I.M. A ONE AND ONLY

By Dina Siegel

Parshas Naso is the longest Parsha in the entire Torah. Many of the Pesukim detail the offerings that the Nesiim brought during the inauguration of the Mishkan. The Torah records the gifts of each Nasi even though they were exactly identical. Why is it necessary for the Torah to specify what each Nasi brought if they all brought the same Korban?
Ramban comments that all of the Nesiim had the idea to bring the same Korban at the same time. Additionally, although each Korban contained the same components, each Nasi had his own intentions in bringing it. The action was the same, but it had a different meaning for each Shevet. The Korban was, therefore, unique all 12 times.

The world seems to reward results. The person who gets better grades or owns a bigger home is looked upon with higher regard. Hashem, however, takes into account our efforts and intentions. When you work hard for something, it doesn’t matter how your success measures up to someone else’s.
Hashem is showing us the importance of intentions by listing the same Korbanos 12 times. The second Nasi could have looked at the Korban of the first Nasi and reacted in two different ways; he could have brought a bigger Korban or given up and not brought one at all. Both of these responses would be understandable. He could have felt like his gift would be useless. People don’t appreciate getting two of the same present, let alone 12! These Pesukim teach us that it doesn’t matter what we give, but rather what our motivations are.
It’s easy to give up when you don’t see the outcome of your hard work, but remember that the work also has value. When you have good intentions, that’s what counts in the ultimate picture.
Have a great Shabbos!

By Dina Siegel

For 6 weeks we have been counting. This week we begin Sefer Bamidbar, or Numbers, as it is called in English. The connection to between Bamidbar and Numbers is apparent from the very beginning of the Parsha. In the second Pasuk, Hashem commands Moshe to count Bnai Yisrael.
This seems to be a strange command. Why would Hashem want to count Bnai Yisrael?
Rashi explains that Hashem counted Bnai Yisrael out of love for them. Not only does Hashem love us, but He wants us to know it. This Rashi raises a question. Why would Hashem choose to display his love specifically at this point?
In this week’s Parsha, the Torah records the transition of the Avodah in the Bais Hamikdash from the Bechorim to the Leviim. The Leviim are given their elevated position. The Torah details the process of substituting each Levi for a Bechor. It also discusses the specific jobs of each family of Leviim. At this point, it’s possible that the Yisraelim would feel small in Hashem’s eyes. They might not feel Hashem’s love for them. Hashem comes to challenge this assumption. From the very beginning of the Parsha we are told that Hashem loves all of Bnai Yisrael.
Additionally, even if the Yisraelim were on a level that they understood Hashem’s love for them, we the reader of the Torah might question Hashem’s equal love for all of Bnai Yisrael. For this reason we are told from the very beginning of Hashem’s love. When reading through the Parsha we might think that Hashem is “favoring” the Leviim, we see from the onset, however, that the reality is otherwise.
Every person, no matter his status, is worthy of Hashem’s love. There are times when we might not feel this love, but we can learn from the Leviim that it is always there. Even when we feel low in our eyes or in the eyes of the world around us, we still have that equal, unchanging measure of love from Hashem. If Hashem who knows every person’s struggles and shortcomings still loves each and every Jew, we who see a limited picture have an obligation to love every person.
Have a great Shabbos and an inspiring Shavuos!
A few practical tips:
• Do a favor for someone out of love and not obligation
• Remember that you are always loved
• Do something nice for someone that you find hard to love

By Dina Siegel

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