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D'var Torah Naso Barbados 2019 FINAL D’var Torah Nidhe Israel Naso and Shavuot: Numbers 4:22 “Take the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses, by their families” and Exodus 19:9 “And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever.' And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD”. How can we relate to this week’s Torah portion particularly as the portion Naso is the last day of the Counting of the Omer, and which precedes that of the important festival of Shavuot, this year falling on Saturday evening, 9th June. Some find this festival less easy to celebrate because it has less tangible features to deal with. There is no Succah to sit in, lulav to shake or joyous dancing with the scrolls. Shavuot is the time for us to try to gain spiritual strength through studying, but not without some physical ‘dairy’ input of cheese cake or blinzes, some say symbolising the “land flowing with milk and honey promised to the Israelites” (Ex 3.8). Shavuot gives us a vision of a silent world, where in its stillness the Jewish people were given the ever present and influential teachings of the Torah. The word Naso in direct translation means “TAKE”. However the original meaning of the word might have meant “to lift”, “to raise”, or “to place” and so instead of the traditional translation of “take the sum of the sons of Gershon by their father’s houses from 30 years old and upward until 50 years old and let them do service of the temple” we could say “Place these people into the role of the leadership so that they realise the importance of their role”. The Torah text indeed continues in delineating the responsibilities and tasks of the three Levite families - Gershon, Merari and Kehathite in this week’s reading. The Levites were given the important but possibly unenviable task of looking after the practical side of the Mishkan - the Tabernacle. The Torah states, “This is the service of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens”. Again the word “MASA” can be translated as “burden” thus telling us that the office of the Gershonites was important and thus needed to be appreciated. “They shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tent of meeting, its covering and the covering of sealskin that is above upon it, and the screen for the door of the tent of meeting……”. The jobs of the Merari family were to look after the appurtenances of the Tabernacle, “and the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords” - also described as burdensome. You may very well ask why would the Torah refer to these tasks as burdens or uplifting, why would doing these things be so important or difficult? Looking at the tasks in our contemporary world, the answers are easier to fathom. The Tabernacle is today’s Synagogue. Then, there is the Ark, the Scrolls, the Eternal light (the ner tamid) and the appurtenances which dress our Torah. Without careful attention and preparation how can we worship? I would say that it is as important, if not more important, to have everything in place for our services - as one cannot worship or do anything without preparation and order, which means every detail must be completed in readiness to avoid chaos and mayhem. Thus our Torah portion teaches us that preparation and readiness are the essence of success and good order in whatever we do, whether it our Shabbat services, our festivals or even in our every day lives, at work, at school or playing sport. The Torah called the tasks given to the Gershon or Merari families to be understood to mean both ‘Burden and Uplifting ’ for a reason. It was to emphasise and teach us to measure all our tasks in such a way that we would realise the importance of all of our roles without exception - teaching us that we must never look down on anyone whatever their job is, and that we must encourage and support all, irrespective what tasks they are to carry out. The Festival of Shavuot calls us to the task of learning and understanding our teachings whilst the Torah portion ensures that we remember that all tasks, big a small carry their own importance and need to our attention and care if we are to improve our lives. Parashat Naso also provides the script for one of the more penetrating verses in our liturgy — the birkat kohanim, the priestly blessing. The benediction has remained a seminal means of invoking the Divine in both the Jewish and Christian traditions. In our Torah portion, God dictates the blessing to Moses who is to teach it to Aaron and his sons, the kohanim, the priests. May the Lord bless you and keep you. Make the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace Numbers 6:24-26) Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach B’Shalom Rabbi Thomas .
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