2021/5781
In this week's Parashah, Parashat BeShalach, as the Jewish people are leaving Mitzrayim, Hashem provides them with a pillar of clouds and a pillar of fire to protect and guide them. When we entered the land of Israel, these pillars no longer guided us. The Torah alone was our guide. By analyzing the purpose of the clouds and the fire, we can better understand the function of the Torah as our guide and how it impacts and affects our lives.
While in BeShalach, the Torah talks about the pillars of cloud and fire, in the beginning of Sefer Yehoshua, Hashem encourages Yehoshua right before going into Eretz Yisrael, and He tells him to always follow the Torah. Though these two sections seem unrelated, there is a linguistic parallel between them hinting at a meaningful connection.
There is a similar phrase that appears in both BeShalach and Yehoshua: “Lo Yamish/Lo Yamush,” “It will not leave” (Shemot 13:22, Yehoshua 1:8). In addition, the phrase “Yomam VaLaylah,” “Day and night,” appears in both places. What is the meaning of this connection?
In BeShalach, the Torah teaches that a pillar of cloud would lead Bnei Yisrael during the day, and a pillar of fire would light up their path at night. The Pesukim also tell us that the cloud never left during the day and the fire never left at night. In this way, Hashem was with them at every moment.
Two functions of the cloud/fire emerge:
1. To lead Bnei Yisrael
2. To continuously be at the side of Bnei Yisrael, day and night
These two pillars accompany Bnei Yisrael from the time they leave Mitzrayim until the end of the forty years in the Midbar, right before they enter the land of Israel.
The Torah ends with Moshe’s death and Bnei Yisrael positioned to cross the Yarden and enter the land. This is the point where Sefer Yehoshua begins. Hashem talks to Yehoshua and tells him to be confident. He repeats “Chazak Ve’Ematz,” “Be strong and firm” (Yehoshua 1:6, 7, 9) three times and says He will be with him just as He was with Moshe. Yehoshua is very aware that big changes are happening and will continue to happen once they cross the Yarden. First, Moshe has just died and all the responsibility of leading Bnei Yisrael was placed on him. Second, in just a few days he will begin conquering the land of Israel, fighting many wars and battles. Finally, once they get into Israel, the guidance, protection, and help from Hashem will be less apparent. They will no longer have their food fall from the sky or miraculous wells of water follow them wherever they go. They will no longer have the pillar of cloud to lead them in the right direction or the pillar of fire to light the way ahead. Also, the comfort provided by the cloud and fire by always being present, showing that Hashem is always with them, will now be gone. Even though there is no doubt that Hashem will be with them every step of the way, Bnei Yisrael won’t have a clear way to see this.
However, Hashem does not let Bnei Yisrael feel alone and helpless. He replaces the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire with something else, something that will be with them forever.
Hashem tells Yehoshua: “Lo Yamush Sefer HaTorah HaZeh MiPicha ViHagita Bo Yomam VaLaylah,” “Do not let this Sefer Torah leave your lips, recite it day and night” (Yehoshua 1:8). The Torah replaces the function of the pillars. The Torah is what will be with them and lead them for the rest of their lives. Just as they were led and protected in the desert by the pillars, the Torah will now lead and protect them in the Land of Israel.
The two jobs that the pillars of cloud and fire performed in the desert are now performed by the Torah.
To lead Bnei Yisrael
To continuously be at the side of Bnei Yisrael, day and night
The Torah is designated to lead Bnei Yisrael when Yehoshua is told not to turn off the path of Torah “Al TaSur Mimenu Yamin USmol,” “Do not deviate from it to the right or to the left;” (Yehoshua 1:7) but always follow where it leads.
With regard to the second function, being present at all times, the pesukim in Sefer Yehoshua describe the job of the Torah using almost the exact same phrases that describe the pillars in Shemot: “Lo Yamush Sefer HaTorah HaZeh MiPicha ViHagita Bo Yomam VaLaylah,” “The Torah should never leave your mouth, rather you should recite it day and night” (1:8).
However, there is a subtle difference between Shemot and Yehoshua. A great privilege was given to Bnei Yisrael when it came to the cloud and fire. Hashem gave protection and guidance without asking much from Bnei Yisrael. The Torah writes how the pillars led and lit the way and the cloud and fire never left Bnei Yisrael. However, with regard to the Torah, the responsibility is placed on Bnei Yisrael—they are commanded to never leave the Torah, but rather, to be involved with it day and night. This means they must actively make sure the Torah is with them all the time. They are told not to veer from the direction of the Torah. Bnei Yisrael has to toil to achieve and gain this guidance. Only then will they be successful and protected. Coming out of Mitzrayim, Bnei Yisrael was just starting out as a nation and still had a slave mentality. They were used to being told what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. This is why Hashem needed to guide them in the desert with something physical showing them where to travel and when to travel. But when crossing into Israel, Bnei Yisrael becomes more independent.
During the forty years Bnei Yisrael traveled in the Midbar, they followed the cloud and fire “Al Pi Hashem Yis’u... Vi’Al Pi Hashem YaChanu,” “They traveled by the word of Hashem and camped by the word of Hashem” (BeMidbar 9:18). They didn’t doubt whether or not they were going in the right direction because they were told/shown exactly which path was the correct one. When entering into Israel, Bnei Yisrael had to take the responsibility upon themselves to make sure they followed the correct path. The Torah writes: “Lo Yamush Sefer HaTorah HaZeh MiPicha,” “The Torah should never leave your mouth” (Yehoshua 1:8). In Israel, the way to follow the right path is by keeping the Torah in their mouths. By learning it and following it, they are able to know the proper direction to go in. Just as Bnei Yisrael kept to the word of Hashem by following the pillars: “ Et MiShmeret Hashem Shamaru,” “They guarded the ordinances of Hashem” (BeMidbar 9:23), Hashem now tells them they should do the same with the Torah: “Lima’an TiShmor La’Asot KiChol HaKatuv Bo,” “So that you observe all that is written init faithfully” (Yehoshua 1:8) .
Hopefully, Bnei Yisrael understand the lessons of the pillars of cloud and fire and always keep the Torah close and follow in its direction: “Ki Az Tatzli’ach Et Dirachecha Vi’Az TaSkil” “Because then you will prosper in your undertakings and be successful” (ibid.).