Saturday, May 30, 2015

#TinyTorahBits expanded: Parshat Nasso

Parshat Nasso - We might all bring similar gifts, it's what we do with them that makes them unique

Expanded:  

This week’s Torah portion is Nasso, the second chapter in the book of Numbers.  There is one particular part of this portion that I love.  It discusses how the leaders of each of the 12 tribes were to bring a dedication offering to God for the inauguration of the mishkan.  The gifts are all identical, each leader of each tribe brings the exact same thing as an offering. But ... each offering is brought on a different day (12 days in a row) and is described individually each time although they are the exact same (Numbers Chapter 7:12-84).


Yes, this is rather tedious to read, but to me, it provides a wonderful message for us today. Each individual offering that we give out to the universe – be it material, spiritual, emotional – is special and unique, even if it is the exact same thing that the others have done before us and will do after us.  The key is that we are all created in God’s image and it is the job of all of us to better the world. Sometimes that takes an action or gift that is one-of-a-kind, but oftentimes it takes many of us doing the exact same things – but each in our own ways. We all matter, we all count, and all of us make a difference.

Kol Tuv,
Rabbah Arlene

NOTE: You can find #TinyTorahBits on Twitter - @arlimb

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