Shnayim Yomi - Behaalotcha - Rishon - #1- Rabbi Dale Polakoff

[Music] Parshas the first Leah. First, some interesting stats on the para. Baha is the 36th para out of the 54 parios of the Torah. And based on it is the 11th longest para. The first aliyah opens with a kesh bar's commandment to Aon to light the minora. It then transitions to Moshe's obligation to consecrate the levim. A process that involved the levim being sprinkled with the water mixed with the ashes of the para aduma with all the hair of the bodies of the levim being shaved off by a razor and the immersion of the levim and their clothing in a mikvah. The levim would then be brought before the oh moed. Representatives of the Jewish people would lay their hands on the levim and each levy would be physically picked up by Aharon and waved in the presence of the oh moed. The levim would then place their hands on their carbanos, the special carbanos that they were obligated to bring. And through this process, the levime would be separated out and dedicated to the service of Baraku. On a deeper level, Rashi's opening comment to this para is noteworthy. Rashi asks, "Why does the para of the minora with which bahalo begins follow on the heels of the para of the nim with which paraso concludes, namely all of the carbonos, all of the offerings that the nim brought as dedications to the Mishkan." And Rashi answers that when Aharon saw that all of the nim and all of theatim were represented with the exception of shet ley he became saddened depressed gave him strengthened him by telling him your portion is greater than theirs because they the other nim and theatim brought a one-time offering to the mishkan but you aaron you and your descendants will light the minora each and every day. [Music]