June 03, 2023 – Naso (“Lift up!”) – Parshat 35

• Torah: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
• Haftara: Judges 13:2-25
• Brit Chadasha: Luke 1:11-20

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ נָשֹׂ֗א אֶת־רֹ֛אשׁ בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֖וֹן גַּם־הֵ֑ם לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃

Vayedaber Adonay el-Moshe lemor. Naso et-rosh beney Gershon gam-hem leveyt avotam lemishpechotam.

God spoke to Moses, saying: Also take a census of Gershon’s descendants by families, following the paternal line.

Blessings from Above: After the finalization of the census of the clans of Levi, we see HaShem give some rules regarding our cleanliness in order to live in His presence. He addresses defilement of our flesh, righting wrongs toward our brethren, and fidelity in marriage. If we do these things He has counted us as able to rest in His presence, and fellowship in peace with Him.

After these things we see in Bemidbar 6:1&2&8 “And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When either man or woman shall clearly utter a vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to consecrate himself unto the LORD….8 All the days of his Naziriteship he is holy unto the LORD.”…. the instruction specifically to those who will enter into complete dedication and wholeheartedly follow Adonai, even giving up some of the joy (wine) and the comforts of this life (appearance) in order to be set apart for the God of Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaakov. Clearly counted as able to enter into complete fellowship with HaShem.

So is one more readily blessed by Adonai? Is the Nazarite the only one who can come into the Mishkan and be accepted?…… HaShems response to ALL who will do His Instruction, not just the Navirite – is the blessing of the Birkat Kohanim!

Bemidbar (Numbers 6:22-27)

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

The LORD spoke to Moses:

דַּבֵּ֤ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶל־בָּנָ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֥ה תְבָרֲכ֖וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אָמ֖וֹר לָהֶֽם׃ (ס)

Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them:

יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ (ס)

The LORD bless you and protect you!

יָאֵ֨ר יְהוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ (ס)

The LORD deal kindly and graciously with you!

יִשָּׂ֨א יְהוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (ס)

The LORD bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!

וְשָׂמ֥וּ אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י עַל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַאֲנִ֖י אֲבָרֲכֵֽם׃ (פ)

Thus they shall link My name with the people of Israel, and I will bless them.

HaShem wants to יְבָרֶכְךָ֥  bless you all with His Name …. Yeshua (Salvation) our Goel (Redeemer) and grant you all with His perfect שָׁלֽוֹם Shalom peace!

Shalom Mish’pachah from Beth Hallel Lodi