Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel, the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. A reminder that we'll hold services on Friday evening the 10th at 7PM and our Midrash will take place on Shabbat starting at 10AM. Hope to see you.
Parsha Naso
This week we read Parsha Naso (Numbers 4:21 - 7:89) and it happens to be the longest Torah reading of the year. The last seventy-two verses in Naso describe the gifts contributed by each tribe to the Mishkan (Tabernacle) on the day of the inauguration of the altar. Oddly enough, even though each tribe brought exactly the same offering, the Torah saw fit to recount, in repetitive detail, each tribe’s contributions. These seventy-two verses are a big part of the reason that this week’s portion is the longest in the Torah.
This week's portion includes further job instructions to the Levites and Moses is instructed to purify the camp in preparation for the dedication of the Mishkan, the Portable Sanctuary.
Laws of the Cohanim
Then four laws relating to the Cohanim are given: 1) Restitution for stolen property where the owner is deceased and has no next of kin goes to the Cohanim. 2) If a man suspects his wife of being unfaithful, he brings her to the Cohanim for the Sotah clarification ceremony. 3) If a person chooses to withdraw from the material world and consecrate himself exclusively to the service of the Almighty by becoming a nazir (vowing not to drink wine or eat grape products, come in contact with dead bodies, or cut his hair), he must come to the Cohen at the completion of the vow. 4) The Cohanim were instructed to bless the people with this Priestly Blessing: “May the Lord bless you and guard over you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His Countenance upon you and give you peace.”
Finally the Tabernacle
The Mishkan is erected and dedicated on the first of Nissan in the second year after the Exodus. The leaders of each tribe jointly give wagons and oxen to transport the Mishkan. During each of the twelve days of dedication, successively each tribal prince gives gifts of gold and silver vessels, sacrificial animals, and meal offerings. Every prince gives exactly the same gifts as every other prince.
This is a short Torah Thoughts this week as I'm traveling but looking forward to seeing you on Friday Evening and then again on Shabbat for our Midrash.
See you in Shul!
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