Parashat Beha'alotcha
Question
A guten Erev Yom Tov and Erev Shabbos!
In this week’s parshah, Parshat Beha’alotcha (5786, according to the Keri'ah of Eretz Yisrael), the Torah mentions a tefillah that we recite upon opening the Aron HaKodesh
Bamidbar 10:35:
“Vayehi binso’a ha’Aron vayomer Moshe: Kumah Hashem veyafutzu oyvecha veyanusu mesanecha mipanecha.”
“And it came to pass, when the Aron traveled, that Moshe said: Arise, Hashem, and let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.”
The tefillah of “Vayehi Binso’a” was originally recited at the time of Klal Yisrael’s entry into Eretz Yisrael, when the Aron traveled ahead of the nation, in order to drive out the seven nations from the Land of Eretz Yisrael.
At that time, Moshe Rabbeinu prayed: “Kumah Hashem veyafutzu oyvecha” - “Arise, Hashem, and scatter your enemies.” Rashi explains that this refers to “the gathered ones,” those enemies who had not yet come to wage battle against Klal Yisrael, but were gathering together and devising plans to harm them. Therefore, Moshe prayed that Hashem disperse them before they could unite against the Jewish people.
The pasuk then continues: “Veyanusu mesanecha mipanecha” - “And let those who hate You flee before You.” Rashi explains that this refers to the pursuers, those already advancing to wage war against Klal Yisrael, that Hashem should cause them to flee.
On the words “mesanecha” - “those who hate You” - Rashi explains that these are the enemies of Klal Yisrael, for whoever hates the Jewish people hates the “One Who spoke and brought the world into existence”.
Answer
First, before we answer, we must first appreciate the holiness and greatness of the moment when we open the aron hakodesh in order to take out the holy sifrei torah.
The opening of the Aron HaKodesh is an exceptionally auspicious time, an eis ratzon. The holy Zohar, in the name of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, states before introducing the tefillah of “Berich Shemei”:
Zohar, Parshas Vayakhel, “Raza D’Sefer Torah,” os 224:
“Rabbi Shimon said: When the Sefer Torah is removed (from The Aron Hakodesh) in public to be read, the gates of Heavenly mercy are opened, and an awakening of love is aroused Above, and a person should then recite the following…”
Similarly, the Levush (Siman 134) writes:
“It is considered for us akin to entering into the Kodesh HaKodashim.!!”
We see from the above that when we open the Aron Hakodesh, it is a very special time for tefillah, and an eis ratzon in shamayim.
Let's return to our original question: why do we recite this particular tefillah - the tefillah recited by Moshe Rabbeinu for protection from the enemies of Klal Yisrael?
In the year 5686 (1926), at the chanukas habayis of the Yeshivah “Sfas Emes” in Yerushalayim, the Gaavad of Yerushalayim, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, was honored with addressing the gathering, and he raised this very question.
Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld explained:
Whenever we take upon ourselves to do a mitzvah, or to learn torah, then as we mentioned, it is a great eis ratzon. However, at the same time, the yetzer hara tries to stop us from doing this holy endeavor and will want to distract us or bring obstacles to make us back down from doing the mitzvah.
And that’s why, when we open the Aron HaKodesh, just before the holy ma'amad of Krias HaTorah, we say: “Kumah Hashem veyafutzu oyvecha.” 'Arise, Hashem, and let Your enemies be scattered.' We ask Hakadosh Baruch Hu to remove all the distractions, all the obstacles, and all the forces that want to stop us from succeeding in our holy endeavor.
Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld continued and said that now, at the establishment of a new yeshivah, this is undoubtedly a great moment in Shamayim, and an amazing Es Ratson. Yet because of its holiness, we need to daven that the yeshivah should succeed, and that nothing interfere with the success of the yeshivah.
Based on what we learnt above, we asked two questions to Moreinu HaGaon Harav Amrom Fried Shelittah:
1. At what exact point should “Vayehi Binso’a” and “Berich Shemei” be recited? Is it when we open the Aron Hakodesh before we actually take out the Sefer Torah? or should we wait until the Sefer Torah is being taken out?
2. Is there an inyan not to publicize or speak about a mitzvah undertaking or good deed beforehand, in order not to arouse kitrugim and impediments that could potentially stop a person from succeeding, chas v’shalom?
Harav Fried Shalita answered as follows:
Question 1:
There are different customs regarding this, whether to say it upon opening the Aron Hakodesh or upon taking out the Sefer Torah, and every place should follow its own custom.
Where there is no established custom, it should be said at the time the Torah scroll is taken out, as is implied in the Zohar (Vayakhel 206), in Sefer HaMachkim (Weekday Prayer), and in Orchot Chaim (Shabbat 56). This is also explained in Sha'arei Ephraim (Gate 10, Section 1), in his Sefer Mateh Ephraim (Chapter 619), and in the Responsa Rav Pe'alim (Vol. 3, Sod Yesharim, Chapter 8).
Those whose custom is to say it at the time the Aron Hakodesh is opened also have a valid basis for their custom; see Magen Avraham and Mishnah Berurah (Chapter 282, subsection 1), and Kaf HaChaim (Chapter 134, subsection 11).
Question 2:
It is explained in Sanhedrin (26b) that thought has an effect even regarding Torah study; therefore, it is important not to speak too much, but rather the main thing is, to do.
On behalf of the entire Sheilot team, we wish you a Shabbos Shulem Umevorach.
