Bearers of the Light

This week’s Torah portion is Naso, which means do, as in, do a census. The Levites were to be counted and tasks associated with transporting the Tabernacle were assigned. Also in the portion, people with certain conditions were to dwell outside the camp until they were purified again. A mechanism for confession to the Priest, and restitution of an extra 20 per cent, was laid down. This portion also describes laws that have been abandoned, such as the trial by ordeal when a husband is suspicious of a wife; and the rules for temporary nuns and monks, the Nazarites. This portion famously includes the Priestly Benediction; and concludes with the description of identical offerings of the tribes for the dedication of the sanctuary.
Naso describes the labor of the Levites, which is here called service. Much of the Levitical service was carrying. Among the four Levite families, the Gershonite clan carried the curtains and fabric panels which enclosed the Tabernacle, or the Mishkan, and formed the cover of the Tent of Meeting. The Kohath clan carried the most sacred objects: the ark, the table of bread, the Menorah, the golden incense altar, and all the associated utensils. Two of the Levite families were assigned wagons, for carrying the heaviest parts of the Tabernacle. The text Says, (7:9) and to the sons of Kohath, Moses did not give wagons since the sacred service was upon them and they carried on their shoulder.
A few things to notice: all the Levites had extra work to do. Their blessing was that, not only did they have to transport their own tents and belongings, like everyone else, but they were responsible for more than the average person. Also, the census first counted the non-Levites and only afterward counted the Levite families. So, in a sense, everyone “counted.” Every person was important to the success of the endeavor. Rabbi Gelberman said in his book, Spiritual Truths, “There are no sidelines in a spiritual world. We must enter it and live.” So, the Torah says, we all count and are all engaged in service, a sacred service. Those designated to be leaders are asked to do more of the work, not less. There are two hints in the text about what true service should be. The word for curtains Y’ri-ot, is interesting. It is related to seeing, and to the world neighbor, as in you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But it is also related to protection and to friendship. The curtains were lace panels and the covering for the tent of meeting was made of goat hair. Both of these types of panels let in the light, especially the goat hair cover, because the Tent of meeting was enclosed and had no illumination during the day; only at night was the menorah lit. There was a waterproof covering for the tent as well; and perhaps it was put on in inclement weather. So the Hebrew words lead us to an inner meaning: that of finding the inner mishkan the indwelling of holiness, or finding the inner Tzaddik, the inner righteousness within us that yearns to serve and let in Divine light. The true service that brings us closer to our inner holiness is carrying light: seeing each other person as our neighbor and carrying our light to our fellow; extending our light, our understanding, and even our protection, a function of us all being responsible for each other.
The Talmud contains a commentary on carrying from Naso. It is well known that the Levites were musicians. They sang and played instruments: drums, flutes, harps, and tambourines for the Temple service. The Talmud comments: (Arachin 11a:6) Our Rabbis taught: The omission of the song invalidates the sacrifice, R. Eleazar said: Because Scripture said, And I have given the Levites — they are given to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel . . . and to make atonement for the children of Israel, i.e., just as atonement is indispensable, so is the song indispensable. ….. Now which service is it that is in joyfulness and with gladness of heart? You must say: It is song. And it is also written, …. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the holy things belonged unto them: they bore them upon their shoulders. … But they bore them here means in song, for thus also it is said: Take up [se'u] the melody and sound the timbrel, and it is said also: They lift up [yisse'u] their voices, they sing for joy.
This tells us how we should perform Divine service. We must open our hearts and let in the light, carrying our light to others with the music in our souls; with joy and gratitude; with happiness and our life force. We were given these gifts not to keep them to ourselves, but to bring our light out of where it sometimes hides and light up the eyes of others with our caring and our smiles. This is true service: carrying our share, doing our part joyously, and adding to and extending the blessings we were given in this world. May the songs of the Levites be our example and may the holy tasks we carry out be a reflection of the radiance of our own souls.