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NASSO

22 May 2010

Numbers 4:21-7:89

Judges 13:2-25

Acts 21:17-25

Our Portion includes further job instructions to the Levites. Moshe was instructed to purify the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary. Four laws relating to the Cohanim are given. The restitution for stolen property, where the owner is deceased and has no next of kin, goes to the Cohanim.

If a man suspects his wife of being unfaithful, he brings her to the Cohanim for the Sotah, clarification ceremony.

If a person chooses to withdraw from the material world and consecrate himself exclusively to the service of the Lord by becoming a Nazir, he vows to not drink wine or eat grape products, may not come in contact with dead bodies and may not cut his hair. He must come to the Cohen at the completion of the vow.

The Cohanim were instructed to bless the people with this blessing, "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift His countenance upon you and give you peace."

The Mishkan is erected and dedicated on the first of Nissan in the second year after the Exodus. The leaders of each tribe jointly gave wagons and oxen to transport the Mishkan. During each of the twelve days of dedication, successively, each tribal prince (leader) gives gifts of gold and silver vessels, sacrificial animals and meal offerings. Every prince gives exactly the same gifts as every other prince.

In the priestly blessing, from Numbers 6:25, it states, "The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto you." How can G-d keep and guard a people who sin against Him? The Hebrew word Chanan, which translates into the English word gracious, tells us that G-d shows favor. In the Brit Hadashah the Greek word translates to unconditional forgiveness.

In the book of Hosea, G-d gives us a great illustration of unconditional love and forgiveness. The story is about the prophet and the troubles he has with his wife, Gomer. It really is a message about the state of the spiritual condition of the nation of Israel as well as the state of the nations who have strayed away from the one and only G-d of the universe. Still we see that G-d is in the business of forgiveness and always grants favor, love, and forgiveness. Ephesians 1:7 tells us that we have redemption and forgiveness according to the riches of His grace, or as the Hebrew word translates it, His favor.

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.