This Shabbat begins the reading of the Hebrew word for Numbers, Bamidbar. The book of Numbers and this week’s Torah section, which begins at:
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧”ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֛ה בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר סִינַ֖י בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד
In the tent of Meeting, God spoke with Moshe in Sinai’s wilderness. (Numbers 1:)
Sinai is a wilderness.
Bamidbar is the Arabic word for wilderness. MidbarWilderness is related to m’daberWhen someone speaks. We hear God’s Voice in the wilderness. Sinai is the most obvious example. We received the Torah in an age beyond time, and we still receive it today. You may have noticed that the time and location were jumbled. Keep that in mind.
Sinai is the wilderness. Torah places this also in Sinai Ohel mo’ed. When the word mo’ed The word “apparent” is used to describe the appearance of ohelTent is usually translated Meeting. The Tent of Meeting is where the community gathers. But not alone. mo’ed The word season can be used to describe a time or place. As in the מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔”ה / mo’adei YHVH God’s fixed times, that we only…
