In this Torah portion – Beha’alotkha, we encounter the two reversed nuns just before and after the section: “And it was when the holy Ark began to advance that Moshe said…” (BaMidbar 10:35).
Now, let’s explore the famous question: Why are there two nuns in this section, and why are they reversed?
According to the Baal Haturim, the nun is reversed to indicate that “Vayehi Binsoa Ha’Aron” does not belong in its current place. It should have been positioned 50 (the numerical value of nun) sections earlier, in the parshah of Bamidbar. This makes sense when considering the context and flow of the narrative. The reversed nun serves as a symbol, indicating that this portion is out of order.
The Gemara in Shabbos (pages 115b-116a) presents two opinions as to why this section is placed in this weeks Parshah. Rashi cites the first opinion, which appears in the Chumash itself. It suggests that the nuns represent separation between two calamities. Before the verse “Vayehi Binsoa Ha’Aron,” the Torah describes the Jewish people leaving Mount Sinai. After spending nearly a year there, they were eager to depart quickly, as a child who can’t wait to leave school. This impatience is seen as a form of punishment, as they should have cherished their time learning Torah at Mount Sinai.
The second explanation, presented by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, states that the reversed nun serves a different purpose. The Torah has not only five books, but seven. In this case, the nuns in the section “Vayehi Binsoa Ha’Aron” indicate that it is a separate book within the Book of Numbers. Thus, from the beginning of the Book of Numbers until “Vayehi Binsoa Ha’Aron” is one book, “Vayehi Binsoa Ha’Aron” is the second book, and after “Vayehi Binsoa Ha’Aron” extending until the end of the Book of Numbers is the third book. This arrangement results in a total of 7 books.
Now, let’s consider an interesting insight from the Maharshah. He explains the significance of the letter nun and its reversed form.
Since the letter Nun represents the word for a downfall – Nefilah (which begins with the letter nun) – it is specifically this letter which separates the calamities, as it indicates the downfall resulted from the calamities. This applies to the Gemara’s first opinion.
According to the second opinion of the Gemara, the letter nun connotes something very high and lofty – the 50th Gate (numerically equal to nun) which represents the holiness of the first, broken tablets which were placed in the holy Ark.
Thus the letter nun applies to both “opposite” interpretations.
In order to connect to the Keter, which is the gateway to perceiving the Infinite Light of Hashem, a person must accept setbacks, obstacles and long waiting periods
In Likutey Moharan lesson 24 Rebbe Nachman explores and opens up the concept of the Keter – the spiritual level which is a separation between the Infinite Light of Hashem and the Creation.
This separation/barrier is purposely set up to “bounce back” and prevent anyone from pursuing forward in pursuit of internalizing the Infinite Light of Hashem.
But it is specifically this bounce back that enables a person to build “spiritual” vessels and allow him to perceive in a passing mode the Infinite Light.
In our context the 50th Level is called in Kabbalistic literature as the Keter – the Crown. With its nature of pushing back a person it also reflects this simple representation of the letter nun which is to push back a person thus creating a type of “downfall”.
This comes to show that both interpretations of the Gemara are really connected.
The separation of the sections before and after come to separate the calamities specifically because that is the only way to receive the light of future advancement.
The Jews spent almost a year at Mount Sinai learning Torah as a preparation and prerequisite for their experience and Torah performance in the Holy Land. As this was considered entering a higher level which would draw from Hashem’s Infinite Light, the only way to be ready for this experience would be to first “push back” the Jews.
This is also the second interpretation of the nuns which is the Keter – the 50th Level, since the only to connect and tap into the Infinite Light (represented in the tablets found in the holy Ark) is by first being pushed back and building up vessels for the experience.
Thus both explanations presented earlier by the Maharsha work hand-in-hand.
In conclusion, the reversed nuns show a person that in order to connect to the Keter which is the gateway to perceiving the Infinite Light of Hashem, a person must accept the setbacks, obstacles and long waiting periods before he is actually allowed to enter.
Shabbat Shalom!
