BAMIDBAR, 1:1-4:20

 BAMIDBAR, 1:1-4:20,  JERUSALEM DAY 

This week we start a new Book, Bamidbar, במדבר, in the wilderness or the Book of Numbers.  It begins with a head count, military census. Males of a certain age individually step forward and are counted. Although individuals, as a totality they represent the nation. Everyone is counted and everyone counts.

The nation is comprised of 12 Tribes. Individual Tribes are encamped around the Mishkan. At the center of the Tribal encampment and its focus is the Mishkan where HaShem lives among us. Today, Israel is where HaShem dwells. I feel at home here.

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The Parshah begins at 1:2-3 with the taking of a military census of all the Tribes except for the Tribe of Levi:

“Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by families following their fathers' houses; a head count of every male according to the number of their names.

From twenty years old and upwards, all who are fit to go out to the army in Israel, you shall count them by their legions you and Aaron”.

 It is the Mishkan that unites us. Today, we no longer have a tribal identity. Jews are still a diverse lot. By way of example: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Secular, Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Litvish, Chassidic, etc. If you want to know more about Jewish movements, check out the excellent attached work by Sara Metzger. Although diverse, we are still one people, the B’Nai Yisrael.

https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:f877186c-50fb-40d4-a5f0-b84d65af1628

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The men of the Tribe of Levi, the “Levites” or the “Leveim”, לויים, were counted separately and number 22,300 from age one month and on up.

The Leviim have replaced the first born B'Nai Yisrael for service in the Mishkan.  Originally during the time of the plagues when the Egyptian first born were slain, Hashem granted the Jewish first born a special place in their service to God.  However, because they participated in the Sin of the Golden Calf, in contradistinction to the Levites, they lost their special standing.

How would it have turned out if the first born had not lost their special position?

What would have been the status of the Levites?

The Levites have the burden of carrying and protecting the Mishkan, the dwelling place of Hashem.  At Hashem’s direction, the where and the when of His choosing the B’nai Yisrael, that is us, we move on out. 

 And for those of us who have made Aliyah: Don’t think for one moment that it was you alone who decided it was time to make Aliyah.  And don’t think for one moment that there are not still amongst us, people chosen by Hashem who share the burden of carrying His Sanctuary.

The Tribe of Levi served particular religious duties for the Israelites and had political and educational responsibilities as well. In return, the landed tribes were expected to give a tithe in order to support the Levites

 The Levites, referring to those who were not Kohanim, were specifically assigned to singing and/or playing music in the Temple serving as guards and carrying the sacred vessels.

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COUNTING THE OMER

Week Six - Yesod

Adapted from Rabbi Shimon Jacobson:

This week’s Sephirah is Yesod, יְסוֹד, Bonding.

Bonding is a complete fusion between the lover and the beloved.

Without bonding no feeling can be truly realized. Bonding means connecting; not only feeling for another, but being attached to him, her and of course HaShem. Not just a token commitment, but total devotion. It creates a channel between giver and receiver. Bonding is eternal. It develops an everlasting union that lives on forever through the perpetual fruit it bears.

Bonding is the foundation of life. The emotional spine of the human psyche. Every person needs bonding to flourish and grow. Bonding is affirmation; it gives one the sense of belonging; that "I matter", "I am significant and important". It establishes trust - trust in yourself and trust in others. It instills confidence. Without bonding and nurturing we cannot realize and be ourselves.

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GETTING UP IN THE MORNING SHOWING GRATITUDE

When we first wake up in the morning the following prayer is recited:

מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקיים שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה

 רבה אמונתך

“I thank you, living and ever living king, for You have returned my soul within me with pity. Great is your faithfulness”.

Is חמלה compassion, mercy or pity? I think “pity”.

This conclusion is based on Tractate Menuchot 53b, where חמלה is found:

“I have heard your voice, and I will take pity”.

This is what Rabbi Seltzer has to say: If pity means that Hashem puts his faith in me even though I may not deserve it, then I agree.  We thank Hashem for the great gift of life and understand that He is displaying faith in us by doing so even though we may not feel like we are worthy of His faith.  That sounds more like "pity" then compassion or mercy.

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MORE GRATITUDE - JERUSALEM DAY

 Thursday, May 18, marks the beginning of Jerusalem Day.  It commemorates that in 1967 Israel gained control over the entire city as part of the Six-Day War.

Jerusalem Day is a religious holiday as is Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikoron, and Yom Ha'Atzmaut. The day is very much celebrated by Israel's Religious Zionist community with parades and additional prayers in many synagogues.

The military victory over the surrounding Arab armies is regarded as a bona-fide miracle worthy of thanksgiving.

This victory clearly affects the entire Jewish people. Israel is a place of refuge for all Jews , and serves as a source of deep Jewish pride throughout the world.

Jerusalem Day ( יום ירושלים‎) is an Israeli national holiday commemorating the reunification of Jerusalem and the establishment of Israeli control over the Old City in the aftermath of the June 1967 Six-Day War. The day is officially marked by state ceremonies and memorial services. 

Religious Zionists recite special holiday prayers including the  Hallel prayer.  Various Jewish groups follow differing practices.  Personally, I avoid praying with a group that do celebrate Jerusalem Day, considering them anti-Zionist.

In opposition to the Jerusalem Day celebration, many Muslims worldwide celebrate Al-Quds Day which falls on the last Friday of Ramadan which was the 14th of April.Al-Quds is an Arabic name for Jerusalem. 

On May 15th Muslims will celebrate their Day of Catastrophe, Nakba Day. It is in opposition to Israeli Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzmaut. Israeli independence is equivalent to Arab catastrophe.

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WHERE DOES ISRAEL STAND TODAY?

This is an excerpted Opinion Piece published by Aljazeera in 2015. The analyst, Sharif Nashashibi summed up where the Israeli government stood then.

In the years since his analysis the political parties have changed, but his message today if anything would be more bleak and very much the same B”H:

“Arguably the most right-wing, extremist government in Israel's history - and that is saying something - consists of five parties: Likud, Jewish Home, United Torah Judaism, Shas and Kulanu.

Between them, they either explicitly rule out a Palestinian state, or accept one with conditions that make the likelihood of its establishment, let alone its viability, impossible.
These conditions include:
Israel keeping East Jerusalem,
being recognized as a Jewish state,
and keeping the largest settlement blocs,
which are built on the West Bank's water aquifers and most fertile land, and hinder the territorial contiguity of a Palestinian state.

That [Palestinian] state, meanwhile, would have to be demilitarized and renounce the rights of Palestinian refugees.”

I THINK SHARIF HAS NAILED IT: ALL THIS SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD TO ME! Shavua tov.