Monday, May 6, 2013

Bamidbar (Num 1:1-4:20)


Journeys

            This week’s parasha is Bamidbar, which begins the book of Numbers. We find the Israelites still in the wilderness and taking a census. In the midst of these chapters of counting are various instructions from Hashem on the carrying and set-up of the Tabernacle as the Israelites traveled. Rabbinic interpretation of this parasha explains that even though there was chaos, i.e. living a nomadic life, trying to remember and abide by new commandments, etc, the people were settled by the idea of this brave, new world. We, too, should be open to learning and making changes among our hectic lives. I’ll leave you with this quote: “Wilderness is a temporary condition through which we are passing to the Promised Land.”-Cotton Mather

No comments:

Post a Comment