Naso

In this parsha

The census of the Levite families is completed with the duties of Gershon and Merari. Various laws follow: sending the impure outside the camp, restitution for wronging another, and the ordeal of the sotah, a woman suspected of adultery. The nazirite vow of abstaining from wine and haircutting is detailed, followed by the Priestly Blessing with which the kohanim bless the people. The longest parsha closes with the twelve tribal princes bringing identical dedication offerings for the altar, each recorded in full.

Themes

• Blessing flows through shalom
• Lifting the inner point
• Inner light within the physical
• Refining the dross of ratzon
• Guarding the sealed inner self
• Dust as foundation of refinement

Must-read teachings

1. 1Finding the inner life-force in the physical world"A man who shall set himself apart..." (Bamidbar 6:2) — the parsha of the nazir. The Sefas Emes opens with the word "yafli" (sets apart, wondrous), which he reads as the key to the entire idea: the nazir separates himself toward something h…תרל"א
2. 2Shalom as the vessel for blessingRegarding Birkas Kohanim: "Thus shall you bless Bnei Yisrael" (Bamidbar 6:23). The Sefas Emes begins from the mitzvah of the kohanim's blessing of the people. The meaning is that Bnei Yisrael are vessels through whom the blessing is drawn d…תרמ"ז
3. 3Blessing flows through the inner point of wholenessConcerning Birkas Kohanim (the priestly blessing). The Sefas Emes explores why the channel of blessing was entrusted specifically to the Kohanim. For it is taught: "no vessel holds blessing except peace (shalom)" (Uktzin 3:12). Shalom — who…תר"נ
4. 4Guarding the sealed inner self like the nazirIn the Midrash on "a man who sets himself apart (yafli)," this is the meaning of "his legs are pillars of marble (shesh)" — this refers to the world, which He established upon seven pillars, the days of creation; "set upon sockets of fine g…תרנ"ו
5. 5Clarifying daas of good and evilIn the portion of the nazir: "from wine and strong drink he shall abstain (yazir)" (Bamidbar 6:3). The Sefas Emes opens with the law of the nazir, who separates himself from wine, and uses it to explore the nature of daas (knowledge). In th…תרנ"א
6. 6Dust as the fertile foundation of refinementIn the Midrash: Why did the Torah say to bring dust for the sotah (the suspected wife)? If she is found worthy, a son will issue from her like Avraham, of whom it is said "and I am dust"; as a reward for Avraham Avinu saying "and I am but d…תרנ"ג
7. 7Torah restores the pre-sin soulIn the Midrash: "It is more precious than pearls (peninim)" — more precious than the Kohen Gadol who enters the innermost chamber (lifnai v'lifnim), and than the firstborn (bechor) who came out first — see there; as it is written, "the Tora…תרנ"ד
8. 8Birkas Kohanim rooted in the AvosThe continuation of the parsha, "And it was on the day Moshe finished…" (Bamidbar 7:1), to Birkas Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing). The Sefas Emes connects the dedication of the Mishkan with the Priestly Blessing that immediately precedes it…תר"ס