This week’s parsha discusses how every shevet brought the same korban on the day the Mishkan was dedicated. It seems repetitive for each shevet to bring the same korban. Why not have one korban to represent everyone? Commentators explain that while each offering was the same, every shevet had a different intention in mind. Every shevet had its own mission and purpose as part of Klal Yisrael. The Torah tells us (Bamidbar 2:2) that every person in Klal Yisroel was with his family and had his flag as a sign. Rashi says that each flag had its own color and every flag was different. What is the significance of the flag? The Medrash Rabbah on this pasuk explains that when Hashem came to Har Sinai, 22,000 malachim came with Him and each malach had his own flag. When Bnei Yisrael saw the flags, they felt a desire for them and asked Moshe if they could have their own. When Moshe asked Hashem if it was possible, Hashem responded that He would give each shevet its own flag.
The Medrash in Shir Hashirim (Perek 6) expands on this idea and says that the other nations came to Klal Yisrael and said we should join them. They promised us power, honor, wealth, and fame – whatever we desire as long as we embrace their religion. Klal Yisrael responded, “Do you think a nation that had flags in the desert will be willing to come to your religion? No matter what you offer us it is worthless compared to the flags we had.” What type of answer is this – because long ago we had flags, therefore your offers are empty and meaningless? What is also puzzling is why Moshe had to go to Hashem to ask for a flag. Moshe couldn’t have decided to give the shevet of Yehuda a flag with a lion on it? He needed to ask Hashem’s permission?
Rav Yeruchem Levovitz, zt”l gave an eye-opening answer. Why does every nation have its own flag? A flag represents the essence of what the nation stands for. When each nation picked its symbol, it was not about what would catch the eye; it was about what the nation stood for.
What does it mean that the malachim were holding flags when the Torah was given? They are not physical entities. When Hashem gave us the Torah every malach had a clear understanding of what his responsibility was and how to fulfill his destiny.
We are all searching for happiness and true happiness only comes when one’s essence is fulfilled and there is a sense of meaning in all that one does. Klal Yisrael wanted to understand their essence and mission so they could be content and happy. When Moshe heard what the Jews wanted, he told them this is something only Hashem can give you. This explains the Medrash in Shir Hashirim as well.
What if someone would come to you and offer you everything that is desirable in this world, but with one condition: you have to give up your essence. You cannot think for yourself or have ideas and thoughts; your life has to be run by what he thinks and if you ever have a feeling of emptiness and lack of meaning, you have to ignore it and do what he says. Such an offer does not seem so inviting anymore. When the nations of the world came to Klal Yisrael and offered them wealth, power, honor and fame, it was with one condition: you can’t live your essence. You live as our religion says and you can’t ask questions or have opinions. Such an offering was worthless to Klal Yisrael. And so they responded, “We had flags which allowed us to live happy and content, to actualize our essence and have core values that inspire us and give us meaning every day. We should give up on that, to have money and fame along with a life of emptiness and unhappiness? No, thank you!”