Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

At first glance, Parshat Naso, the longest Torah portion, seems to contain many unrelated texts. However, many of the narratives are connected by two points, peace and unity.

Take the case of the Sotah, the suspected adulteress. In classic rabbinic literature, the ordeal she undergoes is meant to bring about peace between a husband and a wife.

Take the Priestly Blessing. Its fifteen words conclude with the aspiration, "V'Yasem L'cha Shalom - May God establish peace for you." The conclusion of such prayers as the Amidah and Kaddish, likewise, ends with an aspiration of peace, patterned from the conclusion of the Priestly Blessing, which originates in Parshat Naso.

Take the gifts of the tribes. The longest chapter in the Torah repeats verbatim twelve times over the exact same dedication gifts brought by the twelve tribes of Israel in order to emphasize the peace and unity among them.

These three examples from this week's Torah portion stand in stark contrast to the events which have unfolded over the past week in the U.S. The morally reprehensible death of George Floyd followed by mass acts of destruction and death speak to a culture filled with division and hatred.

I pray that contemporary leaders try to emulate the Kohanim (Priests) and Nesiim (tribal chieftains) as portrayed in this week's Torah lesson.

Rabbi Howard Morrison