Community Blog

Shalom! This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Naso, in which we learn of some more specifics around the roles of various sub-clans of the Levite tribe, we learn the ritual of the Sota (the suspected adultress) and the laws of the nazirite (a temporary ascetic vow to God), followed by the Priestly Blessing and the inaugural gifts to the Tabernacle. 

Setting aside for the moment the confusing fact that this is like the fourth time we’re told the Tabernacle is finally finished and the first sacrifices are being made, there’s something beautiful that even after the communal efforts and donations it has required to build the Mishkan, the people bring forth more gifts, for Moses and for God to house in the Tabernacle. Not just sacrifices for themselves to make, but more money and utensils, carts and oxen, tools, and so on. 

The very last line of the parasha tells us:

“When Moses would enter the Sanctuary to speak with HaShem, he would hear the voice speaking to him from above the cover of the Ark of Testimony . . . and it spoke to him” (7:89). 

Rashi comments on this:

“One might think that this (the fact that only Moses heard the Voice) was because the voice was low. So the verse stresses that it was the voice—the same voice that spoke to him at Sinai. But when it reached the doorway it stopped, and did not extend outside of the Sanctuary.”

    The Lubavitcher Rebbe continues on this theme:

“A basic tenet of the Jewish faith is that people have been granted the freedom to choose between good and evil, between adherence to one’s divinely ordained mission in life and rebellion against, or even denial of, their Creator. 

This is the deeper significance of the ‘shortstop’ made by the Divine Voice at the doorway of the Sanctuary. At Sinai, the words ‘I am G‑d your G‑d’ resounded throughout the universe, permeating every creature and creation. At that moment, there was no possibility of doubt of G‑d’s reality. But then the world fell silent, and the voice retreated to hover over the ‘Ark of Testimony’ that contains G‑d’s Torah and to confine itself to the four walls of the Sanctuary that houses it.

The volume was not lowered—the voice is no less infinite and omnipotent than it was at Sinai. One who enters the Sanctuary hears a voice that penetrates and permeates all, a voice that knows no bounds or equivocations. But one can choose to remain outside of the domain of Torah, to deny themselves the knowledge and the way of life in which G‑d makes Godself heard. One can choose to remain outside, in the field of G‑d’s self-imposed silence.

It is this choice that creates the challenge of life, making our every moral victory a true and significant achievement.

    As we welcome in new members of the tribe this season, between conversions around Shavuot, wedding season and the start of new Jewish families, we include this challenge and responsibility to all entering or remembering their role in the Jewish community. We all have to rise to this challenge every day and continually choose to be a part of the People of Israel. As Reform Jews, we also often seek to break down boundaries, to expand the reach of the Divine Voice, but there will always be things outside the Pale. Each of us must work in the pursuit of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), of Tzedek (justice), to be worthy of our B’tzelem Elohim (being in the image of God). In this way we continue to hear the call of the Divine, leading our way, filling our hearts with song, guiding our souls.

    My blessing for you all this Shabbat also comes directly from our parasha:

May G‑d bless you and keep you (6:24)

May G‑d make His face shine upon you, and give you grace (6:25)

May G‑d lift up His face to you and give you peace (6:26)