Taanit #11: Terua and Zaaka

Review
Based upon the Seforno, we saw that the national derech in the Midbar was one of Mussar
עַל פִּי ה' יִסָעוּ.
It was not enough to remove focus from the destructive "bread alone" preoccupation through the inui of the Manna. There also had to be a positive focus, a recognition beyond mere transcending of the idea that the good life is attained by "bread alone". This positive realization of the good life being reflection upon Chochmat Hashem was manifested through
עַל פִּי ה' יִסָעוּ.
The Mussar of the Midbar was clear, supply of physical resources was instrumental to the educational development of the people. To the extent that we seek development in reflecting upon the universal Chochmat Hashem and honestly apply it to all cases, including ourselves, He aides our way. As it says in Pirkei Avot.

אבות פרק ב משנה ד

עשה רצונך כרצונו, כדי שיעשה רצונו כרצונך

We are now,finally, in the position to appreciate the function of trumpets in the Mitzva system. Why were the trumpets only needed at the point the Mitzva was given, ie the Hakamat Hamishkan? The reason, Seforno says, is because the Jews were on the verge of leaving the Midbar, to begin Kibbush Ha-aretz. As such, the educational challenge to the Jews would increase. No longer would we be relieved of the challenge of acting on a strategic plan. In the desert, we had no political say in our activity עַל פִּי ה' יִסָעוּ. Now that the time of Kibbush had come, this was all changed. The Elders would now begin consulting with Moshe, choosing strategies of entry such as spies and war plans. The realization that success depended upon Hashem would remain, but the responsibility of formulating plans to implement D'var Hashem, would fall upon the people.

This new empowerment required an instrument of Zechira, to maintain the hard won knowledge that we succeed via our plans being in harmony with Chochmat Hashem only. We must dread falling into the old fantasy of human power of being a Heroic Achilles whose vain conquests are empowered by a fantastical Zeus god-
יז וְאָמַרְתָּ, בִּלְבָבֶךָ: כֹּחִי וְעֹצֶם יָדִי, עָשָׂה לִי אֶת-הַחַיִל הַזֶּה. יח וְזָכַרְתָּ, אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ--כִּי הוּא הַנֹּתֵן לְךָ כֹּחַ, לַעֲשׂוֹת חָיִל: לְמַעַן הָקִים אֶת-בְּרִיתוֹ אֲשֶׁר-נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ, כַּיּוֹם הַזֶּה.

It is this Zechira that the trumpets facilitate. The Elders reflected upon strategies only after having been summoned Lifnei Hashem el petach ohel moed by Moshe Eved Hashem. This would cause Zikaron Lifnei Hashem.

במדבר פרק י

א וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָֹה אֶל-משֶׁה לֵּאמֹר:
ב עֲשֵׂה לְךָ שְׁתֵּי חֲצוֹצְרֹת כֶּסֶף מִקְשָׁה תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם וְהָיוּ לְךָ לְמִקְרָא הָעֵדָה וּלְמַסַּע אֶת-הַמַּחֲנוֹת:
ג וְתָקְעוּ בָּהֵן וְנוֹעֲדוּ אֵלֶיךָ כָּל-הָעֵדָה אֶל-פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד:
ד וְאִם-בְּאַחַת יִתְקָעוּ וְנוֹעֲדוּ אֵלֶיךָ הַנְּשִׂיאִים רָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל:
ה וּתְקַעְתֶּם תְּרוּעָה וְנָסְעוּ הַמַּחֲנוֹת הַחֹנִים קֵדְמָה:
ו וּתְקַעְתֶּם תְּרוּעָה שֵׁנִית וְנָסְעוּ הַמַּחֲנוֹת הַחֹנִים תֵּימָנָה תְּרוּעָה יִתְקְעוּ לְמַסְעֵיהֶם:
ז וּבְהַקְהִיל אֶת-הַקָּהָל תִּתְקְעוּ וְלֹא תָרִיעוּ:
ח וּבְנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים יִתְקְעוּ בַּחֲצֹצְרוֹת וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם:
ט וְכִי-תָבֹאוּ מִלְחָמָה בְּאַרְצְכֶם עַל-הַצַּר הַצֹּרֵר אֶתְכֶם וַהֲרֵעֹתֶם בַּחֲצֹצְרֹת וְנִזְכַּרְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְנוֹשַׁעְתֶּם מֵאֹיְבֵיכֶם:
י וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַתְכֶם וּבְמוֹעֲדֵיכֶם וּבְרָאשֵׁי חָדְשֵׁכֶם וּתְקַעְתֶּם בַּחֲצֹצְרֹת עַל עֹלֹתֵיכֶם וְעַל זִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵיכֶם וְהָיוּ לָכֶם לְזִכָּרוֹן לִפְנֵי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲנִי יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

But what of the polar opposites of Taanit and Yom Tov? This we hope to discuss in Shiur on Sunday.