1

It has been our custom during the past few years that from time to time the children of Tzivos Hashem gather for a rally. Although there are several rallies each year, nevertheless each has its own unique theme, its own "Order of the Day."

To learn today's Order of the Day we must look to the Torah (Shulchan Aruch), for the Torah illuminates and brightens everything. It will inform us of the Order of the Day for Tzivos Hashem, and for all those who are connected to Tzivos Hashem; for we find that all the Jews were called Tzivos Hashem when they left Egypt.

The Order of the Day must lead to action in the manner of "Na'aseh V'nishmah" -- "we will perform and we will hear." In Tzivos Hashem just as in every army there must be complete and absolute obedience and subjugation to authority, and only after fulfilling the assigned duty may you ask what is the meaning or reason of the action.

How do you absorb extra strength to fulfill the Order of the Day? When the children of Tzivos Hashem gather in a shul, where we pray and study Torah, this adds the ingredients of success in all aspects of the Order of the Day. And it is then done enthusiastically and joyously, as you just recited: "The Jews should rejoice in their Maker." (Tehillim 149:2)

The uniqueness of this day was emphasized by the prayer of Minchah, in which we recited "Yaaleh Veyovo" -- "may there ascend ...," for today is Rosh Chodesh Sivan. It was on this day, after the Exodus from Egypt, that the Jewish people camped in the Sinai desert, opposite Mt. Sinai, where several days later the Torah was given to the world. The Gemara says: "A triple Torah (Pentateuch, Prophets and Writings) to a triple nation (Kohanim, Levi'im, Yisroelim) in the third month." (Shabbos 88a)

The Torah describes it this way:

In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, on the first of the month, they came to the desert of Sinai ... Israel camped (Vayichan) opposite the mountain." (Shemos 19:1-2)

We emphasize that the word "Vayichan" is singular, indicating that they camped as "One person with one intention." Their coming to receive the Torah was prefaced by their attitude of Ahavas Yisroel and Jewish unity; they were all of one mind. Our Order of the Day is therefore to prepare for receiving the Torah again, with unity and Ahavas Yisroel.

There is a special significance in this Tzivos Hashem rally for children. Our sages tell us in the Midrash, that G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people because of the children. When G-d asked for guarantors for the Torah the Jews said, "Our children will guarantee for us," meaning that the parents will educate their children to accept and fulfill Torah and mitzvos, first doing and then asking for explanation (Na'aseh V'nishmah). It was in this merit that we were given the Torah.

As every year, Jewish children take strength from Mattan Torah of the previous years to prepare for Mattan Torah this year. Jewish children join together with one intention and resolve to increase Torah study and mitzvah observance before the season of receiving the Torah; all this with renewed enthusiasm and joy. Knowing that:

"G-d stands over him, and the whole earth is full of His glory and He searches his mind and heart to see if he is serving Him as is fitting,"

(Tanya Ch. 41)

he will be very careful in his preparation for Mattan Torah because G-d wants to know how Jewish children are preparing to receive the Torah.

When the Holy One, Blessed be He, sees that we are happily preparing for Mattan Torah, then He also prepares to give us the Torah with joy. For G-d rejoices in His creations, especially the Jewish people and the children in whose merit the Torah was given.

May G-d grant that the revelation of Torah should spread throughout the whole year and make it a Torah year, which will increase G-d's blessings to us. As we read this past week: "If you follow My laws and are careful to keep My commandments," the Torah goes on to promise us many blessings till the ultimate promise: "[and I will] lead you forth with your heads held high." For we will march tall and proud to greet our righteous Moshiach. "With our youth and with our elders, ... our sons and daughters," this will be true national unity.

And you will take along all your medals and honor certificates for Torah study -- the complete Torah -- and all Jews together will go to our Holy Land -- the complete land.

May the true and complete redemption come, through our righteous Moshiach, speedily and with joy and gladness.

2

The Order of the Day is drawn from the day of the month, the day of the week and the Torah portion of that day.

What do we learn from the third day of the week? The special quality of Tuesday is that it received a double measure of "... it was good," which the Gemara calls: "Good for heaven and good for creations." This theme of Tuesday fits very well with the content of Rosh Chodesh Sivan, when the Jews camped, "As one person with one intention." "Good for heaven" means to be devoted to Torah and mitzvos. "Good for creations" means to be concerned about a fellow Jew, and to encourage him to also follow Torah and mitzvos, which is the idea of Ahavas Yisroel and unity of the Jewish people.

In today's reading portion in Bemidbar we learn of the four "flags," or divisions of the Jews, as they camped around the Sanctuary and travelled in the desert. Although the Jewish people were divided into several "camps," they were unified by the central point, the Sanctuary, in which was the Holy Ark holding the Tablets of the Decalogue. This is similar to the unity of the Jewish people when they camped around Mt. Sinai.

There is another lesson which we learn from the system of encampment of the Jewish people. The Sanctuary was in the middle, and the people camped all around. This showed that the Jews had the responsibility to protect and safeguard the Tabernacle, the Ark and Tablets of stone so that nothing should happen to them.

Of course the House of G-d does not need the protection of the people, but G-d wanted to give us the merit of additional service. Therefore He commanded us to surround the Mishkan and to watch it so that no harm should occur.

This teaches us how a Jew must protect the spiritual Torah and Mishkan which is in his heart. The Torah says, "Build a Mishkan and I will dwell in them," meaning in every Jew. And, just as G-d dwells in his heart-Sanctuary, so too G-d will dwell in his home-Sanctuary, a house permeated with Yiddishkeit which has G-d's blessing in body and spirit.

Being that this order and system of surrounding the Mishkan applied not only when they camped but also when they travelled, we understood that the Jews' role to guard and protect the Torah applies at all times, under all conditions, even when they are "travelling" in the golus. Their job is to protect the Torah, the spiritual Tabernacle, to make a Jewish home, and to educate their children in the spirit of Torah and mitzvos.

And now that summer is approaching, this includes also the reminder to send their children to summer camps which are conducted with the spirit of Torah, camps where the Holy One, Blessed be He, can rest His Shechinah!

When we travel in such a way we will merit to cross the "desert" of the exile and arrive in the settled land -- through our righteous Moshiach.

When we combine all of these thoughts: the lessons of Rosh Chodesh Sivan and Tuesday and the third part of Bemidbar, we find that all Jews must unite to increase all aspects of Torah and Yiddishkeit. They must camp with the unity of one person and one mind facing the mountain on which the Torah was given. And they must be united to guard and protect the Torah at all times, under all circumstances, and to combine the good for Heaven with the good for the creations.

This will lead to the conclusion of our journey through the desert, hale and healthy -- for G-d actually protects us, just as the clouds of glory protected the Jews in the desert.

And then the "great congregation" will leave the diaspora and enter the Holy Land, led by our righteous Moshiach, speedily and truly in our days, with happiness and happy hearts.

3

Today's mitzvah in Sefer Hamitzvos says:

... We are forbidden to journey on the Shabbos. It is contained in His words: "Let no man go out of his place on the seventh day."

(Neg. Comm. 321)

In our Divine service, this means that a Jew must always remember that his place is in the "Jewish Camp," whose center is the Sanctuary and which is surrounded and protected by the clouds of glory. At all times and in all conditions a Jew must not leave his Yiddishkeit, Torah and mitzvos.

Now, although this prohibition of travel is stated regarding Shabbos, nevertheless a Jew is filled with the spirit of Shabbos all week and as he says every morning:

I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored My soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.

He knows that G-d returned his soul fresh and new to him, and "G-d stands over him ... and searches his mind and heart to see if he is serving Him as is fitting." (Tanya ch. 41)

During the day he prays and studies and goes about his business according to the rules of Torah. And even when he meets a non-Jew he still stands in a state of holiness for he is filled with Torah, mitzvos and Yiddishkeit.

Following the admonition not to go out of our places will speed up the time when we will truly be in our own place, Eretz Yisroel. As we say in the daily prayers, "... for we hope for Your salvation every day," and we repeat this at every prayer, morning, afternoon and night!

When G-d will see how much we want the salvation -- as you just sang "We Want Moshiach Now" -- then G-d will speedily bring our righteous Moshiach to take each one of us out of golus, to redemption, together with all the nation of Israel.

I will close by distributing three dimes for each of you: One is for Tzedakah, the second is for something connected to Torah, such as books, or charity for poor scholars, or for a yeshivah or cheder. The third you may use for whatever you wish. We will also conclude with a joyous song.

And very speedily may we merit to sit in the third Bais Hamikdosh on the Temple Mount in Yerushalayim the Holy City, the capital city of the Holy Land. This will be after the Holy One, Blessed be He, will gather all the Jews, as one person, through the true and complete redemption, by our righteous Moshiach with joy and gladness.