Weekly Mission: Parshat Bimidbar- Will You Marry Me?

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Parshat Bimidbar (5770) - Will You Marry Me?

After a long Journey at Binghamton, I am finished, and off on a new adventure with Rachael. I am getting married to the best editor in the world, and I could never be happier. Binghamton was life changing and the friends that I have made over the last couple of years have deeply affected me, and made me a stronger person, thank you.

“And I, Behold! I have taken the Levites from among the Children of Israel, in place of every firstborn...”[i]

At the sin of the golden calf women and the tribe of Levi did not participate, but the first born did. Originally, G-d gives the responsibility of the temple service to the first born of Israel. Because they also participated in the sin of the golden calf, the holy maintenance team for the Temple, in most of its facets, is given to the tribe of Levi. Among the many areas, the Levites are commanded to carry the Mishkan, to clean the Altar and upkeep the cleanliness of the Temple.

Marriage is one of the most significant experiences in one’s life. The binding of two people guiding one another is each individual’s catalyst to fulfilling their fixing in the world. Today marriage has negative connotations. People like refer to it as “tied down,” “another one bites the dust,” and the occasional “you just signed your death sentence.” Although these all may be cute remarks against the committed, what about commitment scares people?

Marriage means every moment is a moment to better oneself through the treasure of deep love for another person. Marriage means, even what appears to be difficult (may actually be difficult) will create a stronger bond with one’s spouse. In the Haftorah[ii] Hoshea’s prophecy explains the relationship between HaShem and the Jewish people during the end of days. HaShem refers to us, the Jewish people, as His wife, and the HaShem is referred to as our Husband. The marriage is described as being neglected, desolate, and gaunt. Once the Jewish people repent, and we recognize that we have neglected G-d, then:

“I will give her vineyards, and the desolate valley will become a gate of hope; and she will live out there as in the days of her youth and as on the day of her ascent from the land of Egypt.”[iii]

So why are the Levites chosen to become the holiest janitorial staff in history? Because the Levites always remained married to G-d and their commitment never ceased. That is why they were able to serve as the guardians of the Holy Ark, and became the sweet musicians who praised G-d with pure tonality every single day.

Our marriage with HaShem was heavily bruised after the sin of the golden calf, as the Meshech Chochmah teaches[iv]; the sin of the golden calf is compared to a woman betraying her husband under the bridal canopy. After the sin, the Tablets with the Ten Commandments turned into mere pottery, and they became insignificant. It was only through rebuke and proper repentance, that the Jews renewed their vows with HaShem.[v]

This coming week is the holiday of Shavuot.[vi] Our sages teach us that this holiday is a commemoration of the marriage that we had with HaShem over three thousand years ago. The completion of the world would only be possible after the Torah was received and HaShem needed a people to be the carriers of the Torah. We are the carriers, and HaShem is the Creator. The world’s potential can be recognized only once the Torah was put into existence.

As we approach this beautiful time we must recognize that we too need to marry HaShem just like our ancestors did. Almost daily, the final words of Hoshea are said when a man wraps the tefillin around his finger representing again, marriage to G-d: “And I will betroth you to Me forever, and I will betroth you to Me with righteousness, justice, loving-kindness and mercy. And I will betroth you to Me with faith, and you shall know the HaShem.”[vii]

This week I will try to: Marry my Creator with all my strengths with all my weaknesses, with all my successes and all my failures. I will try to better myself and my marriage commitments to the MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE. I will recognize that the Levites were so special because they always remained married to HaShem, and they never doubted HaShem’s greatness. I will try to receive the Torah and the light of Mt. Sinai starting Tuesday night at 8:10PM.

The Aleph-Bet- In the first word of the Torah, Bereishit, the three "servant" letters--the prefix beit" and the two suffix letters, yud and tav - spell bayit, "house" (equivalent to the full spelling of the letter beit). The root of "bereishit," rosh, means "head." Thus the most "natural" permutation of bereishit reads: rosh bayit, "the head of the house." One permutation of the letters rosh is osher, "happiness." When the tzadik draws God, the "Head," into His House, it becomes a house of true and eternal happiness.[viii]

Shabbat Shalom!

Refuah Shalayma to the college students: Chana Sara Bat Nechama, Yosef ben Sara, and Frieda Bat Batzion.


[i] Bamidbar 3:11

[ii] The Haftorah is a supplementary reading from the books of the Prophets. It is dated back to Talmudic times and usually has coinciding themes with the Torah portion.

[iii] Hosea 2:17

[iv] Rabbeinu Meir Simcha of Dvinsk wrote MESHECH CHOCHMA

[v] Meshech Chochmah Parshat Ki Tisa

[vi] Shavuot, is one of the three pilgrimage festivals on which the Jews relive the receiving of the Torah on Mt. Sinia. Many stay up through the night learning Torah, and focus on receiving the Torah brand new, once again.

[vii] Hoshea 2:21-22

[viii] http://www.inner.org/hebleter/beit.htm

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