Parashat HaShavua - Bamidbar
In what different ways does the Torah define the chronicle of our enduring impact – our legacy – in the world? Looking back at Bereshit, we see three different models, to which this week’s reading adds a fourth. The peshat, or most straightforward, meaning offered in the Torah is not surprisingly the legacy of children.“This is the book of the chronicles (toldot) of Adam / זֶ֣ה סֵ֔פֶר תּֽוֹלְדֹ֖ת אָדָ֑ם,” (Gen. 5:1), after which the Torah tells us the names of some of his children and their descendants. This meaning is easily derived from the word toldot/תּוֹלְדֹת because of its relation to the Hebrew word for birth.
For Noach, however, the meaning changes: “These are the chronicles (toldot) of Noach; “Noach was a righteous man perfect in his generations; Noach walked with God / אֵ֚לֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ” (Gen. 6:9) For Noach, the focus is first on his character and values, his partnership with God. Only after that does the Torah revert to the more straightforward meaning of descendants, listing the names of his three sons.
The Torah shifts the meaning of toldot/תּוֹלְדֹת yet again for Yitzchak: “These are the chronicles (toldot) of Yitzchak the son of Avraham; Avraham had Yitzchak / וְאֵ֛לֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹ֥ת יִצְחָ֖ק בֶּן־אַבְרָהָ֑ם אַבְרָהָ֖ם הוֹלִ֥יד אֶת־יִצְחָֽק” (Gen. 25:19) What is the enduring impact and legacy for Yitzchak? That he was the child of Avraham. This is not surprising considering the significance of Avraham, and still less than ideal from the perspective of any child – and hopefully most parents as well – who wish for children to form their own identities and have their own impact!
This week is Bamidbar we encounter another understanding of toldot/תּוֹלְדֹת in relation to Aharon and Moshe: “These are the chronicles (toldot) of Aharon and Moshe, on the day the Lord spoke to Moshe at Mount Sinai; these are the names of the sons of Aharon: Nadav, the firstborn Avihu, Eleazar, and Itamar / וְאֵ֛לֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹ֥ת אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן וּמשֶׁ֑ה בְּי֗וֹם דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָֹ֛ה אֶת־משֶׁ֖ה בְּהַ֥ר סִינָֽי. וְאֵ֛לֶּה שְׁמ֥וֹת בְּנֵי־אַֽהֲרֹ֖ן הַבְּכֹ֣ר נָדָ֑ב וַֽאֲבִיה֕וּא אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאִֽיתָמָֽר (Nu. 3:1-2) On the one hand, we see here the peshat - straightforward - meaning of the word toldot, descendants, in reference to Aharon. But what about Moshe?
Several answers are offered to this question, which deepen our understanding of how the Torah views one’s lasting impact or legacy. Why were the sons of Aharon considering part and parcel with the legacy of Moshe? Rashi quotes the Talmud as saying that “they are considered descendants of Moses because he taught them Torah. This teaches us that whoever teaches Torah to another’s child, Scripture regards it as if he had begotten him / וְנִקְרְאוּ תוֹלְדוֹת מֹשֶׁה, לְפִי שֶׁלִּמְּדָן תּוֹרָה, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל הַמְלַמֵּד אֶת בֶּן חֲבֵרוֹ תּוֹרָה מַעֲלֶה עָלָיו הַכָּתוּב כְּאִלּוּ יְלָדוֹ.” (Nu. 3:1) And it is not a stretch, in my opinion, to apply this beautiful idea beyond the realm of Torah study to include all teaching and learning!
Yitzchak Raphael Etzion, in his book Yalkut Peirushim LaTorah, adds that the children of Moshe are not mentioned here as well in order to let stand alone – as a demonstration of its impact – the teaching and learning of others’ children. And he adds another profound interpretation of the idea of toldot here: Elsewhere in the Torah, Moshe had prayed on behalf of Aharon to save his children. (Deut. 9:20) Because Moshe helped them in this way, they are considered part of the legacy of Moshe.
May we all feel valued in how the Torah understands a person’s impact and lasting legacy – in children, in our deeds, devotion, origins, teaching and learning, and in helping – and in the many other meaningful ways as well.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Jack Nahmod
Middle School Judaic Studies Head
Rabbinic Advisor