In this week’s Torah Portion, Naso, God seems to be singling out for special instructions, specific groups among the children of Israel. It’s as though God is taking care of items on a cosmic “To Do” list:
- Assign tasks for transporting parts of the Mishkan to the Gershon and Merari families (Numbers 4:21-49)
- Send “impure” persons outside the camp (Numbers 5: 1-4)
- Declare rules for guilt offerings and donations to the priests (Numbers 5:5-10)
- Set up a procedure for determining a wife’s fidelity (Numbers 5:11-31)
- Teach how to be a Nazirite (Numbers 6:1-21)
- Instruct the priests in the Priestly Blessing (Numbers 6:24-27)
- Command altar dedication offerings from each Tribe (Numbers 7: 1-88)
- Speak to Moses – directly (Numbers 7:89)
Thus, to strengthen the community of the children of Israel, God provides solutions to potential problems – how to transport the Mishkan; how to keep the community healthy; how to deal with jealous husbands; how to allow those outside the priestly families to share in the experience of holiness; how to recognize each Tribe fairly.
In addition, the Priestly Blessing is given to all of us and to each of us. God, the Problem solver, assures us of God’s enduring bond with our community as a whole and with each individual within it. This Blessing, a moving part of our T’fila even now, brings us “face to face” with God.
In the final lines of Naso, we are inspired by the image of God “speaking” to Moses. We’re left with the hope that if God spoke to Moses in ancient times, God will speak to us today if we are sufficiently attentive and consistently open to hearing God’s voice.
Torah wisdom – Take it personally.
Shabbat Shalom Rest and Renew
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