This week we start a new book of the Torah, Bamidbar (Wilderness) which you may know as Numbers. This week we ready Chapter 1:1 - 4:20. The Torah portion starts with, "Hashem (G-d) spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting..." He commands Moses to do a census...again. Why? Rashi says that because G-d loved his people so much that he counted them often. Other thoughts are that the Jewish people were growing in vast numbers and yet every person should get the personal attention of Moses and Aaron.
We learn there are 603,550 available for military service. The tribe of Levi was exempt because of their special duties as religious leaders. (It is probably from here that countries give divinity deferments to clergy and divinity students.)
The twelve tribes were directed regarding the formation (three tribes were on each side of the Portable Sanctuary) in which they were to camp and travel.
The 22,300 Levites were commanded in the Sanctuary service. The family of Gershon was to transport the coverings of the Sanctuary. The family of Kehos carried the Ark, Table, Menorah and Altars. The family of Merari transported the boards, pillars, bolts and sockets.
On Sunday we will celebrate Shavout. It has been 50 days since we celebrated Passover and the holiday of Shavout (which means "weeks") commemorates Israel's receiving the Torah at Sinai.
Shavuot is a full-fledged Yom Tov (Holiday), and as such carries most of the same restrictions as on Shabbat – no driving, no writing, etc. The exception is that food preparation (e.g. cooking) is permitted. In Israel, Shavuot lasts one day; outside of Israel it is two days.
Perhaps the reason for the relative obscurity of Shavuot is because this holiday has no obvious "symbols" of the day – i.e. no Shofar, no Sukkah, no Chanukah Menorah.
On Shavuot, there are no symbols to distract us from the central focus of Jewish life: the Torah. So how do we commemorate Shavuot? It is a widespread custom to stay up the entire night learning Torah. And since Torah is the way to self-perfection, the Shavuot night learning is called Tikkun Leil Shavuot,which means "an act of self-perfection on the night of Shavuot."
It is also the custom to read the Book of Ruth. Ruth was a non-Jewish woman whose love for God and Torah led her to convert to Judaism. The Torah intimates that the souls of eventual converts were also present at Sinai, as it says: "I am making [the covenant] both with those here today before the Lord our God, and also with those not here today." (Deut. 29:13)
May you have a wonderful Shabbat and Shavuot!
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Services at Adas Israel will be on Friday evening the 21st at 7:15pm at the Shul. On Shabbat (Saturday) we will hold our monthly study session (midrash) starting at 10:00am. All are welcome to attend.
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