This week’s parsha (Torah portion) is a very full parsha.  It starts with the taking of a census and how to avoid a plague while doing it.  Then it tells how important it is for Aharon and his sons to wash before serving in the tent of meeting, in order to keep from dying. Next we are told of the anointing oil and the incense, and then we read who the main builders of the mishcan (tabernacle) will be.  Next it is on to shabbat, and after shabbat,  Moshe receives the tablets, and finally we have the golden calf. Moshe assuages haShem’s (god’s) anger, and then gets very upset himself, and 3000 people die.  After all this, haShem is still willing to bring the people into the promised land. Moshe gets a chance to see a bit of haShem, receives a second set of tablets (after smashing the first), and ends up with a face that shines. Whew!

There is a lot that I find interesting here.  I will keep this brief and only touch on a couple of things. The first part of the parsha:  going from the census through the incense, really hit me because this section regarding the census is the first place we see talk of a plague, and right after that, we learn how to make the oil to sanctify a priest, the command for the priests to wash so as not to die, and then about the incense which will be used in the future by the priests to stop plagues and keep people from dying.  I have heard it said that in Torah that you always find the cure for a curse at the same place the problem is found,  and here we see it.  Funny, I have also heard that said about cures for disease in the natural world: that a local plant will stop a local disease.  I like it when we have examples of how the Torah is a blueprint for the world. 🙂

Another thing that I find interesting is the names of the builders: Betzalel, son of Ohri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Yehuda (Judah), and Oholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan.  Or in translation: the shadow of god, son of my light, son of a hole, of the tribe of acknowledgment, and tents of father, son of my brother of reliability/support of the tribe of judgement.

Reliability and support is also what Moshe is about. Moshe really comes to bat for us in this parsha.  Remember way back when he was content to be a shepherd and have a nice family in Midyan?  HaShem came to him and he said “Why me?  I’m not the man for the job.  There must be somebody better.”  Nevertheless, haShem chose him and Moshe took on the mantle of leading the people.  And this parsha shows what it means to lead people.  It means sticking your neck out for them and fighting for them.  We see this when Moshe challenges haShem, who is ready to kill the people, by saying, “If you kill them, take me out of your book,” and, “Why should Egypt say the following: with evil intent did he take them out, to kill them in the mountains…”  It also means coming down on the people who are in your charge when they mess up, as we see when he breaks the tablets and has 3000 men killed.  And of course it means going the extra mile for those same people, as he does when he carves new tables and lugs them back up the mountain.  He is there for the people in their time of need, and he does what is right without regard for himself.  He is reliable and he supports the people.  All marks of a true leader.

I hope all of us can find the Moshe within each of us at least once every day, and do what is right and needs to be done for those around us, without thought for ourselves, just because it is what is right and needs to be done.

Shavuah tov/have a good week, and have a happy Purim.

About the Author

Shmuel Shalom Cohen spent 10 years studying Torah in Jerusalem. Six years ago, he started Conscious Torah to help Jews connect to their tradition in ways they didn’t think possible. Shmuel also started, and is the executive directory of Jewish Events Willamette-valley, a non-profit whose mission is to build Jewish community, pride, and learning. In his free time, Shmuel likes walks in nature, playing music, writing poetry, and time with good friends.