Naso - נָשֹׂ֗א - Numbers 4:21 - 7:89 Making Torah Personal

Discussion of selected verses of the parsha Naso through the lens of Mussar, where the Shleymut / Wholeness will be explored.

Bullet Points:
Completion of the second census of the Levites
Duties of the Gershonites and Merarites
Details of how to ensure the purification of the camp
Consequences for false oaths
The Test of the Sotah / Adulteress
Details of the Nazirite vows for men and women and offerings before and after
Birkat Kohanim / Priestly Blessing
Tribal gifts and final preparations

This source, a commentary on last week's parsha, Bemidbar, introduces us to
Shleymut / Wholeness

The Torah represents the wholeness [shleimut] of created beings and to the degree that they are lacking in their own eyes, they will yearn for that wholeness. They will merit Torah. It is very hard for agentic beings to see themselves as deficient, as we must...But one who makes him/herself like a desert [gains this insight], as it says in the midrash, one cannot merit Torah without first becoming hefker [open, free, no boundaries] like the desert. This was the preparation of bnei yisrael before they received the Torah: that they arrived at this attribute of "desert-ness"; that it became clear to them that they needed to yearn for wholeness and to clarify this need for others.
Sefat Emet, Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib, Bemidbar 1874

Happiness and its relationship to Wholeness ~ Shleymiut ---and being able to receive Torah

דרך חיים ו׳:ו׳:י״ז

הח', בשמחה. כי השמחה מדה גדולה, כי כאשר האדם הוא בשמחה הוא בשלימות, ועל ידי זה מקבל התורה, שהיא שלימות האדם. וכאשר האדם בצער, ואז* הוא בחסרון, אין מקבל התורה, שהיא שלימות האדם. כלל הדבר, כי אין ראוי לאדם שלימות האלקי הזה, היא התורה, כי אם על ידי שמחה, שהיא שלימות נפשי. וכאשר האדם נפשו בשמחה, אז ראוי לקבל נפשו שלימות התורה.

Derekh Chayyim 6:6:17

The eighth, with joy, because joy is a great attribute, because when a person is happy, one is whole, and thus attains (is able to receive - RS )Torah, which is the wholeness of humanity, and when a person is in distress, then one is lacking, and doesn't attain (receive - RS) Torah, which is the wholeness of humanity; the general rule is that Torah, which is divine wholeness, is not proper for someone except at the hands of joy, which is the soul's wholeness, and when a person's soul is happy, then it is proper for one's soul to receive the wholeness of the Torah.

במדבר ד׳:כ״א-כ״ג

(כא) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (כב) נָשֹׂ֗א אֶת־רֹ֛אשׁ בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֖וֹן גַּם־הֵ֑ם לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃ (כג) מִבֶּן֩ שְׁלֹשִׁ֨ים שָׁנָ֜ה וָמַ֗עְלָה עַ֛ד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים שָׁנָ֖ה תִּפְקֹ֣ד אוֹתָ֑ם כׇּל־הַבָּא֙ לִצְבֹ֣א צָבָ֔א לַעֲבֹ֥ד עֲבֹדָ֖ה בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

Numbers 4:21-23

(21) יהוה spoke to Moses: (22) Take a census of the Gershonites also, by their ancestral house and by their clans. (23) Record them from the age of thirty years up to the age of fifty, all who are subject to service in the performance of tasks for the Tent of Meeting.

במדבר ה׳:ו׳-ז׳

דַּבֵּר֮ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ אִ֣ישׁ אֽוֹ־אִשָּׁ֗ה כִּ֤י יַעֲשׂוּ֙ מִכׇּל־חַטֹּ֣את הָֽאָדָ֔ם לִמְעֹ֥ל מַ֖עַל בַּיהֹוָ֑ה וְאָֽשְׁמָ֖ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִֽוא׃ וְהִתְוַדּ֗וּ אֶֽת־חַטָּאתָם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂוּ֒ וְהֵשִׁ֤יב אֶת־אֲשָׁמוֹ֙ בְּרֹאשׁ֔וֹ וַחֲמִישִׁת֖וֹ יֹסֵ֣ף עָלָ֑יו וְנָתַ֕ן לַאֲשֶׁ֖ר אָשַׁ֥ם לֽוֹ׃

Numbers 5:6-7

Speak to the Israelites: When men or women individually commit any wrong toward a fellow human being, thus breaking faith with יהוה, and they realize their guilt, they shall confess the wrong that they have done. They shall make restitution in the principal amount and add one-fifth to it, giving it to the one who was wronged.

במדבר ה׳:ח׳

וְאִם־אֵ֨ין לָאִ֜ישׁ גֹּאֵ֗ל לְהָשִׁ֤יב הָאָשָׁם֙ אֵלָ֔יו הָאָשָׁ֛ם הַמּוּשָׁ֥ב לַיהֹוָ֖ה לַכֹּהֵ֑ן מִלְּבַ֗ד אֵ֚יל הַכִּפֻּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יְכַפֶּר־בּ֖וֹ עָלָֽיו׃

Numbers 5:8

If that party [is deceased and] has no kin to whom restitution can be made, the amount repaid shall go to יהוה for the priest—in addition to the ram of expiation with which expiation is made on their behalf.

במדבר ו׳:א׳-ג׳

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם אִ֣ישׁ אֽוֹ־אִשָּׁ֗ה כִּ֤י יַפְלִא֙ לִנְדֹּר֙ נֶ֣דֶר נָזִ֔יר לְהַזִּ֖יר לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃ מִיַּ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ יַזִּ֔יר חֹ֥מֶץ יַ֛יִן וְחֹ֥מֶץ שֵׁכָ֖ר לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה וְכׇל־מִשְׁרַ֤ת עֲנָבִים֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וַעֲנָבִ֛ים לַחִ֥ים וִיבֵשִׁ֖ים לֹ֥א יֹאכֵֽל׃

Numbers 6:1-3

יהוה spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If any men or women explicitly utter a nazirite’s vow, to set themselves apart for יהוה, they shall abstain from wine and any other intoxicant; they shall not drink vinegar of wine or of any other intoxicant, neither shall they drink anything in which grapes have been steeped, nor eat grapes fresh or dried.

במדבר ו׳:ד׳-ה׳

כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י נִזְר֑וֹ מִכֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵעָשֶׂ֜ה מִגֶּ֣פֶן הַיַּ֗יִן מֵחַרְצַנִּ֛ים וְעַד־זָ֖ג לֹ֥א יֹאכֵֽל׃ כׇּל־יְמֵי֙ נֶ֣דֶר נִזְר֔וֹ תַּ֖עַר לֹא־יַעֲבֹ֣ר עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ עַד־מְלֹ֨את הַיָּמִ֜ם אֲשֶׁר־יַזִּ֤יר לַיהֹוָה֙ קָדֹ֣שׁ יִהְיֶ֔ה גַּדֵּ֥ל פֶּ֖רַע שְׂעַ֥ר רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃

Numbers 6:4-5

Throughout their term as nazirite, they may not eat anything that is obtained from the grapevine, even seeds or skin. Throughout the term of their vow as nazirite, no razor shall touch their head; it shall remain consecrated until the completion of their term as nazirite of יהוה, the hair of their head being left to grow untrimmed.

במדבר ו׳:י״ג-ט״ז

וְזֹ֥את תּוֹרַ֖ת הַנָּזִ֑יר בְּי֗וֹם מְלֹאת֙ יְמֵ֣י נִזְר֔וֹ יָבִ֣יא אֹת֔וֹ אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃ וְהִקְרִ֣יב אֶת־קׇרְבָּנ֣וֹ לַיהֹוָ֡ה כֶּ֩בֶשׂ֩ בֶּן־שְׁנָת֨וֹ תָמִ֤ים אֶחָד֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה וְכַבְשָׂ֨ה אַחַ֧ת בַּת־שְׁנָתָ֛הּ תְּמִימָ֖ה לְחַטָּ֑את וְאַֽיִל־אֶחָ֥ד תָּמִ֖ים לִשְׁלָמִֽים׃ וְסַ֣ל מַצּ֗וֹת סֹ֤לֶת חַלֹּת֙ בְּלוּלֹ֣ת בַּשֶּׁ֔מֶן וּרְקִיקֵ֥י מַצּ֖וֹת מְשֻׁחִ֣ים בַּשָּׁ֑מֶן וּמִנְחָתָ֖ם וְנִסְכֵּיהֶֽם׃ וְהִקְרִ֥יב הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְעָשָׂ֥ה אֶת־חַטָּאת֖וֹ וְאֶת־עֹלָתֽוֹ׃

Numbers 6:13-16

This is the ritual for the nazirite: On the day that the term as nazirite is completed, the person shall be brought to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. As an offering to יהוה that person shall present: one male lamb in its first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering; one ewe lamb in its first year, without blemish, for a sin offering; one ram without blemish for an offering of well-being; a basket of unleavened cakes of choice flour with oil mixed in, and unleavened wafers spread with oil; and the proper meal offerings and libations. The priest shall present them before יהוה and offer the sin offering and the burnt offering.

God empowered human beings (Kohanim) to bless others.
Your thoughts about human beings (albeit with a legacy) who have the right / honor / ability / to bless other people? Do the Kohanim receive a blessing for themselves?

במדבר ו׳:כ״ב-כ״ז

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ דַּבֵּ֤ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶל־בָּנָ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֥ה תְבָרְכ֖וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אָמ֖וֹר לָהֶֽם׃ {ס} יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ {ס} יָאֵ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ {ס} יִשָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ {ס} וְשָׂמ֥וּ אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י עַל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַאֲנִ֖י אֲבָרְכֵֽם׃ {ס}

Numbers 6:22-27

יהוה spoke to Moses: Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them:
יהוה bless you and protect you!
יהוה deal kindly and graciously with you!
יהוה bestow [divine] favor upon you and grant you peace! Thus they shall link My name with the people of Israel, and I will bless them.

רש"י על במדבר ו׳:כ״ג:ג׳

אמור. מָלֵא — לֹא תְבָרְכֵם בְּחִפָּזוֹן וּבַהֲלוּת, אֶלָּא בְכַוָּנָה וּבְלֵב שָׁלֵם (תנחומא):

Rashi on Numbers 6:23:3

אמור is written plene (with ו after the מ) thus indicating: ye shall not bless them hurriedly and hastily, but devoutly and with a whole heart (Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 10).

חזקוני, במדבר ו׳:כ״ג:ב׳

ואל בניו מלמד שנשיאות כפים אפילו בכהן הדיוט.

Chizkuni, Numbers 6:23:2

ואל בניו, “and to his sons;” this teaches that not only the High Priest bestows blessings on the people but also the ordinary priest.

It is interesting that the Priestly Blessing set forth in the Torah (Numbers 6:22-27) is essentially a blessing for peace. The Kohanim are the prime example in Jewish life where we could be setting ourselves up for jealousy – "my position versus your position." Yet the Torah assigns them the specific role as messengers of peace!
And who was the quintessential master of peace? Moses' brother – Aaron the High Priest – who occupied the second-highest position in Jewish communal life. Yet Aaron was known as the master of peace. Despite his "special" status, Aaron brought harmony by teaching that no one's "package" is inherently better than another’s. And that's the key to true peace – never treating others as less important. ~From www.aish.com

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai says that peace is great because it includes each and every blessing, while Rabbi Hizkiyah posits that peace is great because it includes each and every commandment. Vayikra Rabbah

Rabbi Yishmael points out that when Sarah worried aloud that her husband Abraham was too old to father children (Genesis 18:12), God reported to Abraham that Sarah was concerned about her own age (18:13) — proving that keeping the peace in a long-term relationship supersedes strict truth-telling. Tractate Yevamot

Rambam, Moses Maimonides writes in the Mishneh Torah that peace is great “since the entire Torah has been given to create peace in the world.”

Hirsch in his commentary on the priestly blessing states that it is Jewish tradition for the human instrument conveying the blessing to raise his hands (vertically and not horizontally) to heaven while reciting this blessing so as not to give the people the impression that the priest is conveying the blessing, but that it is coming from heaven (The Pentateuch Numbers, p. 99, Judaica Press).

ליקוטי מוהר"ן, תנינא ז׳:י״א:ט׳

וְזֶה בְּחִינוֹת (במדבר ו׳:כ״ה): יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ. וִיחֻנֶּךָּ – זֶה בְּחִינוֹת חֲנֻכָּה, שֶׁעַל־יָדוֹ נִתְגַּלֶּה אוֹר הַפָּנִים, בְּחִינַת: יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו וְכוּ' כַּנַּ"ל.

Likutei Moharan, Part II 7:11:9

This is also the concept of “May God make His face shine upon you viychuneka (and grant you grace)” (Numbers 6:25)— viyChuNeKa alludes to ChaNuKah, through which the Light of the Face is revealed, as in “May God make His face shine….”

תהילים כ״ט:י״א

(יא) יְֽהֹוָ֗ה עֹ֭ז לְעַמּ֣וֹ יִתֵּ֑ן יְהֹוָ֓ה ׀ יְבָרֵ֖ךְ אֶת־עַמּ֣וֹ בַשָּׁלֽוֹם׃ {פ}

Psalms 29:11

(11) May the LORD grant strength to His people;
may the LORD bestow on His people wellbeing.

תהילים ל״ד:ט״ו

(טו) ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב בַּקֵּ֖שׁ שָׁל֣וֹם וְרׇדְפֵֽהוּ׃

Psalms 34:15

(15) Shun evil and do good,
seek PEACE and pursue it.

ספורנו על במדבר ו׳:כ״ד:א׳

יברכך בעושר ונכסים שאם אין קמח אין תורה:

Sforno on Numbers 6:24:1

יברכך, with material wealth. The reason this is the first of the blessing is explained by our sages in Avot 3,15 אם אין קמח אין תורה, “if there is no flour, (no economic base) a Torah environment cannot flourish.”

משלי ו׳:כ״ג

(כג) כִּ֤י נֵ֣ר מִ֭צְוָה וְת֣וֹרָה א֑וֹר וְדֶ֥רֶךְ חַ֝יִּ֗ים תּוֹכְח֥וֹת מוּסָֽר׃

Proverbs 6:23

(23) For the commandment is a lamp,
The teaching is a light,
And the way to life is the rebuke that disciplines.

קדושת לוי, במדבר, נשא ד׳

יאר ה' פניו אליך ויחונך (במדבר ו, כו). הכלל, כשאדם יש לו חן אזי בודאי יש לו מעלה. ובאמת מי יכול להתפאר עצמו נגד ה' שיש לו מעלה, כי להשם יתברך כל דיירא ארעא כלא חשיבין. ולזה מרמז הפסוק חסד הבורא ברוך הוא שעושה עם ישראל שנותן לישראל התפארת והדרת פנים בכדי שיהיה להם מעלה ויהיה לישראל חן בעיניו יתברך. וזהו הרמז ישא ה' פניו אליך, שנושא לך פנים, היינו הדרת פנים והתפארת בכדי שיהיה לך מעלה לישא חן בעיניו. וזהו ויחונך, בכדי שתמצא חן בעיניו יתברך:

Kedushat Levi, Numbers, Nasso 4

Numbers 6,25. “may the Lord shine His face upon ‎you and grant you grace.”
When a person enjoys grace ‎he certainly feels elevated, promoted. On the other hand, how is ‎it possible for a mere creature, a human being to entertain ‎feelings of pride or glory when facing his Creator?‎
‎ Did not Daniel 4,32 already state that “all the inhabitants of ‎the earth are of no account,” i.e. ‎ודירי ארעא כלא חשיבין‎.‎
By contrast, our verse confirms that G’d Himself bestowed ‎glory on His people Israel. He did so in order that they find grace ‎in His eyes.‎

חולין מ״ט א:ט״ז

מאי היא דתניא (במדבר ו, כג) כה תברכו את בני ישראל רבי ישמעאל אומר למדנו ברכה לישראל מפי כהנים לכהנים עצמן לא למדנו כשהוא אומר ואני אברכם הוי אומר כהנים מברכין לישראל והקדוש ברוך הוא מברך לכהנים

Chullin 49a:16

The Gemara clarifies: What is this, i.e., where does Rabbi Yishmael help the priests? As it is taught in a baraita: The verse states with regard to the priestly benediction: “So you shall bless the children of Israel” (Numbers 6:23). Rabbi Yishmael says: We learn from this verse about a blessing for Israel from the mouth of the priests, but we have not learned about a blessing for the priests themselves. When it says afterward with regard to the priests: “And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them” (Numbers 6:27), you must say: The priests bless Israel, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, blesses the priests.