Rabbi’s Weekly Message

Dear Temple Members and Friends,

            This week’s Torah portion, Naso, has some very interesting and relevant parts.

            It mentions the Nazir, the person in biblical times who swore an oath to God. A Nazir was a person who took a vow to God to live a strict and holy life during the time of his vow. During this time, to indicate the sincerity of his vow, he abstained from wine, did not cut his hair and avoided all contact with a dead body. Since it was considered a sin to refrain from taking certain actions in life, at the end of the vow’s designated time the Nazir would need to bring a sin offering to the Temple in Jerusalem thereby asking for forgiveness.

Although, you might be able to find a Nazir or two in Jerusalem these days, it is not the best action to take as a person cannot ever end the vow since there is no longer a Temple in Jerusalem to bring a sin offering. This would have to wait until the Mashiach arrives, the Messiah, and only the Messiah knows when that is, that’s for sure.

This section of the week’s parasha is historically interesting but also allows us to focus on the importance of making a vow, a promise, whether to God, to another person, or to oneself. Vows should never be taken lightly. Remember this as Kol Nidre is getting closer every day.

The next section is one of my most favorite as it presents the Birkat HaCohanim, the blessing of ancient Priests of Israel. The opening words are so familiar as they are often offered in synagogue and at various life cycle functions: “May the Lord bless you and keep you!” (Nu 6:22-27) What I really find interesting is that the blessing said before the Priestly blessing is offered states that this prayer must come from a place of love within the Cohain, the Priest. If the priest does not have thoughts and feelings of love for the recipient of the prayer, be it an individual or a group, he cannot say this prayer. I find this very beautiful and meaningful, and I will comment more about this on Friday night.

Finally, the next section is a long list of what each of the twelve tribes is to bring to the Tabernacle at the time of its construction. What is interesting is that each tribe is described as bringing the same items. Why then does the text need to list each tribe’s gifts rather than simply saying these are the gifts of all the tribes? This is because each tribe is unique in its personality and individuals, and so although the gifts are the same the bearers of the gifts are not.

            Once again, the Torah stresses the worth of every individual even when describing the community or the group. This emphasis on the specialness of each person is one of the hallmarks of Temple Sinai. Certainly, I and other members of the Temple, try to make each person feel important from the moment they walk through the Temple’s beautiful front doors. When I first arrived at Temple Sinai, the co-Presidents Betti and Lynne and I met with small groups of members to make them feel that their thoughts and feelings, hopes and dreams about the Temple were important.

            Many of the comments made at the small group meetings have been instituted including the recently announced re-start of our religious school called: Beit Mishpachah, the Jewish Family Experience. We will again be meeting with small groups of Temple members as we have so many new members since my first year at the Temple. The summer will be a good time to begin this project. Looking forward to this project as it enables Temple members to feel that what they have to say is very important.

            I wish all a Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Steven Moss