NUM2 (Continued from [[GEN502]] Genesis 4:9 where WAGS 118-120). The verse, "And He called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him" [this verse] also illustrates this principle. Why did Hashem first call Moshe and afterwards speak to him? The Torah teaches derech eretz: one must not say something to another person unless he first calls to him (Midrash). This rule appears explicitly in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De'ah 246:12): A Rabbi should not be asked questions upon his entering the beis midrash; one may only approach him after he is settled down. The Talmud teachers, "One must first give praises to Hashem, and afterwards he may pray" (Berachos 32a). This idea can also be applied to interpersonal relationships--before making requests of another person, one should first praise him.

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NUM3 In the desert the Jews also remained together by families. When the Jews were counted as a people, they were counted by families [this verse]. Even after the forty years in the desert, the distribution of the Holy Land, which would mark the permanent status of the people, was apportioned by family (Numbers 33:54). Thus, the concept of the centrality of the Jewish family was firmly established then and would continue to be throughout Jewish history. Even today, when Jewish tradition wishes to perpetuate the story of the redemption, it must be accomplished in the family setting. Just as that first "seder" in Egypt was held in the family setting, so, too, it is no mere custom today that the Passover seder is conducted by families. The family is an integral part of the ceremony, as the Talmud (Pesachim 108b) lists numerous devices to keep the children awake and participating in the seder experience. There are even sections of the Haggadah that were specifically set up just so that the children would ask questions, in order that they participate and be part of the experience [Pesachim 114b, which shows that the purpose of instituting the Karpas and its dipping, the third step in the seder process, was specifically designed to get children to be curious and encourage them to participate].

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NUM4 [Continued from [[EXOD143]] Exodus 12:3 household AMJV 194]. Even after the Jews left Egypt, the family unit was still paramount in building the nation. When God counted the Jewish people in the desert, they had to be counted by Moses as families [this verse]. But why was it so crucial to building the Jewish nation and religion that the family unit had to be so together? Why is this togetherness an essential element of Judaism? It is clear that in order for the Jewish people to survive and thrive, every Jew had to think of every other Jew as a member of his or her family. Just as any family member would do almost anything to help any other family member, every Jew was tied to every other Jew in the same way [Shavuot 39a; Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpat 87:20].

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NUM5 A minor does not have true understanding in the moral sphere (Yoma 43a). A minor has no true moral intention (Chullin 13a). The father traditionally recites a blessing at the time of bar mitzvah, Baruch Sheptarani Mei'onsho Shel Zeh, Blessed be God who has freed me from the punishment of this boy. Since, before the age of thirteen, a child cannot be held responsible for his or her moral choices, the parent must accept the responsibility. After the age of thirteen, the child is held responsible Jewishly for all moral choices. It should be noted that in other areas, Judaism recognizes that a thirteen-year-old boy and twelve-year-old girl are not truly adults, as reflected in the numerous Jewish laws where a Jewish boy and girl may not be considered an adult until much later. For example, although legal in the Jewish sense to marry and work for a living after bar mitzvah, the same mishnah that declares thirteen the age of mitzvot declares the ideal of marriage to be at eighteen and pursuit of a livelihood at twenty years of age (Avot 5:25). The Torah [this verse] declares the age of twenty to be the minimum age of a Jewish soldier. It is interesting to note that in the last few years in Western countries, while the ages of voting, joining the Army, and drinking remain between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, the age at which a person can be tried for crimes such as murder has been lowered in many places to ages twelve, thirteen, and fourteen. Therefore, even Western society has come to recognize that in the moral sphere, a child this age can recognize the difference between right and wrong.

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NUM6 See [[LEV1062]] Leviticus 25:36 interest OXFORD 46

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NUM7 It was taught: R. Shmuel b. Nachmani said in the name of R. Yonathan: If one teaches his friend's son Torah, it is as if he had begotten him; for it is written; "And these are the generations of Aaron and Moses," followed by (3): "These are the names of the sons of Aaron"--To teach that Aaron begot them and Moses taught them, for which reason they are called by his [Moses'] name (Sanhedrin 19b)

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NUM8 It is a very great mitzvah to teach people Torah. Rashi quotes the Talmud (Sanhedrin 19b) that although the verse states that "These are the generations of Aharon and Moshe," only Aharon's sons are listed. This teaches us that whoever teaches his neighbor's son Torah, as did Moshe (see Eruvin 54b), is considered as if he has given birth to him. The Chofetz Chayim cites this principle and writes that it is a very great mitzvah to teach Torah to people who would not learn it otherwise. He also cites the Tana D'vai Eliyahu (ch. 27): "If you see a person who has not studied Torah, bring him to your house, and teach him to recite Shma Yisroel and Shmoneh Esrai, teach him a verse or a law everyday, and encourage him to fulfill the Commandments, for there is no person as naked as he who does not possess Torah and the merit of fulfilling the Commandments." We our obligated to clothe the needy. All the more so are we obligated to supply spiritual clothing for those who lack it. (Ahavas Chesed 3:7). The school of Hillel taught: "A person should teach Torah to everybody. For there have been many sinners who were taught Torah, and their descendants were righteous and pious." That is, not only were they themselves transformed, but their children and children's children were also righteous. (Avos D'Reb Noson 2:9 and Binyan Yehoshua, ibid.)

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NUM9 It was taught: Abba Chanan says in the name of R. Elazar: All who do not beget children deserve to die, as is written:" and Nadav and Avihu died… and they did not have sons." If they had sons, they would not have died (Yevamoth 64a)

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NUM10 The spiritually impure must be sent out from the camp of the Shechinah. Spiritual impurity weakens the power of the intelligent soul, confusing it, as men of wisdom know. Spiritual impurity constitutes a barrier between the soul and our powers of perception. In this vein, our Sages expound the verse (Vayikra 11:43) “ונטמתם בם (v’nitnaisem bam)--and you shall become spiritually impure through them.” Our Sages teach (Yoma 39b), “ונטמתם בם (v’nitamtem bam)-- and you shall become clogged up from them.” That is, the wellsprings of human intelligence become stopped up because of spiritual impurity. It is spiritual force that somehow impairs our thinking. Therefore, in the camp of the Shechinah, a pure and holy place where the Spirit of the Lord is present, the presence of someone sullied by spiritual impurity cannot be tolerated. Regarding kings of flesh and blood, as well, the palace guards chase away all lepers and others who are unsavory in their bodies or dress. Hashem in His Torah warns about this matter several times, to emphasize its seriousness, for Hashem wants only our good. Just as people warn each other repeatedly regarding any matter that is particularly dangerous and harmful, so, too, Hashem warns His people.

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NUM13 It is a positive commandment that a sinner should turn back from his sin, and should confess his mistakes before the blessed God as Scripture says, When a man or a woman commit any sin… then they shall confess their sin [this and preceding verse]. This means an avowal in words before the blessed God. He is to say, from the depths of his heart, "I beseech You Hashem: I have sinned, done wrong, and acted criminally before You. This-and-this I did (and he has to describe the scene in detail); and here I have regretted my deed and become ashamed of it. Never will I go back and do this thing again." The main element [of repentance] is remorse in the heart, in truth, over the past; and one must take it upon himself not to do such a thing ever again. This [confession] is the essential part of repentance; but the more one confesses, the more praiseworthy he is. Even death and the confession on Yom Kippur, however, bring no atonement [and forgiveness] unless they are with repentance.

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