Voices of WRJ: Parashat Naso

Regifting in ancient Israel was a big problem (or at least that is what we can surmise from this week's Torah portion, Naso, which literally means ‘lift up’). The Israelites were wandering through the wilderness in an effort to create sacred community while struggling to reach the promised destination (with no cell phones or GPS!). In Parashat Naso, we are instructed to ‘lift up’ the heads of the Levites and count them… count them separately and independently from the counting that occurred in last week’s portion as it teaches that each individual–as part of a tribe–can provide unique gifts. Each tribe can contribute these gifts on different days, with different intentions, and often with diverse outcomes. Yet, the entire community benefits and is strengthened. Being the longest Torah portion, Parashat Naso provides us much to study! In addition to the counting for the census, there are rules for dealing with impurity, laws of the Nazirites, and a passage that most of us are familiar with: The Priestly Blessing. Parashat Naso also contains passages of enormous detail about the gifts that each tribe brought for the dedication of the altar. And when I say enormous detail, I mean that there are nearly 80 verses that describe the gifts that each tribe brought and how each chieftain presented their offerings. On the first day, one of the chieftains brought and presented their 25+ gifts. On the second day, another chieftain brought and presented the 25+ gifts from their tribe. The most astounding fact was that each chieftain brought the exact same things! Why do we have such detail and repetition? And as I mentioned, it must have made regifting among the Israelites quite a challenge. Our tradition teaches us that there are no wasted words in Torah and that each word counts. So why did each of the 12 tribes give the same 25 gifts? Commentators have suggested that although the gifts were described as identical, each tribe’s gift had special symbolism and was therefore unique. Alternatively, each leader might have had a different motivation and experience, thus offering a special interpretation to the gifts. Can we appreciate this message today? What particular and unique gifts do we share with one another and with our community?

• Are you caring and sympathetic?
• Do you have organizational skills?
• Can you bring others into our community?

In what communities or distinct tribes do we share and enhance our particular gifts?

• Are you part of a chavurah (group of friends)?
• Are you part of a sisterhood or women’s group?
• Are you part of a congregation?
• Are you part of the powerful tribe of Women of Reform Judaism?

WRJ brings marvelous gifts to our world. Here are just a few:

• We encouraged and contributed so that more young women could attend the new URJ 6 Points Sci-Tech Academy this summer
• We support Women of the Wall in Israel and enabled them to produce their Rosh Chodesh siddur
• We partnered with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism to educate and advocate for pay equity in the United States.
• We raise scholarship money for students at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Women of Reform Judaism wants to ‘naso’ or lift up your special gifts. We want to count you, as we travel through the wilderness, on a journey to enriched Reform Jewish life. In Torah, it is often in the wilderness that sacred and transforming moments occur. When we lift each other up, value and share our own gifts, we may find that we have moved from the wilderness to a more wide and open place. I am blessed to be part of the ‘tribe’ of WRJ, and I welcome any who wish to travel with me.