sign in sign up
<<
Home , Naso (parashah)

Naso Selected Shorts Eliot Malomet May 22, 2021 11 Sivan 5781

,The , and rabbinic by extension רבדמב ד :׳ כ״ד ”constructs a world in which everyday, “normal )דכ( תא֣ ֹז דֹבֲﬠ תַ֔ פְּשִׁ מ ֹחְ ת֖ גַּה רֵ נֻּשְׁ ִ י֑ ֹבֲﬠַל ד֖ לוּ ָשַּׂמְ ׃אֽ Numbers 4:24 piety is demonstrated by the observance of (24) These are the duties of the Gershonite clans mitzvot and acts of hesed, a world punctuated by as to labor and porterage: There were three the rhythm of Shabbat and Festivals, and in which Levitical ‘clans’: the , the , the relationship with God is mediated through the and the Kehatites. Each clan had a specific set of study of Torah and living as a sacred community; responsibilities for the transportation of the a world in which Israel is a vessel of God’s name mishkan. The Gershonites carted the coverings, and a source of blessing to the world. רבדמב ו :׳ כ״ג all of the skins and cloths that made the tent; the )גכ( בַּ דּ ֵ ר֤ ֶ ןֹרֲהַא־לֽ א ֙ נָבּ־לֶאְ ו ָ ֣ וי ֹמאֵל ר֔ ה֥ ֹכּ רָבְ ת כְ וּ֖ בּ־תֶא נְ ֵ ֣ י רְשִׂ י אָ ֵ ל֑ Merarites carted the beams and hardware, all of רוֹ֖מָא ֶהָל ׃םֽ }ס{ ;the clasps and attachments that held it together the Kehatites had their obligations listed at the Numbers 6:23 end of last week’s parasha. They carried the holy (23) Speak to and his sons: Thus shall you objects like the ark, the table, the menorah and the bless the people of Israel. Say to them: We spent . With each clan assigned to its respective the entire going through the area, the transportation of the mishkan could functions of the Kohanim in great detail. They proceed without the need to re-assign roles every administered the sacrifices, tended to the people time the camp moved. Each clan was defined by in their various states of disease and wellness, its area of specialty and thereby contributed to the purity and impurity. They maintained the sacred whole. No doubt, each clan took pride in its center of the people and were the agents particular contribution of labor. The picture that designated to secure God’s presence in the midst emerges is one of teamwork and unity. of the community. And here they have a crucial role: they bless the people. They are the רבדמב ו :׳ ו׳ instrument through which God’s blessing flows (ו) ׇכּל־ ְי ֵ֥מי ַה ִזּי֖רוֹ ַלה' ַﬠל־ ֶ ֥נ ֶפשׁ ֵ֖מת ֥לֹא ָי ֽבֹא׃ Numbers 6:6 to the people. Today we experience this through (6) Throughout the term that he has set apart for the ritual of Birkat Kohanim or “duchaning”, the LORD, he shall not go in where there is a which is one of the strongest links remaining to dead person. The is an individual who takes Temple ritual. Thus shall you bless is more than upon a vow of piety. Man or woman, this just a set of statements; it is a prescription for a individual seized by zeal and religious fervor state of mind. A needs to be in a state of takes upon a set of restrictions including no joy and love to be a vessel of God’s blessing. רבדמב ו :׳ כ״ד consumption of any grape product, no cutting of )דכ( רָבְ י כֶ çְ ֥ 'ה יְ ו מְשִׁ רְ ֶ ׃çֽ }ס{ hair and no contact with the dead. While not a Kohen, this individual has Kohen-like behaviors Numbers 6:24 and lives in this pseudo-Kohen state until the (24) The LORD bless you and protect you! What completion of the term of the vow. It is fas- constitutes blessing? focuses here on that your – ֶשׁ ִיּ ְת ָבּ ְרכוּ ְנ ָכ ֶסיcinating that the Torah has this institution. It material blessing. ç recognizes that a community consists of a range property be blessed. In other words, acquiring of individual valences towards the spiritual life. property and wealth is understood as a For some that life is a bothersome chore, and for fundamental element in well-being. People don’t others that life is the central focus, rendering all need much and property can become a burden but other aspects of life almost insignificant. We a life of poverty and destitution is not desirable. would argue that Judaism provides an outlet for As we learn elsewhere, wealth is being happy the extreme zeal of the person inclined only to with what you have. adds that you piety and exerts a constant pull on the individual should be “protected from the evil inclination,” who seeks detachment from anything religious. which is to say that a person constantly making choices, and that the yetzer hara, can be ethical responsibilities. רבדמב ו :׳ כ״ז overwhelming. Learning how to exert control )זכ( מָשְׂ ו וּ֥ מְשׁ־תֶא ִ י֖ בּ־לַﬠ נְ ֵ ֣ י רְשִׂ י אָ ֵ ל֑ נֲאַ ו ִ י֖ רָבֲא כְ ֵ ׃םֽ }ס{ over one’s evil inclination is the secret to a life of blessing. But we do not need to interpret this Numbers 6:27 blessing too much. As we have witnessed over (27) Thus they shall link My name with the people the last two weeks of rocket fire from Gaza, of Israel, and I will bless them. Perhaps the having protection is not something to be taken for configuration of the hands during the Birkat granted. As tragic as the casualties were from the Kohanim is a form of spelling out the letters of over 4,000 rockets fired, the fact that so many God’s name. God’s name, spoken, written, or were spared from death either by Iron Dome, the configured by symbolic manual orthography, has preparedness of shelters, and by getting to safety great power. The is the symbolic in the nick of time, in itself should give one pause. placement of the divine name upon the people. We take our physical security from enemies and Carrying God’s name provides protection and the elements for granted. We are history’s elicits tremendous responsibility to live a moral outliers; we don’t understand how blessed we are. life. But recall that the “placing of hands” has tremendous symbolic meaning. We saw that in רבדמב ו :׳ כ״ה Leviticus. It signified ownership and was the )הכ( ֵאָ י ר֨ נָפּ ׀ 'ה ָ וי֛ לֵא ֶ çי֖ ִ נֻּחיֽ ו ֶ ֽ ׃ָךּ }ס{ Numbers 6:25 legal instrumentality to identify individuals. (25) The LORD deal kindly and graciously with Thus, the symbolic placement of hands on the people while reciting this blessing not only : הֶאְרַי *ְל םיִנָפּ ,תוֹקֲחוֹשׂ םיִנָפּ תוֹבֻּהְצ :you! Rashi May He show thee a friendly (more lit., smiling) constitutes a recognizable gesture of love but also countenance — a beaming countenance. Ponder ought to be understood as act of acquisition; the this: Your face is a “reflection” of God’s “face.” Kohanim serve as God’s agents and the priestly In other words, the face you present to the world blessing is the formula for acquisition. In is a manifestation of the way you perceive God’s Jerusalem, it is the custom to perform the Birkat face. The blessing here is a blessing of joy and Kohanim daily. God’s acquisition of Israel grace. When’s God’s “face” is joyful and renews itself daily in the center of God’s world. רבדמב ז :׳ י״א beaming” to you, you will present a beaming and“ )אי( ַ ו רֶמא֥ יּ ֹ 'ה שֹׁמ־לֶא ֶ ֑ ה ִשָׂ נ אי֨ ָחֶ א ד֜ יַּל םוֹ֗ שָׂ נ ִ אי֤ דָחֶ א ֙ יַּל םוֹ֔ !joyful face to others. That’s a blessing ַי ְק ִ ֙ריב ֙וּ ֶאת־ ׇק ְר ָבּ ָ֔נם ַל ֲחנֻ ַ ֖כּת ַה ִמּ ְז ֵֽבּ ַח׃ }ס{ רבדמב ו :׳ כ״ו Numbers 7:11 (כו) ִי ֨ ָשּׂא ה' ׀ ָפּ ָני ֙ו ֵא ֔ ֶליç ְו ָי ֵ֥שׂם ְל ç֖ ָשׁ ֽלוֹם׃ }ס{ Numbers 6:26 (11) the LORD said to : Let them present (26) The LORD bestow His favor (lit. face) upon their offerings for the dedication of the , one you and grant you peace! Once again the “face” chieftain each day. Thus begins the longest of God is the main feature of the blessing. We section of the Torah, the recitation of the tribal interpret this metaphorically, meaning God’s gifts. The Torah could have saved scribes presence. Later on in the Torah, “hiding of the throughout the centuries a lot of parchment by face” is a metaphor for God’s abandonment. The condensing this passage. But there is a deeper worst thing a person could experience is God’s message in spelling out each tribal gift separately. abandonment; the best, God’s presence. May 1. It’s important to thank each individual God shine His face upon you, is the penultimate separately. 2. It’s important to recognize that blessing, the blessing of God’s presence. May while all the gifts are identical, each giver is God grant you peace, is the ultimate blessing. different. “They didn’t bring their gifts to imitate Recall the philosopher Emanuel Levinas (1905- each other; they each brought their gifts out of 1995) who meditated deeply on the significance their own will.” (Simcha Bunam of Peshischa) of “the face.” To Levinas the human face is a Each gift was the same but each individual, either summons to the ultimate ethical responsibility, through comportment, demeanor, personality, or “Thou shalt not kill.” God’s “face” is the ultimate idiosyncrasy, brings out a different aspect of the representation of ethical responsibility. May God gift, and thus brings a totally different, lift us His face is another way of stating, May you individuated gift. Shabbat Shalom! be guided by a constant desire to live up to your