So Much To Give

This week’s Torah portion is Naso, in the Book of Numbers, which means take. It continues the taking of a census from the previous Torah portion. All of the males of the Israelites, from 20 years of age and older, had been counted. Now the Levites were to be counted, from 30 years of age to 50 years, to do the work of the sanctuary: dismantling the Tabernacle, the portable place of prayer and sacrifice in the wilderness; covering it, and carrying; setting it up again; but also serving the priests, serving God, serving the people and later, when there was a permanent Temple, singing and playing the music of worship.
The Israelites were counted for the legion, in case there should be war and they had to defend the nation. They could serve from 20 years of age and onward. The Levite men could not serve until they were mature enough to take their tasks seriously. But why should they have to retire at 50? We are told in the prayerbook about the expected life span of the time: “three score and ten our years may number, four score if granted the vigor.” Most people were expected to live to between 70 and 80 years – not too dissimilar to our own time – slightly less, but not radically different. There is a hint in next week’s portion about this question. It says (Num. 8:25) “from 50 years of age he shall withdraw from the legion of work and no longer work. He shall minister with his brethren in the Tent of Meeting to safeguard the charge but work shall he not perform.” He shall minister: in other words, the Levite was asked to be there for people: a shoulder to lean on, a sympathetic ear, an understanding smile, help when it was needed: to be parent, friend, and even like God for people who seemed to be floundering or who sought a friend; to be a loving presence and to serve in any way his life, and the Eternal One, called him to serve.
And in a sense, this is the service we have been called to as well. Judaism teaches that there are no coincidences. That you, as members and friends, have been called here to be a part of a community where there are opportunities for service and for growth is not accidental. As we are here together, we will be walking along parallel spiritual paths. We are now companions on life’s journey: teaching each other and learning from each other; modeling God’s attributes as given in Exodus, during Moses’ intimate encounter with the Eternal Presence: compassion, kindness, patience, forgiveness, and truth. Each of us, like the Levites during their last 30 years of life, has so much to give. It is a spiritual opportunity for us, as we grow. And we are always in the process of learning how to give; how to get out of the way of our own impulse to love. Service is perhaps, the highest form of love. May our coming together tonight, be a grand new chapter in the history of this synagogue and also of our lives; the creation of a vibrant and sacred community; diverse, promoting and supporting our spiritual growth; accepting, loving, and committed to serving each other, our fellow human beings, and the Eternal God.