PARSHAS NASO & SHAVUOT Numbers 4:21–7:89

 

PARSHAS NASO & SHAVUOT

Numbers 4:21–7:89

This Shabbat we read Parshat Naso.
Naso is the lengthiest parshah in the Torah. It has 176 verses.
Psalm 119 also has exactly 176 verses. It is the longest Psalm.
Incredibly the longest tractate of the Talmud, tractate Bava Batra has 176 pages...go figure.
Portions of the Parshah are also read during the eight days of Chanukah.

Among other things the Parshah addresses duties of the Levite families, purifying the camp, restitution for wrongs committed, the Nazirite, the Priestly Blessing, and the consecration of the Tabernacle.

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In discussing this week’s parsha, Naso, Rabbi Berel Wein writes about the importance of melody.  I have paraphrased some of his words:

The Torah tells us that the Levites had many duties in regard to the Mishkan.  The Levites were in charge of the melodious atmosphere that attended the daily service.  Each day, including the Sabbath and the holidays, there was a performance of instrumental and choir music. The Levite musical presentation was part of the glory of the Mishkan and later the Temple service and highlighted the emotional constituent of the service itself.

Listen to Psalm 104.

https://youtu.be/--UABwqW9Sg

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In this week’s parsha, at 7:89, the concluding verse has Hashem speaking Moshe in the midst of the two human-like Cherubs.

There are special individuals amongst us, who because of their heightened awareness, lofty Neshama and good fortune are able to connect to the Divine.

If you know someone like that, follow them and never let them go.

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I'm getting ready for Shavuous which starts Thursday evening.  For me the dairy foods are a killer. I'm talking the about the store-bought or home-made cheesecake and the home-made eggplant parmigiana, macaroni (organic) and cheese with fried cabbage and onions, and the potato knishes.

I did 80 minutes on the treadmill this morning at a fairly good clip for me, trying to forestall the inevitable belly bulge; I know it's hopeless, but what can you do.

Have a joyous Chag (burp!).

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Shavous commemorates the giving of the Torah.

Rabbi Sacks tells us how the Torah is first given to women before it is granted to men.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh3iZxKQn3E&t=13s

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The festival of Shavuot begins Thursday night, the 25^th of May.  Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah.  In referring to Shavuot, we say: “Z’man Matan Torateinu”, זמן מתן תורתנו.

Looking at the word מתן  (giving), you can see in it the word for “gift”, מתנה. 

In our weekly Talmud class time ago where were studying Tractate Bava Basra, we participated in a discussion at 65a:  A person owns a house that has two apartments, an inner one and a surrounding outer one.  If the apartments are sold, the buyer of the inner apartment does not acquire the right to walk through the surrounding outer apartment. 

However if at the time of the sale of the outer apartment, the owner of the house simultaneously makes a gift of the inner apartment the situation changes.  There is a presumption that when a gift is given, it is given with generosity.  Therefore the recipient of the gift acquires the right to walk through the outer apartment and thereby to enjoy his gift.

In much the same fashion, when Hashem gave us the gift of the Torah, He gave it to us with generosity. It is as if along with the Torah we acquired the wherewithal to enjoy our gift. 

What that wherewithal is I leave it up to you.  There are a multitude of possibilities.  I like to think our gift from HaShem is the ability to have Torah and dwell in the Land of Israel in peace and harmony. 

 

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At 6:23-27 the Priestly Blessing, ברכת כהנים  is given.

It is not the Kohanim who are giving the Blessing. 

They are merely invoking or entreating Hashem to give us His blessing:

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ

"May Hashem bless you and guard you."

In our service, before the Priestly Blessing is given, the Kohanim state that they are commanded to give it with love.

https://youtu.be/TmZGRJlnZ6E

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The Haftorah portion for Parshat Naso is taken from the Book of Judges, Chapter 13.  It is the story of Samson’s parents, his father Manoach and his unnamed mother.  It is clear from the text that Samson’s mother has it all over his father in terms of spirituality and maybe intelligence:

An Angel appears to Samson’s mother twice before appearing to Manoach.

She recognizes Him as an Angel, not so Manoach, who has limited spiritual insight.

When Manoach finally realizes that it is an Angel, he is terrified, but not so Samson‘s Mother. She remains calm.

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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.

BEHAR- BECHUKOSAI, LEVITICUS 25:1 to 27:34

 

BEHAR- BECHUKOSAI, LEVITICUS 25:1 to 27:34

 We read about proper conduct to a fellow Jew:  

At 25:17 -

“And you shall not wrong, one man his fellow Jew, and you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord, your God”.

At 25:25 -

“If your brother becomes destitute and sells some of his inherited property, his redeemer who is related to him shall come forth and redeem his brother's sale”.

At 25:35 -

“If your brother becomes destitute and his hand falters beside you, you shall support him [whether] a convert or a resident, so that he can live with you”.

At 25:36 –

“You shall not take from him interest or increase, and you shall fear your God, and let your brother live with you”.

At 25:37 -

“You shall not give him your money with interest, nor shall you give your food with increase”.

At 25:39 -

“And if your brother becomes destitute with you, and is sold to you, do not work him with slave labor”.

At 25:43 -

“You shall not work him with rigor, and you shall fear your God”.

At 25:47-48 -

“If a resident non Jew gains wealth with you, and your brother becomes destitute with him and is sold to a resident non Jew among you or to an idol of the family of a non Jew.

After he is sold, he shall have redemption; one of his brothers shall redeem him”.

Being a Member of the Tribe is not a bad deal.😃

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At 25.23 we learn just who the Land of Israel belongs to:

 וְהָאָרֶץ, לֹא תִמָּכֵר לִצְמִתֻת--כִּי-לִי, הָאָרֶץ:  כִּי-גֵרִים וְתוֹשָׁבִים אַתֶּם, עִמָּדִי.

"The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land belongs to Me, for you are strangers and residents with Me".

This is a profound idea: the land that we are commanded to possess as an inheritance is fundamentally not ours because we are only guests.   Hashem is the only one who truly possesses the Holy Land.  

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SHIMITAH

Just as we must rest on the seventh day, so must the Land rest.

At 25:4 -

וּבַשָּׁנָה הַשְּׁבִיעִת, שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן יִהְיֶה לָאָרֶץ--שַׁבָּת, לַיהוָה:  שָׂדְךָ לֹא תִזְרָע, וְכַרְמְךָ לֹא תִזְמֹר.

 

"But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath unto the LORD; thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard".

 

This rest for the Land is called the "shimitah" year.  It is observed in Israel, making it one of the special privileges that one gets by living in the Land. 

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We are given a message at 26:3 -

אִם-בְּחֻקֹּתַי, תֵּלֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִצְוֺתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם.

"If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them,"

At 26:11 -12

 וְנָתַתִּי מִשְׁכָּנִי, בְּתוֹכְכֶם; וְלֹא-תִגְוְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי, בְּתוֹכְכֶם, וְהָיִיתִי לָכֶם, לֵאלֹהִים; וְאַתֶּם, תִּהְיוּ-לִי לְעָם.עַל נַפְשִׁי, אֶתְכֶם.

"I will place My dwelling place in your midst, and My soul will not reject you; I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people."

I think today Israel has become Hashem's dwelling place where among other things He is walking among us and we are His people.

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LAG B’OMER

We traditionally treat the seven weeks of Counting the Omer as a period of mourning.  However on the thirty third day of the Omer counting, many of us stop mourning for the day or until Shavuous.  The 33rd day is called LAG B’OMER. It is a festive day, marked by music, dancing and parties. There is a custom to light bonfires.

There is a tradition that on Lag B'Omer Rabbi Akiva's 24,000 students who had been dying from a plague stopped dying. 

Contrary to this tradition I think that it is a remembrance connected to the Bar Kokhba Revolt, and Akiva's students were soldiers fighting and dying for our freedom.  

Initially in 132 CE the revolt was successful, and for three years the Province of Judea was an independent Jewish nation with Bar Kokhba at its head. He had the title of Nasi Israel.

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                                                      BETAR

During the Bar Kokhba revolt the city of Betar functioned as our last  stronghold. The destruction of Betar in 135 put an end to the Jewish–Roman wars against Rome.

Following the Fall of Betar, the Romans went on a systematic campaign of wiping out the remaining Judean villages, and hunting down refugees and the remaining rebels, with the last pockets of resistance being eliminated by the spring of 136.

That was 2,000 years ago. In the 20^th century Betar took on a new meaning: In 1923  Ze'ev Jabotinsky founded the Zionist youth movement called Betar. It had chapters all over Europe. In Palestine, Betar was closely affiliated with the paramilitary organization Irgun.

The Irgun followed Jabotinsky’s policies:

 Every Jew has a right or duty to enter Palestine.

 Only active retaliation will deter the Arabs.

 Only a Jewish armed force will ensure the Jewish state.

The Irgun developed into a serious and well-organized paramilitary organization. The movement had a hierarchy of ranks and a sophisticated command-structure and came to demand serious military training and strict discipline from its members. It developed clandestine networks of hidden arms-caches and weapons-production workshops, safe-houses, and training camps, along with a secret printing facility for communication with the public.

Menachem Begin served as head of the Betar movement in Poland. He arrived in Palestine in 1942 and assumed leadership of the Irgun in 1944.

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This week’s Haftarah portion is from Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14.

 

                                            

JEREMIAH

The Haftorah for Behar-Bechukotai is from Jeremiah.
We all know that sooner or later Hashem judges us. But how does He actually do it? For the Prophet Jeremiah (17:9-10), 2,600 years ago, it is by examining a person’s heart and kidneys.

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and when it is sick, who will recognize it? I, the Lord, search the heart, test the kidneys, to give everyone according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds".

The heart and the kidneys at the time of Jeremiah and in the Chumash, 100's of years earlier, were held to be the location of a person’s psyche, the totality of the human mind, both conscious and unconscious.

Think about that when you recite the Shema Yisrael.

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GRATITUDE

At Jeremiah 17:7-8 -

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord; the Lord shall be his trust For he shall be like a tree planted by the water, and by a rivulet spreads its roots, and will not see when heat comes, and its leaves shall be green, and in the year of drought will not be anxious, neither shall it cease from bearing fruit.

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GRATITUDE WHEN GETTING UP IN THE MORNING

Sleep, traditionally is regarded as 1/60^th of death. Getting up in the morning, being alive is considered as a reward for our trust in Hashem. We show our gratitude for this heavenly reward when we first wake up with the following prayer:

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 than 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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We conclude the Book of Leviticus:

חזק, חזק, ונתחזק

Be strong; Be strong, and let us strengthen one another.

Chazak Chazak Ve-Nit’Chazek