that you may be remembered before your God ה׳ and be delivered from your enemies. (10) And on your joyous occasions—your fixed festivals and new moon days—you shall sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your sacrifices of well-being. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I, ה׳, am your God. (11)

In the second year, on the twentieth day of the second month, the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Pact (12) and the Israelites set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. The cloud came to rest in the wilderness of Paran. (13) When the march was to begin, at יהוה’s command through Moses…

Netivot Shalom on Behaalotcha: “At God’s instruction they camped and at God’s instruction they journeyed.”
We need to explain what in this passage is eternal and enduring, and what ways of God it is possible to learn from it.
Firstly, it can be said that “the day of the establishing of the tabernacle” hints at the physical tabernacle which exists within each and every individual… for this is a divine command to every Jew that one should establish within oneself a holy temple, a place for the Shechina, the immanent presence of God, to reside. …
“And on the day that the tabernacle was established, the cloud came and covered it:” demonstrating for us that for us too, as soon as we establish our personal tabernacles [within], right away trials will come upon us, as symbolized by the cloud, which represents hiddenness and the dark. ….
This parsha also hints at another aspect of our service of God. For in every person’s life there will be times of illumination and times of darkness. It’s up to us to know that the darkness as well as the light is part of God’s supernal providence, and in the dark times too we have a special role and mission and service, no less than during the light times.

Just as God covered the tabernacle with cloud, when God covers us with hiddenness and dark, the way to be in service from the midst of occlusion and darkness is not to proceed onwards. As it says in Ecclesiastes 2, “the fool walks in darkness” - that is, a fool wants to walk even when it’s dark, where the truth is it’s not really possible to make much progress in darkness. The most you can do is make sure you don’t slip. ….
At such times as you’re enwrapped in darkness, the mission is to receive the divine guidance that right now God wants you to stop, and to serve from a place of knowing you don’t know.

From Rabbi Shefa Gold: Torah Journeys on parshat Beha’alotekha
BEHA’ALOTEKHA DESCRIBES THE INNER GESTURE of “setting forth” as we continue to move through the wilderness. Our journeys are in some sense always just beginning. Wherever we stand in our lives can be perceived as the place of infinite potential, the intersection of Being and Becoming, the threshold of the beyond. From this vast potential of “here and now” we are either sent to who we are becoming or we get stuck in the traps of illusion or fear.
The blessings of Light and Sound are given to us to help us break through these obstacles and move forward on our path. The blessing of Light and the blessing of Sound can inspire us forward. They are the tools we use to release ourselves from the slavery we carry within.
The name Beha’alotekha refers to the “lighting” of the menorah, the golden candelabra in the Mishkan. This is the fire that lights our way forward. The gold of the sun is awakened in us through the service of the menorah.
The silver trumpet is a priestly instrument. The silver of the moon is awakened in us through the service of the trumpet. Its tones serve two purposes: first to call us to our center, and then to send us on our journey.
We journey by stages. When we are ready to move to the next stage of our journey we must open ourselves to the call of the silver trumpets. Their sounding will help to gather us — giving us access to both inner and outer resources. And their sounding will reveal the obstacles before us — clearing the way forward and sending us newly inspired to our destiny.
WE EMBARK UPON THIS JOURNEY of purification without knowing how far or how long it will be. Obstacles arise in the form of resistance. Resistance arises in the form of cravings, doubts, weariness, restlessness, or aversion.
I used to think, “If only I didn’t have such resistance I could really do my spiritual work.” Then I realized that recognizing and confronting resistance IS my spiritual work. The very obstacles that arise to block my way home serve to show me the face of my own enslavement. Looking into that face I will know where my work lies. The face of resistance always wears a mask. It masquerades as THE TRUTH. My work is in unmasking resistance and freeing myself from its compelling power so that as I stand at the crossroads of this moment, I can choose my path in conscious, loving clarity.
GUIDANCE FOR PRACTICE
The more you can recognize the voice of your resistance, the less you will find yourself at its mercy. Once identified, it loses the power to call itself THE TRUTH. And you can then begin to call on the blessing of Light and the blessing of Sound in clearing the way, gathering your attention and setting forth on the path that is before you.

Resistance Meditation
IDENTIFY A VOICE OR FORCE OF RESISTANCE. It may be disguised as sleepiness, restlessness, craving, aversion, or doubt. You might recognize yourself in the complaining and rebelliousness of our ancestors. Unmask those voices with great compassion.
CLOSE YOUR EYES and light the golden menorah inside you. Imagine its light shining forward dissolving all obstacles, melting all resistance and renewing your resolve.
FIND THE TWO SILVER TRUMPETS and let the priest or priestess within you blow them with enough force and beauty to energize, calm, and inspire your way forward.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0Kzh1D98KRGIlxsjFVHNjB?si=DB25uhmVTOyDGDPnXJxVCQ

Elana Brody- B’Shem Hashem