Parshat Naso; Numbers 4:21 -7:89 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger
Parshat Naso includes the dedication of the Tabernacle and the many offerings brought by the various chieftains representing their tribes. In a great show of equality and democracy each tribal chief brought exactly the same offering to the Tabernacle and to God. No tribe was better than the other. But each tribe had its specialized duty in relationship to the Tabernacle. As delineated in last week’s portion, each tribe not only gathered and encamped around the Tabernacle in a specific location but each tribe had specific duties in the setting up and tearing down and transportation of the Tabernacle as the Israelites made their way in the desert.
Now in Parshat Naso, as the Tabernacle is finished being set up the tribes bring their offerings and Moses consecrates and dedicates this sacred holy space. It is then that the Holy Divine One can occupy and dwell in the Mishkan. At the very end of the portion, this is affirmed by Moses entering the Tent of Meeting and God’s voice would emanating from the space between the Cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant. The Tent of Meeting is just that—a place for the leader-Moses to meet with God and hear God’s commands and bring the concerns of the people.
Today how do we hear God’s voice? It was easier for Moses. But for each of us it can be challenging to really know and hear God’s unique call and command. That is why prayer, tefillah is such an important part of Jewish life. Through tefillah, through prayer we can gain the perspective and the quietude to help sort through and filter out the competing messages of our time. Through regular daily prayer and meditation we Jews create the space above the Ark, the place between the Cherubim-to hear God’s voice emanate into our own souls and beings. Through prayers of our tradition and of our own inspiration we can begin to listen and find a pathway to the Eternal Holy One and find our place of Meeting—our own Mishkan in our own day.
If you are not in the habit of prayer it may seem a bit awkward at first. But allowing yourself the time to reflect and meditate will change the way you interact with others and with yourself and ultimately with the Holy Divine Source of All. Prayer allows you to tap into that Holy Source and allows you to become a conduit for bringing holiness into the world and your own life. Just as Moses radiated the glory of God in his encounter at the top of Mt. Sinai, so too, in sincere prayer, we too can radiate the Divine qualities into the world.
The holy Festival of Shavuot is upon us on Sunday evening (Join us at temple for study and a Festival service at 7:30 pm June 8). On Shavuot we celebrate the giving of the Ten Commandments and our covenant with God made through Torah. We have a chance to rekindle our personal relationships with the Holy Divine One and also our communal covenant. Prayer is one way we can make this affirmation and then we too can tune in and hear the Divine voice just as Moses did in the Tabernacle so long ago. God is calling to each of us. I hope you will be able to respond.
Posted by Aaron at June 2, 2008 01:30 PM
