In this week’s parsha, when snakes attacked Bnei Yisroel, Hashem instructed Moshe to make a copper snake and put it on a pole, and Hashem said: וְהִבִיט אֶל-נְחַש הַנְחשֶת וָּׁחָּׁי - and (a person who was bit) will look at the copper snake and live.
Ask Around Your Table: By what virtue looking at the copper snake was suppose to heal Bnei Yisroel?!
Answer: Since the snake was on a long stick, by looking at it, Bnei Yisroel were looking upwards and were inspired to realize how they should request a refuah from Hashem. Based on the Mishna (Rosh Hashana 3, 38) and its explanation of Tifferes Yisroel, Bnei Yisroel were saying, “Hashem, please send us a refuah so that we can continue serving You!” From here, says the Tifferes Yisroel, we learn a fundamental lesson: when a person needs something (refuah, parnassa, etc.), he should ask Hashem to grant it to him, because it will help him to do his avodas Hashem.
