The beginning of the Book of Numbers counts all the arms-bearing age men of each of the tribes of Israel as the Israelites get set to depart from the wilderness of Sinai.
The Levites, though, the tribe of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, were granted different status. While the other tribes were each apportioned a position around the holy arc when traveling through the wilderness, and later would be the one tribe not apportioned land, G-d seems to have something else in mind for the Levites.
Destined to not have land of their own, the Levites were dependent upon the contributions of the other tribes in order to subsist. And in this second parasha of the book of Numbers/Bamidbar, we see part of how they would survive. As the Israelites are instructed on how to make restitution for a wrong committed against another, the Levites are a necessary part of the equation: “If that party [is deceased and] has no kin to whom restitution can be made, the amount repaid shall go to Adonai for the priest—in addition to the ram of expiation with which expiation is made on their behalf. So, too, any gift among the sacred donations that the Israelites offer shall be the priest’s. And each shall retain his sacred donations: each priest shall keep what is given to him.” (Numbers 5:8-10)
The livelihood of the Levites – the priests, the ritualists of the day – was incumbent upon the Israelites performing acts of restitution. Justice was the engine for the success of the Israelite economy.
In a time of societal budgets falling dearly short of anything close to justice, it becomes incumbent upon us to ensure everyone eats through acts of justice. Yes, we must care for the ritualists (says a ritualist), but there are so many for whom restitution is necessary. May our economic acts this week and beyond be guided by restoring justice and ensuring those for whom land is deprived can eat. May the Jewish people become a model for this and turn away from any other practice. May it be so.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
The Levites, though, the tribe of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, were granted different status. While the other tribes were each apportioned a position around the holy arc when traveling through the wilderness, and later would be the one tribe not apportioned land, G-d seems to have something else in mind for the Levites.
Destined to not have land of their own, the Levites were dependent upon the contributions of the other tribes in order to subsist. And in this second parasha of the book of Numbers/Bamidbar, we see part of how they would survive. As the Israelites are instructed on how to make restitution for a wrong committed against another, the Levites are a necessary part of the equation: “If that party [is deceased and] has no kin to whom restitution can be made, the amount repaid shall go to Adonai for the priest—in addition to the ram of expiation with which expiation is made on their behalf. So, too, any gift among the sacred donations that the Israelites offer shall be the priest’s. And each shall retain his sacred donations: each priest shall keep what is given to him.” (Numbers 5:8-10)
The livelihood of the Levites – the priests, the ritualists of the day – was incumbent upon the Israelites performing acts of restitution. Justice was the engine for the success of the Israelite economy.
In a time of societal budgets falling dearly short of anything close to justice, it becomes incumbent upon us to ensure everyone eats through acts of justice. Yes, we must care for the ritualists (says a ritualist), but there are so many for whom restitution is necessary. May our economic acts this week and beyond be guided by restoring justice and ensuring those for whom land is deprived can eat. May the Jewish people become a model for this and turn away from any other practice. May it be so.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
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