The passage focuses on a seemingly redundant verse, Bamidbar (Numbers) 9:4: "And Moses spoke to the children of Israel to offer the Pesach" – the Passover sacrifice. The text immediately asks, "Why is this stated?" After all, it's already written elsewhere (Vayikra/Leviticus 23:44) that "Moses declared the festivals of the L-rd to the children of Israel." So, what's the point of repeating this?
Sifrei Bamidbar offers a few intriguing answers. The first is about timing. The verse is there to emphasize the importance of keeping the Pesach, and by extension all the festivals, “in its appointed time," as Deuteronomy 16:1 tells us. The idea is to ensure that the entire cycle of festivals remains connected to its proper season. It’s a reminder that these observances aren’t just random dates on a calendar; they're tied to the natural world and the agricultural cycles of the ancient Israelites.
But there's more.
Another interpretation suggests something even more profound about the transmission of tradition. It says that this verse teaches us that Moses heard all the laws and details of the festivals at Mount Sinai, related them to the people of Israel, and then repeated them right before they were actually performed. It wasn’t enough to just hear the laws once. Moses made sure everyone understood and remembered them by going over them again before each holiday.
And finally, here's the kicker, the interpretation that gives us insight into a tradition that continues to this day. The text says that Moses told them the halachoth – the specific laws and customs – of Pesach before Pesach, the halachoth of Shavuoth before Shavuoth, and the halachoth of Succoth before Succoth. This, according to Sifrei Bamidbar, is the origin of a beautiful custom: "Moses instituted for Israel that they ask and expound re the festival (preceding the festival)."
In other words, Moses established the practice of studying and discussing the laws and meaning of each festival in the days and weeks leading up to it. This is why, even today, we delve into the intricacies of the seder plate before Passover, explore the themes of revelation and law-giving before Shavuot, and contemplate the fragility and impermanence of life before Sukkot.
So, the next time you find yourself preparing for a Jewish holiday, whether it's learning new recipes, studying ancient texts, or simply discussing the meaning of the holiday with family and friends, remember this little verse from Numbers. Remember that you're participating in a tradition that stretches back to Moses himself, a tradition of asking, expounding, and preparing our hearts and minds to fully experience the richness and depth of each festival. And isn't that a powerful thought?