Beit Midrash

  • Torah Portion and Tanach
  • Naso
קטגוריה משנית
To dedicate this lesson
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The tribe of Levi always seemed to have special responsibilities and privileges within the Jewish people. Our father Jacob spoke harshly of their father’s tendency to be impetuous and even violent, albeit for what was believed to be a holy and necessary cause. As a result of this admonition of Jacob, the tribe of Levi first assigned for itself a roll of service to the community of Israel and of scholarship and education. Early on in the history of the Jewish people, even before we were redeemed from Egyptian bondage, the tribe of Levi was seen as being the clergy, so to speak, of Israel. According to Jewish tradition, the tribe of Levi was not subject to physical enslavement and harsh labor as were the other tribes of Israel during the period of Egyptian bondage. The leadership of the Jewish people in Egypt in the personages of Aaron and Moshe were members of the tribe of Levi. The tribe of Levi was relatively small in number in comparison to the other tribes of Israel. The rabbis ascribe this to the fact that the blessing that the Lord bestowed upon the Jewish people that because of their affliction they would nevertheless only increase in their numbers did not apply to the tribe of Levi since they were not involved in any forced labor. It was from the tribe of Levi that the priestly line of Aaron was created and until today the special and unique character and respect bestowed upon the tribe of Levi is part of the social and religious fabric of the clergy society.

Naturally, with rewards and benefits, the Torah always imposes duties and responsibilities. The tribe of Levi was excluded from ownership of land in the Land of Israel and from most general commercial activities as well. Its role was to serve in the Temple, to be the educators and teachers of Torah to the Jewish people and to be moral personal examples of the values involved in living a truly Jewish life. The tribe of Levi lived in forty eight cities scattered throughout the boundaries of the land of Israel. They were the spiritual soldiers, so to speak, who were on the ground engaging and influencing Jewish society. They were entitled to be supported by the Jewish people as a whole through the system of tithing but they were seen to be an elite group given over to God, so to speak, in order to serve their fellow Jews spiritually and in many cases even physically. Even after the destruction of the Temple and the exile of the Jewish people throughout the nations of the world, the Levites have retained certain special privileges and honors and have a unique role in the Jewish religious world. They are the symbol of national and religious service in the realm of the obligations upon all Jews to work for the common benefit of all of their brethren. Because of their special role in Jewish life they are entitled to be counted separately and uniquely in the count of the Jewish people as it appears in these sections of the Torah. There is a lesson in that for all of us, whether we are of the tribe of Levi or not.


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Lessons
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    Yitro

    Only Those Who Live In The Land Love G-d

    The Torah threatens punishment for idol-worshipers that is only 1/500th of the reward that the righteous will receive: "Concerning My enemies, I keep in mind the fathers' sins for their descendants, [only] to the 3rd and 4th generations. But for those who love Me and keep My commandments, I show love for [at least two] thousands of generations" (Sh'mot 20,5-6). The punishment is for four generations, and the reward for 2,000 generations. But the question we would like to address is: Why are the righteous termed both "those who love Me" and "those who keep My commandments?" Is not one enough?

    Rabbi Moshe Tzuriel | Shvat 19 5783
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    3 min
    Shlach Lecha

    For God's Sake Don't Go To Israel

    Israel National Torah

    Clarifying the spies' argument for not entering the Land of Israel...and then clarifying why it's so important to enter the Land anyway.

    Baruch Gordon | Sivan 19 5780
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    Serving as Chazan on the Shabbat Before a Yahrtzeit

    How important is it for someone to be chazan on the Shabbat before a yahrtzeit? Is it is just for parents, or also grandparents/in laws? Some people in my [the rabbi] shul feel that people use it as an excuse to “grab the amud.”

    Rabbi Daniel Mann | Tevet 2 5777
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    How Many Eggs Should be Boiled Together?

    When making hardboiled eggs, may one cook one or two eggs or must there be at least three? Also, does it make a difference if there is an even or odd number

    Rabbi Daniel Mann
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    P'ninat Mishpat

    Introduction and Biography of the Noda B’Yehuda

    After an extended period of presenting ideas of the Chatam Sofer on monetary disputes, we move on to a shorter series on the works of Rav Yechezkel Segal Landau, often called the Noda B’yehuda. (Although Rav Landau served as a dayan for many years, poskim do not usually publicize their rulings on cases in which they served as a dayan, but on questions asked by other rabbis. The Noda B’yehuda did not include many such cases in his reponsa.) Many view the Chatam Sofer and the Noda B’Yehuda as two of a kind. They were in the same basic time period (Rav Landau was around 50 years older), they were important rabbis of important communities at critical times, and the works of each are among the most respected and quoted by Acharonim.

    Various Rabbis | Tevet 8 5776
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    Bemare Habazak - Rabbis Questions

    Working in a Non-Kosher Establishment

    Rabbi Daniel Mann | Sivan 14 5775
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    Prayer

    Birkot HaShachar – The Morning Blessings

    Chapter nine-part one

    Chapter nine-part one

    Rabbi Eliezer Melamed | 5775
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    Jewish Holidays

    The Twentieth of Sivan

    "I noticed that the back of my siddur contains a large section devoted to selichos for the 20th of Sivan, yet I have never davened in a shul that observed this day. What does this date commemorate?"

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Sivan 17 5780
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    Additional Lessons

    The Laws of Tumas Meis

    When the Beis Hamikdash is rebuilt, bimheirah beyameinu, the laws of tumah will affect us all, since we will be required to be tahor in order to enter the Beis Hamikdash, to eat korbanos and maaser sheini, and in order to separate challah and terumah.

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5772
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    Basics of Financial Laws

    How Does a Heter Iska Work?

    What is the prohibition of "Ribbit"? who does it apply on? How does the "Heter Iska" bypass the prohibition? and more...

    Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5770
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    Marriage and Relationships

    Relationships during the Time of Engagement

    A young engaged man and his fiancée naturally have very strong feelings for each other. It goes without saying that these will be expressed after the wedding, but what expression, if any, is permitted in the meantime? And while we're on the subject, is the attraction of men and women to each other really a good thing to begin with?

    Rabbi Elyakim Levanon | 5770
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    Other Great Leaders

    That a Cohen May Not Marry a Divorcee

    A few days later, a royal emissary of the Empress Maria Teresa appeared at the rabbi’s home. The surprised rabbi realized that the wealthy Jew had broken the convention by which Jews did not involve non-Jews in their inner disputes. He had no choice.

    Rabbi Shmuel Holshtein | 5769
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