ויהיו בני ישראל במדבר וימצאו איש מקשש עצים ביום השבת
“When Klal Yisroel were in the wilderness, they came upon a man gathering wood on the day of Shabbos” (Bamidbar 15:32)
This week’s parsha concludes with a tragic incident in which the Jewish people found a man desecrating Shabbos by gathering wood. The Torah introduces this episode by stating that it took place when the Jews were in the midbar [wilderness], which seems unnecessary. They were in the desert during all the events recorded in Sefer Bamidbar, yet this point is only stressed here. What is its unique relevance to the sin of the wood-gatherer?
Rabbi Chaim Zvi Senter suggests that this information is included to hint to us how such a terrible sin came about. Rashi writes that this incident occurred on the second Shabbos that the Jewish people were in the desert. How could a member of that lofty generation lose his sensitivity to Shabbos so quickly? The Torah tells us that it was only possible because they were in the wilderness, where they lacked an organized daily routine. This unsettled feeling contributed to the wood-gatherer desecrating Shabbos.
Applying this insight to our own lives, Rabbi Senter notes that during the year, most people have a fixed daily schedule that helps them focus on their goals. In the summer, many of us lack the same rigorous structure. As we prepare for the summer, we should be cognizant of the lesson of the midbar and maintain a commitment to a set routine to ensure that we remain productive and do not lose the sensitivities we have worked so hard to develop throughout the year. (R’ Frand)
