D'var Torah Naso 5-21-10

Hey HaNegev!

So is it just me, or is the Celtics leading the series 2-0 a bit of a surprise. Yes, yes, I know they are more experienced and have an incredible team, but its a bit shocking nonetheless. But hey, I guess they have just has the advantage of making mistakes and learning from them.

Speaking of making mistakes, did you know that Parashat Naso actually talks about some of the ways we can repay our debts and sins. See, it starts out explaining the number of Levites and which family will be doing what work when transporting the Tabernacle. Afterwards, G-d speaks to Moses about the laws in reference to a "wayward wife", or one suspected of unfaithfulness. Then, the laws of the Nazir are given, including not drinking wine, letting one's hair grow out, not touching a dead body. Finally, the Kohanim are taught how to bless the Israelites, and the leaders of each tribe bring offerings for the inauguration of the altar on different days individually described.

Of course, the list of commandments and rules just gets longer, and longer, and longer, and longer the further we get into Bamidbar. But, what I find particularly interesting about this parasha is something I read in a D'var Torah by Rabbi Aurebach discussing the question, "How much are you worth?". You see, in this week's parasha verse 5:10 states "A man's holies shall be his, and what a man gives to the Kohen shall be his" ... Did you catch that? Here, ill read it again "A man's holies shall be his, and what a man gives to the kohen shall be his."

General commentary on this pasuk states that this is referring to how if a man sets aside for example a sheep for sacrifice, he is still able to use its wool or own its children, regardless of the fact that it has been declared holy. The interpretation Rabbi Aurebach provides goes along with the following concept. A man is only worth what he gives.

There is a story of a Jew who became Minister of Finance to the Caliph of Granada. Once the Caliph asked him how much he was worth. The minister gave a figure far lower than one would have thought he was worth. The Caliph was angered by this deceitful answer. He confiscated all of the ministers possessions and sent him to jail. A few days later, the Caliph summoned him and asked him why he had lied about his wealth. "The figure I gave you," was the reply, "represents what I give to the poor and to the Yeshiva of Granada. This is what I consider my net worth to be. All my other possessions really arent mine, because you have the power to take them away. But what I have given away, can never be taken from me."

So what can we learn here? Accumulating wealth can sometimes be easy and sometimes it is not, but either way, whatever we give, time or money, is what truly displays our "value" in society".

Shabbat Shalom HaNegev
Allan Horn
HaNegev Religion and Education Vice President 2010-2011

Category:

Education

Tags:

• D'var
• Torah
• Naso
• 5
• 21
• 10

[DavidMah1998]

STOP MOVING SO MUCH.

[DavidMah1998]

You look so jewish..



[schulz]

actually, many poskim say kohanim today are not real kohanim.

see kohein.com