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Home -> 5758 -> Naso

Moshe Marcovich
In Naso, 5758

May Hashem bless you and keep watch over you. (6:24)

The various commentators  render their interpretations of the Birkas Kohanim, priestly blessing.  Rashi cites the Sifri that views the blessing as a reference to material bounty.  “May Hashem grant that you be triumphant over your enemies and that your crops and business ventures succeed.  May your possessions increase, and may Hashem guard these possessions from  thieves.” In short, the blessing of “Yevarechecha,” May (Hashem) bless you, refers to receiving abundance, while the blessing of “Veyishmerecha” is a prayer that we be able to retain our blessing.  The Midrash Tanchuma supplements the blessing with an invocation that our increase in material…

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Home -> 5758 -> Naso

Moshe Marcovich
In Naso, 5758

One, nasi, prince, each day shall they bring their offering… The one who brought his offering on the first day was Nachshon ben Aminadav, of the tribe of Yehudah. (7:11,12)

The words “es korbano” are not found regarding the korbanos of any of the other nesiim.  Nachshon was unique among the nesiim.  Along with his korban, he brought himself, his devotion, his spirit of sanctity, his mitzvos and maasim tovim, good deeds.  The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh says that while all the nesiim brought “themselves” along with their korbanos, Nachshon was the most outstanding.  Consequently, the Torah emphasizes  “es korbano, his korban, himself. The Torah does not refer to Nachshon as a nasi. Why?  Ohr Hachayim explains that he viewed himself as just another Jew,  not as the greatest of the…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Naso, 5757

Any man whose wife shall go astray and commit treachery against him. (5:12)

Rashi comments that the Torah specifically employs the word tisteh with a sin as opposed to a samach–  to describe the woman’s going astray in being unfaithful to her husband.  The word tisteh is connected to the word shtus, which means foolishness.  Hence, Chazal say that one who commits an act of adultery or becomes a partner in an immoral relationship has “lost his mind”.  As Chazal describes it, “A spirit of foolishness has entered his mind.”  They cite the pasuk in Mishlei, 6:32, “He who has illicit relations with a woman lacks a heart.” In his commentary on Pirkei…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Naso, 5757

A man or woman who shall do something wondrous by taking a Nazarite vow of abstinence for the sake of Hashem. (6:2)

Why would someone choose to become a nazir?  It may be the result of a  harmful experience associated with drinking wine.  Alternatively, it may be the product  of a conviction that one should abstain from mundane pleasures.  The individual feels that he is too involved with himself.  Consequently, he goes to the extreme, taking a vow to abstain from his usual pleasures.  The nazir must make sure  that he does not defile his nezirus by coming in contact with a dead body.  If this does happen, the nazir becomes tamei, ritually unclean. He must go through a purification process after…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Naso, 5757

All the days of his abstinence he is holy unto Hashem. (6:8)

The Torah allows one to  become a nazir voluntarily.  This status precludes one from eating or drinking grape products or from coming into contact with a dead body. In addition, the  nazir‘s hair may not be cut.  By becoming a nazir, one enters into a state of extreme sanctity  in which  what is permissible — and taken for granted by the average Jew — becomes incongruous with the nazir’s elevated status.  Chazal explain the reason that the Torah juxtaposes the laws of the nazir upon those of the sotah, wayward wife.  One who sees a sotah in her degradation should…

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Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Naso, 5757

Let them place My name upon Bnei Yisrael, and I shall bless them. (6:27)

Chazal, at the end of  Meseches  Uktzin, say,  “There is no greater container to hold Klal Yisrael’s blessings than peace.”  One may have everything – health, prosperity, and fame – but without peace these gifts have  no significance.  Consequently, the blessings which the Kohanim are to impart upon Bnei Yisrael are sealed with the hope for peace. A community can catalyze peace  in one of two ways.  The first way is the positive approach, in which  people work towards ironing out their differences,  seeking ways to increase harmony and good will.  Discord is viewed as taboo, so the slightest infraction…

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Home -> 5756 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Naso, 5756

“A man’s holies shall be his, and what a man shall give to the Kohen shall be his.” (5:10)

Chazal interpret this pasuk to imply that he who gives tzedakah to the poor or gifts to the Kohen or Levi will not sustain any loss as a result. It shall be vhvh uk, it will continue to be his-as Hashem will reward him. Accumulating wealth carries with it enormous responsibility. The first blessing that the Kohanim confer upon Bnei Yisrael is, “Hashem should bless you and guard you.” This blessing grants Klal Yisrael material abundance. Riches and prosperity, however, do not always generate blessing. At times, one needs to be protected from his own possessions, he must be guarded…

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Home -> 5756 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Naso, 5756

“Speak to the Bnei Yisrael… man or woman who shall disassociate themselves by taking a Nazirite vow for the sake of Hashem.” (6:2)

Rashi cites Chazal who give a practical reason for the juxtaposition of the laws of Nazir upon those of the sotah, the wayward wife. They comment that one who sees a sotah in her degradation should take a Nazirite vow prohibiting himself from drinking wine. Drinking wine in excess may cause one to lose control of his faculties, so that he sins. We may question this rationale. If one sees the tragic results of promiscuity and wanton behavior is it still necessary to become a Nazir? After all, would the horrible sight of the sotah’s debasement and death not be…

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Home -> 5756 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Naso, 5756

“Speak to Aharon and his sons, saying, so shall you bless the Bnei Yisrael.” (6:23)

The Kohanim are to serve as the vehicles through which Hashem’s blessing is bestowed upon Klal Yisrael. In order to transmit blessing one must maintain a harmonious relationship with the people. Indeed, Chazal teach us that a Kohen who does not “get along” with the people should not bless them. The Maharsham, zl, was bothered by the brachah which the Kohen recites prior to the blessing. He says, “And He commanded us to bless His nation Yisrael with love.” How does one express himself lovingly to all Jews? Does this “love” apply also to the rasha, wicked Jew, who has…

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Home -> 5756 -> Naso

Rabbi L. Scheinbaum
In Naso, 5756

“And it was on the day that Moshe finished setting up the Mishkan.” (7:1)

Rashi states that although it was Betzalel, Ohaliav and the entire crew of craftsmen who built the Mishkan, the Torah ascribes the honor to Moshe. His tenacious dedication to certitude that each artifact was made according to its exact dimensions, and that each craftsmen properly executed his task, earned him this distinction. The Midrash Tanchuma in Parashas Pekudei relates that Moshe asked Hashem, “How is it possible for a man to set up the walls of the Mishkan on his own?” On a simple level, Moshe, of course, is referring to the sheer physical weight of the beams, walls and…

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