Torah For Today

Naso (to take)

Lev. 4:21 - 7:89<= /span>

F= ollowing the opening portion of the book of Numbers which calls for a census and describes the “formation” of the sons of Israel as they prepare= to embark on the journey in the wilderness,&n= bsp; we read of three commands in this week’s Torah portion: disavo= wing a monetary obligation (5:6-10), dealing with a suspected adulteress (5:11-3= 1) and the Nazirite vow (6:1-21). Many commentator= s have questioned why this “halachic” (law= s) section should be placed in the middle of the narrative about the wilderness wanderings. Perhaps the reaso= n lies in the fact that the law concerning the monetary obligation and the accused adulteress are settled by a priest of Israel. In other words, these= laws serve as a reminder that the role of the priest went beyond the “walls” of the Tabernacle. They played a role in the lives of t= he individual Israelites. Their role included helping the Israelites to be a h= oly nation. In this sense t= he priests serve as good role models for spiritual leaders. The role of a spiritual leader is = more than functioning as a teacher and performer of religious rites and duties. A spiritual leader is involved in the lives of the people - directly or indirectly, helping them to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. Sometimes leaders are called upon to settle disputes and help to heal diffi= cult situations. However, before we come to the conclusion that only spiritual leaders may function in this capacity, we have the model of a person taking= a Nazirite vow. Commenting on this passage, Rav Yair Kahn of Yeshiva = Etzion says “the Nazir is not satisfied with his role as a member of machaneh Yisroel (camp of Israel), vulnerable to the pa= ssions and pressures of natural man. He prefers the paradigm of the Kohen (high priest)”. The Nazir took a vow of separation for a limited time and for varying reasons, but the poi= nt is that for a season they lived separated lives, like the priests. We then learn from this parsha that it is not only the priests, those in spir= itual leadership who are called to be holy but the whole nation. The priests are = to play a role in helping the nation to be holy and in addition individuals ha= ve the opportunity to live a separated holy life themselves. May we as a congregation function as a holy people unto the Lord. In the= New Covenant we read, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up = in all aspects into Him who is the= head, even Messiah from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, accordin= g to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body f= or the building up of itself in love”.(Eph. 4:16) Shabbat Shalom!

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