Behalothecha: Surprise

 Behalothecha: Surprise

The parsha has a long name: בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙,  Behalothecha, 6 letters .  The word can be translated as: When you ascend.  The root part of the word,עֲלֹֽ,  al(h), rise up,  is the middle two letters. There is a pictographic element: לֹֽ lamed, is the longest letter, extending above the others, conveying the idea of up. The ayin, עֲ, can be seen as a ladder. 

The word ends with thecha, תְךָ֙, translated as "you."  It really means "your", it is a possessive. The thof ,תְ, adds to the particularity of the ascent.  The translation would not  be be changed if it were  omitted. Without the thof the translation would be, "when  your ascent [is made]" The thof implies that the ascent was instituted for  the you. 

Rashi  quotes the Midrash Tanchuma interpreting the placement of these instructions to Aaron about lighting the menorah (candelabra) immediately after the 12 tribal gifts that end the previous parsha. Aaron, disturbed by the absence of an offering by the tribe of Levi, is reassured by the statement of an ongoing duty, a daily rededication.  The very special possessive quality of the word,  בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙,  Behalothecha, supports this interpretation. 

The second letter in the word, הַ, hay, is translated: "the."  I consider it a nearly mathematical symbol, a uniqueness modifier. (∃_{=1  or} ∃! ).  It changes the applicability  of a word from the (default) "a" to the specific "the" Now the translation becomes: "When the (unique) ascent that is yours (alone) is made."

The first letter, בְּ, the beth, implies assumption. The act is, as if, already performed, we are in the midst of it, inside it . This is also a pictograph. 

This interpretation introduces the multiple veiled issues in the parsha. The issues that surround the relationship between Gd and the people, between leaders and followers, are explored. 

The first journey from Mt Sinai to Paran is described in great detail. The cloud lifted, the trumpet blasts were sounded as prescribed to coordinate the movements of the tribes in the camp. The parts of the Tabernacle were embedded within the caravan. After this, Moshe offers his father in law, now called Hovav a position in the nation: 

וְהָיִ֥יתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְעֵינָֽיִם׃,  you will be our eyes.

Who needs these eyes when Gd is the guide? 

Immediately after this offer to the Midianite, seasoned desert pathfinder, we are told:

And they set forward from the mount of the LORD three days' journey; and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them three days' journey, to seek out a resting-place for them

This sentence eliminates any ambiguity.  It seems that Hovav was offered a job already taken by a higher authority. 

The fate of the world is controlled by Gd. We feel like we have free will. Is it only the details that are in our hands? 

The  parsha contains the complex story of the slav ( quail). The people express sad disappointment with their diet of manna. The complaints exasperate Gd and Moshe.  Moshe becomes severely depressed. 

וְאִם־כָּ֣כָה ׀ אַתְּ־עֹ֣שֶׂה לִּ֗י הׇרְגֵ֤נִי נָא֙ הָרֹ֔ג אִם־מָצָ֥אתִי חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ וְאַל־אֶרְאֶ֖ה בְּרָעָתִֽי׃ {פ}
If You would deal thus with me, kill me rather, I beg You, and let me see no more of my wretchedness!”

Shared responsibility  is the solution.  A council of 70 elders will ease the burden? 

This short passage is very important. Recovery from depression is possible. Depression, even suicidality,  is not a disqualification. 

The council means that there are now 75 prophets, 75 interpretations of the right path.  The hierarchy is re-established at the close of the parsha when Arron and Miriam makes their claims to prophecy  and the primacy  of Moshe is established. 

Gd  offers to feed the huge nation that is wandering in the parched desert meat for a month. This is an offer that violates Moshe's understanding of the world.  It violates his science.  But Moshe' role will force him to represent this impossibility.  He cannot fathom the details. The solution, the mounds of (toxic) quail are not the expected, but the promise is, indeed, fulfilled. 

We are all in the midst of our private ascents.  Do important things and do them well. Surprise, it may turn out better than you dreamed. 

(Surprise was the first word I learned to read by sounding  out)