Parshat Naso II: Numbers 4:21-7:89
This week’s portion is the second reading of Naso. We do this to keep in line with the Orthodox Diaspora world. They still observe two days of Shavuot and Reform Judaism observes only one. But in a nod to our values of Klal Yisrael we stay on the same parshiot system.
This is a change from previous years. When the second day of Shavuot would fall on Shabbat the Reform movement was observing the next week’s portion just as they do in Israel. So for a few weeks the Israeli and Reform Torah reading calendar would differ from the Conservative and Orthodox Torah reading cycle outside of Israel. But in recent years when this has occurred, the Reform movement has split parshat Naso.
The end of our portion Naso describes the final consecration of the Tabernacle by Moses. He supervised setting it up and anointed and consecrated all the utensils and then each tribal chieftan in succession brought their dedicatory offerings; the exact same offerings to this celebration.
But prior to their own offering, the chieftains of Israel brought a special offerings. They brought six covered wagons and 12 oxen a cart for every two chieftains and an ox for each. These wagons, these special gifts would be given to the Levites and specifically to the Gershonites and the Merarites who had the responsibility to bring parts of the tabernacle on the journey. The Gershonites got two carts for the curtains and hangings but the Merarites got four because they had the heavier materials—the planks and poles. Yet the Kohathites had the most sacred objects to carry. They were required to carry the burden of them on their shoulders. Why is this important?
For the Kohathites had the most sacred objects of the Tent of Meeting, the altar and menorah, the sacred table and the screen. These holy and special objects existed in the presence of the Divine when God’s cloud descended upon the Tabernacle. These special klei kodesh, sacred objects used in the sacred worship can not be treated casually, merely packed up and shipped to the next destination: but carried by hand lovingly and attentively. This is not unlike when moving houses or apartments you hand carry some of your most valuable possessions not leaving them to the movers to take care of. It shows honor and respect for the most holy objects to hand carry them and to take great are of them.
Today what are our most sacred possessions? Our Torah scrolls? Our books? Our scholars? Our children? Our synagogues? We should not expect others to carry them or care for them. But it is our responsibility like the Levites to lovingly transport and care for the most sacred vessels of our contemporary times. That is why we need to support generously our Jewish community and our congregation. For we embody caring for our traditions and our people and our relationship with the Holy One of Blessing. We must shoulder the responsibility to ensure its stability and our ability to set up that sacred space to meet the Holy Divine One again and again and again!
Posted by Eric at June 2, 2009 09:06 AM
