This coming Shabbat is one of those times when the Jewish world diverges. In Israel and in Reform communities outside the Land of Israel it is a regular Shabbat, so we read the first half of the Torah portion Naso. For other Jewish communities, outside the Land of Israel, it is the Second Day of Shavuot, so they read a special holiday Torah portion, Deuteronomy 15:19 through 16:17 and Numbers 28:26 through 28:31.
These Torah portions describe the special sacrifices for the Shavuot holiday. Naso 1 describes special sacrifices for guilt offerings and the ritual of Sotah, when a man accuses his wife of adultery but has no witnesses.
If we look closely, we can find a connection between these seemingly different themes. The first one is the value of sacrifice. It was how our ancient ancestors mediated their relationship with God. They gave up the best of their flock or crop to ensure their continued connection to God, whether atoning for doing wrong or celebrating a sacred day.
The Sotah ritual reminds us of the power of jealousy and unsubstantiated allegations to corrode and destroy a marriage, a family, and even a society. The Sotah ritual was designed to contain and expose that corrosive jealousy. Sacrifice promotes closeness and unity, while jealousy promotes division.
In these difficult times, we need more sacrifice and less jealousy. A Chinese proverb goes, “If you want to be happy for a day, buy something. If you want to be happy for three months, get married. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, serve others.”
Our tradition teaches that one of the three pillars that supports the world is acts of loving kindness. If we want to make a better world we must serve others (sacrifice), not turn against them (jealousy).
May we all apply this lesson to build a better world going forward.
Naso 1, Numbers 4:21-5:31 – Parshat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, May 30, 2020
May 29, 2020 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
This coming Shabbat is one of those times when the Jewish world diverges. In Israel and in Reform communities outside the Land of Israel it is a regular Shabbat, so we read the first half of the Torah portion Naso. For other Jewish communities, outside the Land of Israel, it is the Second Day of Shavuot, so they read a special holiday Torah portion, Deuteronomy 15:19 through 16:17 and Numbers 28:26 through 28:31.
These Torah portions describe the special sacrifices for the Shavuot holiday. Naso 1 describes special sacrifices for guilt offerings and the ritual of Sotah, when a man accuses his wife of adultery but has no witnesses.
If we look closely, we can find a connection between these seemingly different themes. The first one is the value of sacrifice. It was how our ancient ancestors mediated their relationship with God. They gave up the best of their flock or crop to ensure their continued connection to God, whether atoning for doing wrong or celebrating a sacred day.
The Sotah ritual reminds us of the power of jealousy and unsubstantiated allegations to corrode and destroy a marriage, a family, and even a society. The Sotah ritual was designed to contain and expose that corrosive jealousy. Sacrifice promotes closeness and unity, while jealousy promotes division.
In these difficult times, we need more sacrifice and less jealousy. A Chinese proverb goes, “If you want to be happy for a day, buy something. If you want to be happy for three months, get married. If you want to be happy for a lifetime, serve others.”
Our tradition teaches that one of the three pillars that supports the world is acts of loving kindness. If we want to make a better world we must serve others (sacrifice), not turn against them (jealousy).
May we all apply this lesson to build a better world going forward.