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Naso – נָשֹׂא (Numbers 4:21−7:89)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Naso – נָשֹׂא (Numbers 4:21−7:89)

Naso, is the longest Torah portion in the Torah and the wordiness of all these words is due in large measure to a lengthy listing of gifts brought by the leaders of each tribe in honor of the dedication of God’s holy tabernacle, the great tent of meeting which the Children of Israel carried with them, throughout their wanderings, on their journey to the Promised Land. This listing of names and gifts alone occupies an 76 verses of the portion.

Taking a census is, by definition, a repetitive and tedious undertaking and this is not the first time the Torah has recounted such a listing in intricate detail. What is remarkable about this particular listing of names and gifts, is that each representative of every tribe brought the exact same collection of gifts. So, instead of repeating that same list of gifts 12 times over, why couldn’t the Torah have simply said: “And the leaders of every tribe brought these same gifts to the Tabernacle”?

Because even though the gifts were all the same, the givers were not.

By listing all these gifts separately, and including the name each giver, the Torah is teaching us the holiness of every human being and the uniqueness of each of our gifts.

Parsha Naso – נָשֹׂא Torah Summary:

A census of the Gershonites, Merarites, and Koathites between the ages of thirty and fifty is conducted and their duties in the Tabernacle are detailed. (4:21-49) God speaks to Moses concerning what to do with ritually unclean people, repentant individuals, and those who are suspected of adultery. (5:1-31) The obligations of a nazirite vow are explained. They include abstaining from alcohol and not cutting one’s hair. (6:1-21) God tells Moses how to teach Aaron and his sons the Priestly Blessing. (6:22-27) Moses consecrates the Sanctuary, and the tribal chieftains bring offerings. Moses then speaks with God inside the Tent of Meeting. (7:1-89) Naso – נָשֹׂא

Naso (Numbers 4:21−7:89)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Naso – נָשֹׂא (Numbers 4:21−7:89)

Sometimes the cycle of the reading of the Torah seems divinely inspired in its timeliness and hope. This week as the first rays of hope shine forth for a cease fire and an end to the violence which has gripped the Land of Israel, we read from the Torah our most famous prayer for peace, the Priestly Blessing:

יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהֹוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃
יָאֵר יְהֹוָה  פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃
 יִשָּׂא יְהֹוָה  פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם׃

May God bless you and keep you from harm.
May God’s face shine upon you and favor you.
May God’s face be lifted unto you and grant you peace.

A blessing is an expression of hope, and while hopes may begin by giving them words, peace can only come when we do the work of peace ourselves. May we become partners with God in the building of a world of peace.

Parsha Naso Torah Summary:

A census of the Gershonites, Merarites, and Koathites between the ages of thirty and fifty is conducted and their duties in the Tabernacle are detailed. (4:21-49) God speaks to Moses concerning what to do with ritually unclean people, repentant individuals, and those who are suspected of adultery. (5:1-31) The obligations of a nazirite vow are explained. They include abstaining from alcohol and not cutting one’s hair. (6:1-21) God tells Moses how to teach Aaron and his sons the Priestly Blessing. (6:22-27) Moses consecrates the Sanctuary, and the tribal chieftains bring offerings. Moses then speaks with God inside the Tent of Meeting. (7:1-89) Naso

Naso (Numbers 4:21−7:89)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Naso (Numbers 4:21−7:89)

A very weird and awkward ritual is described in our portion. When a man has a fit of jealousy against his wife, the two go to the High priest, who writes the name of God on a parchment, puts it into water and the wife drinks it. Horrible and humiliating as the ritual is, the rabbis chose to make lemonade out of this lemon, “Great is Shalom (peace and wellness and wholeness), that the Holy blessed one, allows us to defile Gods name in order to bring Shalom (peace and wholeness and wellness) into our homes”.

This Week’s Torah Portion: Naso (Numbers 4:21−7:89)A very weird and awkward ritual is described in our portion. When a man has a fit of jealousy against his wife, the two go to the High priest, who writes the name of God on a parchment, puts it into water and the wife drinks it. Horrible and humiliating as the ritual is, the rabbis chose to make lemonade out of this lemon, “Great is Shalom (peace and wellness and wholeness), that the Holy blessed one, allows us to defile Gods name in order to bring Shalom (peace and wholeness and wellness) into our homes”.