This week we read Parshat Naso.
This week we read Parshat Naso.
Who carries the debt, the responsibility, of the nation? “And G!d spoke to Moses saying ‘lift up each of the descendants of Gershon’…”. And later “V’Nasu, they shall 'carry' the Tabernacle’s tapestries, the skin cloths, and drapes…etc”.
The value, the worth of the nation is “lifted up” by the people and they “carry “ the responsibility for nation.”
The Parsha goes on to talk about defaulting in morality. While focusing on the Sotah, the adulterous wife, it misses the mark by also not pointing the finger at adulterous men. In our own times we see how the immorality of all segments of the population, the private, public and corporate, has contributed to an ongoing social, moral and economic crisis.
Perceptively, our Parsha, tried to confront this. We see in the Parsha a step toward correcting gender inequality in the discussion of the Nazirites, men and women who have equal access to God. It’s not just the Levitical Kohanic patriarchy.
The Parsha then narrates the ancient priestly blessing and how it is bestowed upon each individual. Everyone receives the Kohanic blessing: “May God bless you and protect you. May God’s light shine upon you and grant you graciousness. May God’s light be upon you and grant you Shalom.”
We depend on each other. We need each other to be lifted up by our community and our loved ones, and, sometimes, we need to carry each other.
Naso, as it is, is the Parsha coming out as we launch our June Appeal. Am Kolel exists in order to help us all lift up our heads and support each other in carrying the tapestries and drapery that make for a more beautiful world.
Brachot, with blessings,
Reb David