A large part of this week’s Parshah deals with the exchange of roles between the Firstborn and the Levites. The Firstborn, who had been the priests until then, but had taken part in the sin of the Golden Calf, lost their place to the Levites, who had remained loyal to G-d. it is instructive to look more closely at this exchange and the two groups involved. The Firstborn achieved their status as the priestly class as a result of the Exodus. G-d, who spared the firstborn of Israel when he slew the firstborn of the Egyptians, took the Firstborn as His servants. The Levites, on the other hand, earned their place as G-d’s priests by standing aloof from the sin of the Golden Calf, and by helping Moses restore order. The Firstborn, therefore, were chosen by G-d in spite of themselves, while the Levites chose to be on the side of G-d. In modern parlance, we could say that while the Firstborn were Jews by birth, the Levites were Jews by choice. The fate of both groups is also instructive. The Firstborn failed in their task, following the people into sin rather than giving a positive lead themselves. They therefore lost their status. The Levites, on the other hand, had the courage of their convictions and were therefore able to become the eternal priests of Israel, and the source of spiritual renewal throughout Jewish history. It would appear that simply being a Jew by birth is not enough to maintain a Jewish identity and that something more is needed. Those who were not born Jewish but chose to convert seem to have a commitment to Judaism that we can all learn from. It maybe for this reason that we read the book of Ruth on Shavuot. On the day we commemorate our acceptance of the Torah, we remember the passion given to us by converts such as Ruth, and our need to emulate it. We recall that simply accepting the Torah as an inheritance is not enough, but we have to actively chose to be Jewish. Yet even the Firstborn, who lost the right to be priests, still have a spark of holiness in them. They therefore had to be redeemed by the Levites, as each Firstborn male still does today. Being born Jewish means that we have an inner connection to the Torah and Judaism. We have the potential of leading a Jewish life, but it is up to us to actualise it. The choice that faces us as Jews is simple. Will we throw away our Jewish inheritance like the Firstborn, or will we chose, like the Levites, to embrace the Torah and lead Jewish lives. We all can be Jews of choice.
ALIYAH BY ALIYAH SYNOPSIS
Rishon |
The command to number the Children of Israel |
Sheni |
The census. |
|
Shelishi |
The division of the people into four standards. |
|
Revi’i |
The Levites and their duties. |
|
Chamishi |
The census of the Levites |
|
Shishi |
The exchanging of the Firstborn for the Levites. |
|
Shevi’i |
The duties of the Kohathites. |
|
Haftorah |
Hosea 2;1–22: Israel should leave false gods and return to G-d. |
Sidra Statistics
Parshat Bamidbar
· has 119 verses;
· is the 1st in Numbers, 34th in the Torah
· 5th longest in Numbers, 19th longest in the Torah
· has no mitzvot.
