May 30, 2025 – Dr. Susanna Kokkonen
BaMidbar 5785 (2025)
Numbers 1:1- 4:20 (Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22)
BaMidbar*, the name of the Torah portion in Hebrew, means “in the desert”. It is the name of the Book of Numbers in Hebrew, and this is the first reading of the Book of Numbers in the Torah cycle. The name of the book itself an obvious reference is to the desert wandering of the nation on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. The reading is right before the holiday of Shavuoth.
Priests
The very beginning of the Book of Numbers begins with a count of the tribes. Instructions are given for the Hebrews to set up camp in tribal groups.
Specific instructions are given concerning the priests.
“The Lord said to Moses, “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.” (Numbers 3:5-9)
The text tells us that God took Levites for Himself instead of all the firstborn of Israel:
”…for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.” (Numbers 3:13 NIV)
Here we have a very deep explanation of what happened in Egypt before the Hebrew slaves could leave.
As we know, Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart. One incident followed another and Egypt was on the brink of destruction. Yet, Pharaoh could not allow himself to do what needed to be done. The last and the most terrible thing that happened was the destroying Angel killing all the firstborn of Egypt including Pharaoh’s own son.
This was a highly symbolic act – Israel according to the Torah is God’s firstborn. Pharaoh did not let Israel go and all the firstborn of Egypt died. Could there be another way? Did they not die because of Pharaoh’s pride and his hardening of his heart?
But the issue of the Levites replacing the firstborn is much more complex. The Levites did not participate in worshiping the golden calf, an incident that took place during the desert journey. Therefore, they were chosen for priesthood.
God’s Tender Speech
In the related Haftarah from Hosea, there is a beautiful description of the number of Israel’s children:
“Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted…” (Hosea 2 in the Hebrew Bible; Hosea 1:10 NIV)
Next comes a tale of unfaithfulness and punishment. Yet God does not reject His people but give them hope:
“Therefore I am now going to allure her;
I will lead her into the wilderness
and speak tenderly to her.
There I will give her back her vineyards,
and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
There she will respond as in the days of her youth,
as in the day she came up out of Egypt.” (Hosea 2:14-15 NIV)
God will then remove idol worship from them and be the God of His people.
“I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;
no longer will their names be invoked.” (Hosea 2:17)
Shavuot at a DP Camp
There is a famous photo from the camp of Buchenwald. Buchenwald was a concentration camp in Germany. Following liberation in 1945 many inmates stayed there – thus the name Displaced Persons (DP) camp.
Shavuot was celebrated in Buchenwald and there is a famous photo of this at Yad Vashem Museum in Jerusalem. Service was led by a chaplain Herschel Schachter who was among those who liberated the camp. Among the survivors was a Jewish boy who later became the chief rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau.
There is something extremely touching in seeing the survivors gathered to celebrate the Giving of the Torah.
After all, all of Germany rebelled against God’s law.
The Law
Jesus strongly warned about ignoring or abolishing the law:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18 NIV)
Finally, as we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, when the Torah was given, we realize that the setting of this amazing event was a tough, hot and hard desert. But, equally, right now it is a tough time for Israel and anyone who cares. Maybe we need to think deeply about what the source of Divine inspiration to all of us at this time is.
Chag sameach! Happy Shavuoth!
*For an explanation of the terms see the first Pearls of The Torah Portion Blog.
| Coral and crystal cannot be mentioned, and the striving for wisdom [is more precious] than pearls. | רָאמ֣וֹת וְ֖גָבִישׁ לֹ֣א יִזָּכֵ֑ר וּמֶ֥שֶׁךְ חָ֜כְמָ֗ה מִפְּנִינִֽים: |
Job 28:18 (NKJV)
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV)
Torah Scrolls were attacked and desecrated during the Holocaust. The enduring images of the Kristallnacht (November 9-10,1938) are those of synagogues on fire and Torah Scrolls burning. Some of these desecrated Torah Scrolls disappeared, others were buried. Some were lovingly rescued and are on display in museums in various locations.
