From Rabbi Mordecai Miller
May 21, 2010 |
8 Sivan 5770 |
Friday, May 21st, 2010
Naso
8th Sivan, 5770
Issru Chag
One of my dad’s favorite books was Itturei Torah by Aaron Joseph Greenberg (Yavneh Publishing House Ltd. Tel Aviv, 1971, 2nd printing). It’s a compilation of numerous brief comments, from many different sources, arranged according to the weekly Torah portions. Many of them are “nuggets” of information - in other words, gems of ideas that sparkle with inventiveness and insight. Dad had a custom of using a pencil to check in the margin of the book he was reading any thought he felt stood out from its neighbors. He would double check something that particularly struck his fancy and every so often he would add the word “quote” which meant, I suspect, “worth putting in a sermon or an article.”
Almost every page of Itturei Torah is peppered with check and double check marks!
The very first comment on parshat Naso is taken from the Chiddushei haRim - Yitchak Meir Alter the first Gerer Rebbe, 1798 - 1866. The Rim notes that Naso is the largest parsha in the Torah, clocking in at 176 verses! Quite remarkable is the fact that the longest chapter in the entire TaNaCH (Hebrew Bible), Psalm 119, which extolls the virtue of studying the Torah in every single verse, also contains 176 verses. Still more astonishing is the further fact that the longest tractate in the Talmud Bavli is Bava Batra which contains no less than 176 folio pages!
The Rim points out that there is extensive commentary on Naso in the midrashim and in the Zohar - more than on any other Torah portion. He suggests that the reason is that, almost without exception, Naso is the Torah portion we read immediately following the festival of Shavuot which celebrates the giving of our Torah. For this reason, our early sages wanted to give us some indication how far the Torah’s ideas could be expanded and developed. At the same time this could express, in a tangible way, a greater level of connection to and delight in the Torah, which the Jewish people were privileged to receive at this time.
Beautiful!
Mazel tov to all our graduating seniors and to their families! In particular, I was recently informed that our own Joel Portman, who is graduating the University of Denver was named “Senior of the Year!” Hearty mazel tov to Joel’s parents Marcia and Ron Portman and his proud grandmother Shirley.
Please feel free to share your news with me, especially if you’d like me to mention it in my message. I know how much we all enjoy the opportunity to celebrate good news and how we want to be able to support one another in times of sorrow.
Sunday’s a busy day here at BSKI.
There’s a fascinating program being offered this Sunday morning by our Adult Education Committee. More info here.
Sunday afternoon starting at 1:00 p.m. there will be a joint meeting with Shaare Zedek in the Rubenstein Auditorium to organize the various Task Force Sub-Committees which will hold Break-Out sessions at future dates to discuss the various elements involved in taking a good look at the pros and cons of a Merger
The synagogues will be hosting Bob Leventhal of the Alban Institute. Bob is serving as a paid consultant in making a careful analysis of the conditions that would indicate of counter-indicate the success of such a venture. I have had the chance to hear Bob at United Synagogue and Rabbinical Assembly Conventions. I can tell you that he is an engaging speaker and his comments are usually most insightful.
If you would like to serve on one of these committees please consider attending this meeting even if you have not sent in your reservation.
Also, plan to attend our Annual Congregational Meeting this coming Tuesday evening, May 25th in Founders’ Hall. The meeting will start at 7:30 p.m. Elections will be held to vote in the slate presented by our Nominations Committee. For the list of nominees click here. In addition, President Rick Kodner will be making his annual report which will include a summary of where things stand with regard to the Merger Discussions.
May we all share in the beauty and peace that Shabbat provides us.
Sincerely,
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Mordecai Miller