SEDRA : Bamidbar: Hertz Chumash p. 568 Numbers Chap. 1

This week's Sedra is generously sponsored by Ray Sifris.

SYNOPSIS:

During the second year after the exodus from Egypt, Moses and Aharon were commanded by G-d to count all male Israelites aged twenty to sixty. These males automatically became liable for military service. The census revealed that six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men were available for duty in the armed forces. The tribe of Levi was excluded from the general census because of its special duties connected with the Sanctuary.
Order and discipline were to be maintained at all times, whether the Israelites were encamped or on the march. The camp was arranged in the shape of a quadrilateral, with the Sanctuary in the centre, protected on all four sides by the tents of the Levi'im. The twelve tribes were divided into four groupings, each bearing the name of its leading tribe, all of which formed the outer cordon. Yehudah, together with Yissachar and Zevulun, were stationed on the eastern side of the camp; Reuven, Shimon and Gad were encamped on the southern side; Ephraim, Menasheh and Binyamin were on the western side; and Dan, Asher and Naftali were in the northern area. During the nation's travels, the group led by Yehudah marched first followed by Reuven, Ephraim and in the rear, Dan. Some commentators maintain that the encampment moved in totality as a quadrilateral, just as it camped.
Originally, the first-born had been selected by G-d to perform His holy services. However, after the sin of the Golden Calf, this coveted task was transferred instead to the Levi'im, who had remained faithful to G-d throughout. Therefore, Moses was commanded to appoint the Levi'im to Sanctuary service under the supervision of Aharon and his sons. A census revealed that there were twenty-two thousand three hundred Levi'im in all.
Each of the three Levitical families, Gershon, Kehat, and Merari, were assigned separate tasks in the Sanctuary service. The Gershonites, on the western side of the Sanctuary, were responsible for the transportation of the coverings of the Sanctuary. The Kehatites, encamped on the south side, carried the Ark, the Shulchan, (Table of Showbread) the Menorah, and the Altars. The members of Merari, situated on the north side, were responsible for the transport of the boards, pillars, bolts and sockets of the Sanctuary. The members of Kehat were warned not to touch or even look upon the sacred objects, which were covered by Aharon and his sons before they were moved. Aharon's son Elazar, was the general supervisor of the Sanctuary, watching in particular over the oil for the lamp, the incense, the continual Mincha offering and the anointing oil. This is partially discussed in the next sedra.

HAPHTORAH HERTZ CHUMASH P.582 Hosea Chap. 2

The prophet Hosea suffered from a tragic family life - his wife had become profligate. Nevertheless, his overwhelming love for her drove him to attempt to save and rehabilitate her. In his prophecy Hosea sees his own domestic sorrow reflected in Israel's faithlessness to G-d. Nevertheless, as Hosea never gave up on his wife, G-d will not abandon or forsake his people.
The common link with the Sedra lies in the opening words of the Haphtorah referring to the "number of the Children of Israel".

TELL ME RABBI ..... SHAVUOT (6-7 Sivan)

Shavuot is the Festival of the Divine Revelation. The Torah does not explicitly mention that Revelation took place on Shavuot but this is deduced by the Rabbis from Exodus Chapter 19.
Fifty days after the Exodus from Egypt (6th Sivan), the Israelites were assembled at Mount Sinai where, in dramatic circumstances, G-d revealed His presence. The Ten Commandments were heard by all assembled at the foot of the mountain and represent the fundamental essence of the Torah, and the basis of world civilisation. Moses then ascended the mountain and received the Torah from G-d, remaining 40 days on the mountain for that purpose.

CONNECTION OF PESACH WITH SHAVUOT

Whereas on Pesach the people gained physical freedom by their emancipation from physical bondage, on Shavuot they gained their spiritual freedom. The festivals are connected by the regular, uninterrupted counting of the 49 days of the Sephirah, the seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuot. Shavuot thus is regarded as the culmination of Pesach and represents its fulfilment.
The Festival is called by several names:

Chag Shavuot (the Festival of Weeks) because it comes after the counting of the Seven Weeks. ("Pentecost" is derived from the Greek word meaning Fifty).

Chag HaBikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits). Zman Matan Toratenu (the Time of the Giving of our Torah) is used in the prayers. Atzeret a name representing the culmination of the season of Freedom and the giving of the Torah, its content.

CHAG HABIKKURIM
When the Temple stood, the farmers would come in procession to Jerusalem, to present their first fruits in baskets made of anything from wicker to gold in the Temple. They presented their first fruits to the accompaniment of music and making the moving declarations in Deut 26;9,10, concluding: "And He has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey. And now behold, I have brought the first fruits of the land, which you O L-rd have given me".

CUSTOMS
Shavuot is not characterised by a wealth of ceremonial and visual symbolism. Three customs are connected with the Festival. One belongs to the Beth Ha-Midrash ( the House of Study), one to the Beit Knesset (the Synagogue), and one to the Beth Israel (the Jewish Home).
(a) Beth Ha-Midrash: It is the custom to sit up part or all of the first night, reciting prescribed excerpts from every section of the Torah, the written Law and Oral Law. This vigil, and the compilation read, is called Tikkum Leil Shavuot (order of the night of Shavuot).
(b) Synagogue: The Synagogue is adorned with plants, flowers and shrubs as a reminder of the shrubbery at Mount Sinai, where the Torah was given.
(c) Home: Dairy foods are usually served in honour of a Festival, for the Torah is likened to milk and honey.

SYNAGOGUE SERVICE
First Day: On the first day of Shavuot, the account of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, is read.
On the Second Day: The Book of Ruth is read at the conclusion of the Morning Service linking the revelation aspect of the Festival with its agricultural aspect. While its whole spirit is redolent of the atmosphere when Israel was an agricultural people, there is also a powerful religious message: Israel proclaimed at the foot of Mount Sinai, "Na'aseh Ve Nishmah," "We will observe and we will hearken," so Ruth declared to her mother-in-law, Naomi :"Where you go I will go and where you lodge I will lodge: Your people shall be my people, and your G-d my G-d". Destiny decreed to Ruth the great honour of being the ancestress of King David and the mother of Israel's Royal House.