Naso

Hi,

This week's portion is Naso.

Naso begins with a discussion of the role of the Levites in transporting the Mishkan [Temple] as the Jews traveled in the desert, on their way to Israel.

There were three Levite families: Gershon, Kehat and Merari. Kehat carried the central sacred items of the Mishkan, such as the Ark. Gershon carred the outer parts of the Mishkan, such as the curtains and the walls of the courtyard. Merari carried the rest of the structure.

The portion then provides a census of the Levite families.

The Jews are then instructed to set up camps when they arrive at breaks in their travels, and they are given rules governing life in those camps.

The Torah then teaches two other sets of laws:

The Laws of Sotah – If a married woman and a man (either married or single) are secluded in a suspicious way, and there is only one witness, the courts cannot handle the case due to a lack of two witnesses. Instead, a rite is practiced in which the married woman drinks of a special potion which includes the erased name of Gd in it. If she and the man are guilty, they both suffer painful supernatural deaths (not administered by human hand); human courts have no power in this area, as there is only one witness. If they are innocent, Gd promises her great reward in restitution to her.

The Law of Nazir – This law provides a legal means of taking a vow of quasi-asceticism. A Nazir vows to refrain from hair-cutting and drinking wine, and to stay away from the dead. The Torah generally disapproves of unnecessary oaths; this vow is provided as an outlet for someone who feels a special need to purify himself. Even with this positive motive, the Nazirite brings a sin offering at the end, among other korbanot; this sin offering is understood by some to atone for having forsworn things which Gd declared to be permitted

The portion concludes with the dedication of the Mishkan. Aharon blessed the nation, and the Jews dedicated the Mishkan with offerings brought by each tribe's representative.

Have a great day,
Mordechai