B"H
Thursday, Sivan 9, 5785 / June 5, 2025
This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot - the holiday of the Giving of the Torah, we read Parshat Naso. This Parsha is the longest Parsha in the Torah. It consists of 176 verses.
Interestingly, the longest chapter in Tehillim (Psalms), written by King David, whose Yartzeit was on Shavuot, is chapter 119 and also consists of 176 verses.
In this week’s Parsha, Naso, we find the three-fold-priestly blessing, which the Kohanim (priests) recite on the holidays to bless the Jewish people. In Israel these blessings are recited by the Kohanim each Shabbat and in some places in Israel they are recited by the Kohanim each day.
Q. What is the connection between the three-fold-Priestly blessing and the fact that it is read on the Shabbat after Shavuot – the holiday when we received the Torah?
A. Blessingin Hebrew is “Bracha” which begins with the letter “Bet.” The Torah also begins with the letter “Bet” (“Breishis”).
Our sages ask, why doesn’t the Torah begin with the letter Aleph which is the first one in the Hebrew alphabet? They reply, “G-d wanted to begin the Torah with the Betfor it is the letter which begins the Hebrew word, Beracha- Blessing.” G-d wanted to tell us that through Torah we acquire blessings.
Thus, the Shabbat after the holiday of Shavuot we read the three-fold blessing, to show us that through Torah, which was given on Shavuot, one acquires G-d’s blessings.
Also, the name of this Parsha, “Naso,” means to “Elevate.” Indeed, the Torah elevates us, as the saying goes, “When one is firmly connected on high, they do not fall below.”
Q. On special days, such as Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh, holidays etc. we read from the Torah about the specialty of that holiday and the special sacrifices brought on that holiday. Why do we also read from the Torah every regular Monday and Thursday?
A.There is a verse in the Torah from which our sages derive that three days must not pass without reading from the Torah. Thus, the sages established that, in addition to Shabbat, we should also read from the Torah every Monday and Thursday, this way three days will not pass without Torah.
Q.Why were Mondays and Thursdays chosen rather than the other days of the week?
A.On these two days villagers and farmers from the nearby areas would come to the fair in the city. The Rabbis instituted to read the Torah on these two days so that people coming from small villages etc., where there were no synagogues, would get to hear the reading of the Torah while they were in the city.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
OUR HEARTS ARE WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY - MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW