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Next Reading
Torah Reading
Numbers 4:21-7:89
Haftarah
Judges 13:2-25
In this Torah portion, God describes the service of the Gershon family of Levites. The laws relating to the suspected adulteress and the nazirite are given. God tells Moses and Aaron the priestly blessing. The heads of tribes bring gifts to the Tabernacle.
Featured Commentary
Two linguistic features of this Torah portion remind us of the need to speak carefully even when our message is true.
A prayer for yesterday, today and tomorrow — all in one.
How the Priestly Blessing is manifested within the community's needs.
Some try to "outsource" their Judaism, but this approach has severe limits.
A midrash on the Sotah ritual emphasizes the lengths to which we go to bring peace between spouses.
The princes' gifts to the Tabernacle illustrate important principles of leadership and methods of balancing personal and communal needs.
The rituals described in this week's portion remind us to allow our values and principles to guide us in balancing our physical and emotional imbalances.
Rabbi Dr. Bradley Shavit Artson
The importance of preserving the relationship between a husband and wife provides an example of the Torah's use of relative morality.
We do not need to suffer through devastating consequences in order to learn how to live differently.
Those who link themselves with God and the people of Israel will indeed be blessed.
The biblical approach stands in sharp contrast to American federal sentencing guidelines.
By asking the priests to bless the people, God gives them an opportunity to serve as role models of caring for the people.
The nazirite exemplifies actively choosing a sacred status with a higher level of responsibility.
The nazirite’s path is radical and demanding, and our tradition has wrestled with its implications.
Giving ourselves time to grieve can lead us to a place where we feel God’s blessings.
The trial by ordeal prescribed for a woman suspected of infidelity is unparalleled anywhere else in the Torah.
For better or worse, children learn how to be in the world from their parents.
Our mistakes teach us what not to do in the future and shine a light on character traits we can improve.
God describes the service of the Gershon family of Levites; laws relating to the suspected adulteress and the nazirite are given; God tells Moses and Aaron the priestly blessing; the heads of tribes bring gifts to the Tabernacle.
The duty of the Levites to accompany the Tabernacle service with music and song reminds us to serve God with joy.