Welcome to your ASBEE Mishpacha
Anshei Sphard - Beth El Emeth Congregation
120 East Yates Rd. North, Memphis, TN 38120
901-682-1611, Fax: 901-682-1641
asbee@aol.com
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Welcome to your ASBEE Mishpacha Anshei Sphard - Beth El Emeth Congregation 120 East Yates Rd. North, Memphis, TN 38120 901-682-1611, Fax: 901-682-1641 asbee@aol.com |
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The 6 Mysterious Sections of NassoLast week we saw the organization of the tribes of Israel according to their official encampments, their numbers, and their leaders. This week, in the longest parasha in the Torah, it continues with the role of the Levites in the travels, presumably to Israel. Then the Torah interrupts this narrative with 5 seemingly extraneous laws. How are they all connected? The laws are 1) the sending of the impure outside the camp, 2) the return of stolen goods to the offended or the Temple, if there is no inheritor, 3) the test of the unfaithful woman, 4) the laws of a Nazarite, and 5) the priestly benedictions. These laws are followed by a story of the consecration of the tabernacle. How is it all connected?The portions we are reading now are about building a community and a holy camp. The holiness of the community rests on how it deals with 1) the spiritually impure, 2) the offenders of property, 3) sour relationships, and 4) those who separate themselves from the community. The priestly benedictions and the tabernacle serve as the holy center of this pure camp. What is our parsha about? This portion is about how to build and strengthen a community. We need to remove the impurities from the community, that which leads to decadence and self destruction. Restitution needs to be made to the offended and teshuva must abound. We must remove all jealousy and licentiousness, as well as the attitude of "holier than thou" which can be so divisive. Finally, we must try to bless and strengthen each other to avoid sin and antisocial behavior. |
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