Episodes

  • Shlach, 1st Aliya

    Shlach, 1st Aliya
    Jun 23 2024

    Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

    To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.com

    Sending in Men to Scout Out the Land

    The incident regarding Miriam (see last week's parsha) look place in an area called Chatzeroth.

    The incident regarding Korach (see next week's parsha) also took place there according to Rashi.

    In this current Parsha, we are told that they traveled from the Desert of Paran (which was where they camped after Chazeroth). Thus chronologically, this parsha occurred after the story of Korach, yet it is written into the text before.

    Rashi explains that this was in order to juxtapose the story of Miriam who was afflicted due to her speaking in a way which she shouldn't have, to the story of the spies, who did not learn from this.

    The Israelites had said that they wanted to be allowed to send men into the Land of Israel to scout it out. Moshe consulted G-d in this regard, who told him that he was leaving the decision up to Moshe. G-d allowed for this option to send in the spies who would ultimately lead them to sin, because the very act of asking to send in spies demonstrated their lack of faith.

    G-d says that the men that are to be sent in should consist of one leader per each of the tribes.

    So Moshe went ahead and sent these leaders out.

    All of these men were at the time honorable (though they later came to sin).

    These are the men who were sent out:

    * Representing the tribe of Reuven was Shamua the son of Zaccur

    * Representing the tribe of Shimon: Shaphat the son of Hori

    * Representing the tribe of Yehuda: Caleb the son of Yefuneh

    * Representing the tribe of Issaschar: Yigal the son of Yosef

    * Representing the tribe of Ephraim: Hoshea the son of Nun

    * Representing the tribe of Binyamin: Palti the son of Raphu

    * Representing the tribe of Zevulun: Gaddiel the son of Sodi

    * Representing the tribe of Menashe: Gaddi the son of Susi

    * Representing the tribe of Dan: Ammiel the son of Gemalli

    * Representing the tribe of Asher: Sethur the son of Michael

    * Representing the tribe of Naphtali: Nachbi the son of Vophsi

    * Representing the tribe of Gad: Geuel the son of Machi

    Before they left for this mission, Moshe prayed that G-d should save Hoshea the son of Nun from the scheme of the spies, and thus called him Yehoshua (literally "may G-d save you").

    In accordance with the custom of merchants to display their worst products first and save the best products for last, Moshe told the men to begin the scouting by ascending in the south, which was the inferior part of the land and to ascend the mountain there.

    Moshe tells them to to look at the land and find out if it produces strong or weak people by checking if the cities are fortified. If the cities are unwalled, this would indicate that they are strong, and if they are fortified, this would indicate that they are weak.

    They are also to find out:

    * If the land increases or decreases the inhabitants population.

    * If the land has springs and healthy deep wells or not

    * If it is fertile or barren

    * If the land contains an upright citizen (poetically referred to in the text as a "tree") who's merits could protect them.

    Moshe tells them that they should strengthen themselves and take from the fruit of the land. The first ripening of the grapes was during that time.



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    6 mins
  • BeHa'aloscha, 7th Aliya

    BeHa'aloscha, 7th Aliya
    Jun 21 2024
    Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comMiriam and Aaron Speak About MosheMoshe and the elders left the Ohel Moed and enter their respective camps.A wind came out from G-d and swept quails from the sea and spread them over the camp about two cubits above the ground (i.e at a height that reached a person’s heart to make it easier for them to be gathered), about one day’s journey in both directions around the camp.The people spent that entire day and night and the following day gathering the quails. Even those who gathered the least amount, due to them being lazy or disabled, gathered 10 heaps of quails. After having gathered the quails, they spread them out in many heaps around the camp.The quails were not yet done* when G-d’s anger flared out at the nation and he struck them with a mighty blow.*Side note: According to the Targum, this means that the quails were still coming. According to the Gur Aryeh, it means that they had not finished eating them. According to the Be’er Mayim Chayim, the quails had not yet been removed from the field. According to the Sifrei, one didn’t have a chance to chew the meat before dying.G-d named this place Kivrath Ha’Ta’ava which literally means “The Graves of the Craving” after these people who “craved” being buried there.The nation continued to travel from there to Chatzerot where they stayed.Miriam and Aaron speak critically regarding Moshe divorcing his wife Tzipporah, whom scripture refers to as being a Cushite woman.She was actually a Midianite, not a Cushite, however scripture refers to her as a Cushite since everyone noticed her beauty, just as everyone notices the blackness of a Cushite. Also, the numerical value of the word Cushite in Hebrew (כֻּשִׁית) is equal to that of one who is beautiful in appearance (יְפַת מַרְאֶה,), i.e. 736.In the verse referenced above (Bamidbar 12:1) regarding Miriam and Aaron speaking about Moshe, scripture references Tzipporah as a Cushite woman twice. The Midrash Tanchuma (Tzav, 13) explains this repetition as being an allusion to her being both beautiful in appearance as well as in action, in contrast to some women who are are only beautiful in one of these ways.The Midrash Tanchuma there also explains that the reason she was referred to as being a Cushite, was to avert the evil eye, the way one who had a handsome son would refer to him as being a Cushite.Miriam initiates this discussion. She knew that Moshe had separated from his wife as we see later that Miriam was near Tzipporah when Moshe was told that Eldad and Medad were prophesying in the camp. Upon hearing this, Tzipporah decried her pity for their wives who would have to separate from their husbands as Moshe separated from her.Upon learning of this, Miriam tells Aaron. Miriam did not have any ill intent for this yet was still punished, which teaches us how much more so will someone who does have ill intent be punished.Miriam and Aaron discuss how G-d had not only appeared to Moshe, but to them as well, yet they did not abstain from marital relations.Moshe was exceptionally modest and patient, more than anyone else alive.Demonstrating that indeed Moshe had been correct in abstaining from marital relations, since G-d appeared to Moshe frequently and unpredictably, G-d suddenly appears to Moshe, Aaron and Miriam, whilst Aaron and Miriam cried out for water to purify themselves for having had marital relations from which they were still ritually unclean.G-d tells all three of them, with a single word (something which is impossible for the human mouth to speak or human ear to grasp) to go to the Ohel Moed.When a mortal king leaves for war, a large entourage accompanies him whereas when he travels when it is peaceful, he is escorted by only a few. By contrast, G-d goes out to battle alone and goes in peace with a large entourage. For this meeting at the Ohel Moed, G-d goes alone.G-d calls out to Aaron and Miriam, to lead them out of the Courtyard towards His speech. According to Rashi, G-d wanted them to be away from Moshe since only some of a person’s good qualities are related in his presence yet all are related in his absence. Another example of this in scripture is with Noach, who scripture calls “a righteous man, perfect” (Breishis 6:9) in his absence, while in his presence, G-d calls him righteous but not perfect (Breishis 7:1). Rashi also cites Sifrei Beha’alothecha 1:42:5) which provides an alternative interpretation that they were separated from Moshe so that Moshe wouldn’...
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    12 mins
  • BeHa'aloscha, 6th Aliya

    BeHa'aloscha, 6th Aliya
    Jun 21 2024
    Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Israelites Complain Asking For MeatThis section of Chumash (until where Moshe tells G-d to rest – see below) has an inverted letter נ placed before and after it to indicate that it is chronologically out of place. Logically, this section should have appeared earlier on (in Bamidbar, Chapter 2) where the layout of the Israelite camp is discussed.The reason for its appearance here, is so that there would be an interruption between two different events which involve trouble, namely 1)earlier in verse 10:33 “They journeyed from the Mountain of G-d”, an allusion to making distance between G-d and the Israelites, which Rashi interprets as the first inklings of their inappropriate demand for meat which occurs in Bamidbar 11:4) and 2)The sin of “those who seek pretexts” (Bamidbar 11:1).In the course of the Israelites’ journey, the ark would travel three days ahead of them, causing Moshe to call out to it to stop and wait for them and not go further from them. He also declared that G-d’s enemies, (i.e the enemies of the Israelites, since whoever hates Israel, hates G-d) be scattered and flee*.*Side note: “Scattered” applies to those who have gathered together to attack the Israelites but have not done so yet, while “Flee” applies to those who have already begun to chase after the Israelites.Once the ark came to a rest, Moshe would say, “Rest, G-d, amongst the myriads* of thousands of Israel. “*Side note: Rashi interprets this to mean that the Shchina does not rest on Israel if they number less than twenty two thousand.The nation* were looking for something to complain about, hoping it would reach G-d’s ears and provoke Him. They whine about how fatigued they are from walking for three days straight without rest. This causes G-d to become angry, since it was for their own good that He was having them move quickly so that they could enter the Land immediately. A fire of G-d burns in their midst and consumes the “mixed multitude”** who were the most sinful amongst them.*Side note, the word used here for “the nation”, i.e. הָעָם is only used in reference to the wicked. Other examples of such uses include Shmos 17:4 and Yermiyahu 13:10- see there. This is in contrast to the term עַמִּי (literally “my nation” which is used to connote their righteousness, as in Shmos 8:16 and Micha 6:3)**Side note, according to Rabbi Shimon ben Menassia, it was actually the most prominent amongst them who were consumed, as they had the power to squelch the rebellion and didn’t.The nation cries out to Moshe, Moshe prays to G-d and the fire falls in place into the earth (if it would have turned to one side of the camp, it would have rolled along that entire side and destroyed more).Rashi likens this to a mortal king who is angry with his son and then the son asks the king’s closest friend to ask the king to forgive him (the son).Moshe names the place “Tav’erah” (related to the word in Hebrew “to burn”), as an allusion to the fire of G-d that burned there.The mixed multitude, who had attached themselves to the Israelites upon leaving Egypt, started having strong cravings. This was followed by the Israelites who joined in, crying out asking who would feed them meat?This was merely a pretext for complaining, since in reality, they had taken flocks and cattle with them when they left Egypt (see Shmos 12:38), and they definitely had some left over as is evidence from Bamidbar 32:1 which it states that the children of Reuven had a lot of cattle.The Israelites begin to reminisce about the free* fish they had eaten in Egypt, as well as the cucumbers, watermelons, leeks, onions and garlic. They specified these foods as these were the only food items the manna did not change into, as they are harmful to nursing mothers. Rashi likens this to a king who instructs his son’s teacher to prevent his son from eating or drinking anything harmful, yet the son complains to the father that these restrictions are due to him not wanting him to eat.*Side note: Not free as in “free of charge” but rather free of stipulations (i.e to adhere to the Torah)They complain about only having manna to eat, night and day.As a response to this, the Chumash describes how great the manna was, saying it was round like a coriander seed and looked like crystal, illustrating that they had nothing to complain about. The Israelites would casually walk up (i.e without exertion) to the manna and gather it up. It would taste...
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    15 mins
  • Be'Ha'aloscha, 5th Aliya

    Be'Ha'aloscha, 5th Aliya
    Jun 20 2024
    Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Israelites' Journeys and YitroOn the 20th of the month of Iyar in the second year of the Israelites traveling in the desert, the cloud lifted up from the the Mishkan signifying that it was time for them to journey away from Chorev and the Sinai Desert.This means that they spent a year (12 months) minus 10 days in Chorev since they arrived there on the first of the month of Sivan (the third month) the previous year.The tribes stayed arranged in the way they were instructed to (Bamidbar, 4) as they journeyed, headed by the tribal princes (eg. the tribe of Yehuda traveled first with Nachshon the son of Aminadav heading it). Upon arriving at the Desert of Paran, the cloud rested, i.e. they set up camp there. Kivroth Ha'taavah (featuring later on in Bamidbar 11:35) was in this desert.Once the cloud of glory would depart, cuing the division of the tribe of Yehuda to begin traveling, the sons of Gershon and Merari would take apart the Mishkan and load its parts onto wagons. They would then commence traveling with the division of the tribe of Yehudah which was:* The tribe of Yehuda led by Nachson the son of Aminadav* The tribe of Issachar led by Nethanel the son of Zuar* The tribe of Zevulun led by Eliav the son of ChelonThen the sons of Kohath would stand the Ark and its accessories on poles, after which the division of the tribe of Reuven would travel followed by the sons of Kohath. The division of the tribe of Reuven consisted of:* The tribe of Reuven led by Elizur the son of Shedeur* The tribe of Shimon led by Shlumiel the son of Zurishadai* The tribe of Gad led by Eliasaph the son of DeuelThen the division of the camp of Ephraim followed. They consisted of:* The tribe of Ephraim led by Elishama son of Ammihud* The tribe of Menashe led by Gamliel the son of Pedahzur* The tribe of Binyamin led by Avidan the son of GideoniThis was followed by the division of the camp of Dan*. They consisted of:* The tribe of Dan led by Achiezer the son of Ammishaddai* The tribe of Asher led by Pagiel the son of Ochran* The tribe of Naphtali led by Achira the son of Enan*Side note: The Jerusalem Talmud (Eruvin 5:1) teaches that the tribe of Dan traveled at the back since it was so big. Although the tribe of Yehuda had more members, it did not travel at the back as Yehuda was the tribe of royalty.The tribe of Dan was termed "the gatherer for all camps" as they would retrieve any objects lost by other tribes during their journeys. There are two explanations for this corresponding to two different opinions on the shape of the tribes while they traveled:According to one opinion, the tribes traveled in a quadrilateral configuration, with Dan being on the North side of the camp. Since they were so numerous in size, they overflowed into the other sides of the camps and thus were able to return any lost objects to other tribes.According to another opinion, the tribes traveled in a straight line and Dan traveled at the back, which is how he was able to retrieve lost objects.When the Cloud of Glory came to rest, the sons of Gershon and Merari would erect the Mishkan. So when the sons of Kehoth would arrive it would be all set up and they would bring the Ark, Shulchan, Menorah and Atlars into it.Moshe tells his father in law Chovav, the son of Reuel the Midianite (i.e. Yitro*) that very soon (i.e within three days) they will be journeying to the place which G-d promised that He would give to the Israelites. Although G-d had already hinted at the fact that Moshe would not enter the Land together with the nation due to his sin with hitting the rock, this decree was not yet sworn upon, thus it could have still been repealed through prayer. This is why Moshe included himself here in being amongst those who would enter the land. Alternatively, he may not have been aware of the implications of G-d's "hint" in this regard.*Side note: This is confusing since elsewhere Yitro is referred to as both Chovav and Reuel (i.e in Shmos 2:18 Reuel is called the "father" of the girls from amongst whom Moshe took his wife. Rashi resolves this by saying that young children call their paternal grandfather "father").Indeed the Israelites would have entered into the Land three days later had not they sinned regarding inappropriately asking for meat (upcoming in Bamidbar 11:1-3) after which the were forced to journey an extra 30 days, in which time they sent the spies into the Land of Israel which ultimately led to the punishment that their generation die in the ...
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    9 mins
  • BeHa'aloscha, 4th Aliya

    BeHa'aloscha, 4th Aliya
    Jun 19 2024

    Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

    To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.com

    Clouds and Trumpets

    On the day the Mishkan was set up, a cloud covered it and in the evening it had a fiery type appearance until morning.

    The Israelites journeyed according to the "word of G-d" and the cloud would move in sync with their journeys as such:

    When the Israelites were about to journey, they would blow long, short and then long blasts on trumpets. Then Moshe would declare "Rise up G-d", after which the cloud would fold up (from being extended over them like shelter) and then extend over the tribe of Yehudah like a beam. And then Yehudah would begin to journey.

    The time of their encampments (and thus the time the cloud lingered upon them sheltering them) varied from one evening to many days or evening months.

    G-d tells Moshe to make two silver trumpets to summon the assembly when it was time to call everyone to journey.

    These trumpets were to be blasted in the manner that trumpets are blasted before a king (some commentators interpret the "king" to be Moshe however Rashi understands the king to be G-d).

    Moshe was not to make these trumpets from public funds but rather from his own money. These trumpets may not be used by anyone other than Moshe and Moshe was forbidden from making any similar trumpets for the purpose of gathering the Israelites.

    These trumpets were to be made from a solid block of silver beaten out with a hammer.

    The Kohanim are to blow the trumpets.

    When they make a long blast with both of the trumpets this is a sign that all of the Israelites are to gather to Moshe at the entrance of the Ohel Moed.

    If they sound a long blast with one of them, only the princes are to gather to Moshe.

    If they sound long blasts, followed by shot blasts, followed by long blasts, this is a sign that the Israelites should journey, beginning with the camp that is in the east.

    When they rise up to fight an enemy who is oppressing them, they are to sound short blasts and G-d will remember them and save them from their enemies.

    On festivals and new moons the trumpets should be sounded while sacrificing communal Olah and peace offerings and these will serve as a remembrance for G-d. This section is the origin of the "Malchios" blessings in the Rosh Hashana (and Yom Kippur of the Yovel year).



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    4 mins
  • BeHa'aloscha, 3rd Aliya

    BeHa'aloscha, 3rd Aliya
    Jun 18 2024

    Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

    To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.com

    The First and Second Paschal Offerings

    During the first month of Nissan of the second year* of the Israelites' travels in the dessert, G-d instructed Moshe regarding the Paschal sacrifice.

    *Side note: This section occurred before the events detailed in the beginning of the book of Bamidbar (which took place during the second month of Iyar). This is an example of how the Chumash does not follow chronological order. Rashi explains that the reason the book of Bamidbar did not start with this section is because it is unflattering to the Israelites, being as it highlights that they only made one Paschal sacrifice during their full 40 years in the desert.

    G-d instructs Moshe that this Paschal sacrifice must be offered on the 14th day of Nissan in accordance with all of the laws pertaining to it.

    Moshe reiterated this to the Israelites (he first told them about all of the festivals in Vayikra 23:44) and so they offered this sacrifice on the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan.

    There were some men who were impure due to their having been in contact with a human corpse* and thus unable to make the sacrifice. Such men approached Moshe and Aaron in the house of study where they were both sitting and asked why they should be left out of offering this sacrifice. They wanted to know if it would be allowed to have someone else who was pure offer a sacrifice on their behalf so long as the person whom it was being sacrificed for became pure by the time it had to be eaten.

    *Side note: According to the Sifrei, there are three opinions as to how these people became impure:

    * They carried Yosef's coffin to be buried in the Land of Israel

    * These people were Mishael and Ezafan who were involved with burying Nadav and Avihu

    * These were people who were involved with burying someone who had no relatives to bury him.

    Moshe told them to stay where they were and that he would wait to hear G-d's response. He had full confidence that G-d would answer him as whenever he wished it, G-d would speak to him. Rashi calls a person who has such confidence in G-d answering him is "fortunate".

    In fact, this whole forthcoming section regarding Pesach Sheni could have been said originally by Moshe together with the rest of the Torah without being prompted by these impure people. Having it come about as a result of their asking about it was to signify their merit in illustrating that they were worthy enough to have it brought about as a result of their request.

    G-d did indeed answer Moshe, telling him that if any person becomes impure through coming into contact with a corpse they are to offer the Pascal sacrifice on the 14th of Iyar (i.e one month later) and eat it together with matzos and bitter herbs (however he does not have to rid his home of chametz the way one would during the original offering on the 14th of Nisasn).

    It should be made in accordance with all of the laws of the regular Paschal offering including that there should be nothing left over from it in the morning.

    However if a person was pure at the time the Paschal offering was originally meant to be offered and still did not offer it, he is to be excommunicated.

    When someone converts to Judaism, they are obligated to bring the Paschal offering at the next appropriate time following their conversion.



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    6 mins
  • BeHa'aloscha, 2nd Aliya

    BeHa'aloscha, 2nd Aliya
    Jun 17 2024

    Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”L

    To sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.com

    About the Levites

    On the day of the plague of the firstborn sons in Egypt, G-d sanctified all first borns - human males and livestock.

    Then, after the sin of the Golden Calf, this sanctification passed to the Levites instead.

    Thus the Levites became "given over" to G-d for carrying the Mishkan and its accessories, as well as singing in the Mishkan and assisting the Kohanim.

    This protected the nation from plague - since if the regular Israelites would have approached the Mishkan this would have brought a plague however since the Levites did the necessary work there, others didn't have to.

    So the ceremony of the sanctification of the Levites was carried out in accordance with G-d's plan: Moshe positioned them in the right place, Aaron performed the waving ceremony, and the Israelites lay their hands upon them. None of the Israelites resisted in spite of them not being chosen as the Levites were, and none of the Levites resisted, in spite of the danger that was inherent in their neglecting their services to do this ceremony and they did not resist being shaved either.

    G-d instructs Moshe that only Levites aged 25-50 should actively participate in their Temple responsibilities.

    At the age of 25 they should begin learning the relevant laws for what they'll need to do, and then five years later* they are to begin with actually serving.

    *Side note: From here we learn an idea that if a student does not see success in his studies after 5 years, he won't see success.

    After the age of 50, a Levite is no longer to carry the Mishkan and its accessories however he is still responsible to lock the temple gates, sing the temple songs, load the wagons and dismantle the Mishkan before the Israelites would embark on their next journey.

    Unlike the Kohanim, Levites were not disqualified due to physical blemishes. Only age was a constraining factor for their service.



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    4 mins
  • BeHa'aloscha, 1st Aliya

    BeHa'aloscha, 1st Aliya
    Jun 16 2024
    Audio Summaries of the daily Chumash portions In loving memory of Ousher Zelig ben Myer HaLevi Z”LTo sponsor an episode please visit: https://itistaught.com/support-this-project/To get the daily chumash summaries in your email click here https://substack.com/profile/182692001-sarede-rachel-switzer?utm_source=profile-page.Subscribe on SpotifySubscribe on Apple PodcastsPlease consider leaving a review on the platform of your choice! For comments and inquiries, email itistaught@gmail.comThe Lighting of the Menorah. Purification of the Levites. Levite Waving CeremonyThe Lighting of the MenorahThe Menorah was first lit on the first of Nissan, the same day that the inaugural offerings of the princes were brought (see last week's Parsha).On that day, the Menorah was lit first before any of the other services happened, including these princely offerings.Why then does the Chumash detail the lighting of the Menorah here instead of before the section on the princely offerings?Rashi explains that it is because upon witnessing the princely offerings, Aaron felt sad that neither he nor his tribe (Cohanim) participated.G-d replied that Aaron's role was greater. The Ramban cites the Be'er Yitchak who likens the offerings to a festive banquet which precedes the inauguration of a king's palace, while the lightening of the menorah is the palace being bathed in light which is the epitome of its glory.Thus the details of the Menorah's lighting are juxtaposed to the princely offerings.So G-d spoke to Moshe and told him to relate the following to Aaron in this regard:There was a stair in front of the Menorah upon which the Kohen would stand to prepare the lamps of the Menorah. And then the way that Aaron would kindle the Menorah would be by holding the fire to the wick until the flame rises on its own.Usually, the wicks of a candelabrum point in different directions so as to spread the light as far as possible. With the Menorah, all of the six side lamps (three on the east and three on the west) faced towards the middle lamp, so as to signify the fact that the Menorah was not lit for illumination but rather in fulfillment of G-d's commandment.So Aaron prepared and lit the Menorah himself, as he was so instructed. Scripture mentions this to praise him, since we might expect that although throughout his life he would light the menorah, on this first day, being that his sons Nadav and Avihu died we one might have expected that he would have delegated it to another Kohen, but he did not. Another reading is that Aaron kept his initial excitement regarding this commandment every time he lit the Menorah, it never became route for him.Scripture now details how the Menorah was made, which G-d showed to Moshe when he was having trouble understanding it. It was made out of a solid block of gold which was beaten out to be formed into its shape - from its large base to its more delicate flowers. It was formed in accordance with the fashion of a silver candelabra put in front of anoblemen. There is a Midrash (Tanchuma 3) that says that G-d at this point told Moshe to take the slab of gold and throw it into a fire and the gold formed into the Menorah on its own.Purification of the LevitesG-d then tells Moshe to draw the Levites over by telling them how fortunate they are to be G-d's assistants.He is then to purify them since some of them had become impure due to their contact with the dead.This should be done by sprinkling the "waters of purification" (made with the ashes of the red cow - to be discussed later in Bamidbar 19) upon them. They are then to have their entire bodies shaved - just like a metzora. This was because the work of the Levites in the Mishkan was to serve as an atonement for the first born Israelites to whom these responsibilities were initially intended for but then revoked after sinning with the Golden Calf. Since that was a sin of idolatry, and idol worship is called "sacrifices of the dead" and a Metzora is called "dead" it was befitting that the Levites were thus shaven.Their garments were then to be immersed and thus they would become pure.They are then to bring the following offerings:An Olah* offering: A young bull and fine flour mixed with oil as its meal offering.A communal sin offering (given on behalf of the entire community for committing idolatry**): Another young bull. While sin offerings were normally eaten by Kohanim, this offering was not but rather burnt in its entirety like the Olah offering. Also, this type of offering should usually have been a he-goat, however for this unique situation it was a bull.*Side note: Olah offerings had all the meat burnt on the altar.**Side note: Communal sin offerings were the only times bulls were brought on their own without another animal.The Levite Waving Ceremony.The Levites were then brought up before G-d and the Israelites lay their hands on them.And then Aaron perform three waving ceremonies pertaining to the Levites, similar to what is done with the guilt...
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