Difference between revisions of "Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Bemidbar/0/en"
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<category>Choseness | <category>Choseness | ||
| − | <p>When and why was the tribe of Levi chosen to be the priests and Levites?  | + | <p>When and why was the tribe of Levi chosen to be the priests and Levites?  Was the selection merit-based?  If so, for what actions?</p> |
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li> | + | <li>See <multilink><a href="Jubilees30-17-29" data-aht="source">Jubilees</a><a href="Jubilees30-17-29" data-aht="source">30:17-29</a><a href="Jubilees" data-aht="parshan">About Jubilees</a></multilink> who claims that they were rewarded for Levi's avenging of Dinah's honor in Shekhem, <multilink><a href="ShemotRabbah3-17" data-aht="source">Shemot Rabbah</a><a href="ShemotRabbah3-17" data-aht="source">3:17</a><a href="Shemot Rabbah" data-aht="parshan">About Shemot Rabbah</a></multilink> who implies that it was the special character of Moshe's family which elevated the tribe, and <multilink><a href="RashiDevarim10-8" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiDevarim10-8" data-aht="source">Devarim 10:8</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink> who points to the Levite's non-participation in the Sin of the Golden Calf.  Which of these approaches do you find most compelling?  Which do you find problematic?  According to Rashi, why should Aharon have merited the priesthood?</li> |
| − | <li>R"Y Behor Shor suggests that the choice was practical in nature.  Though originally the firstborns had been selected for the position, Hashem decided that it was better that the service to be confined to a family line and consolidated into one tribe. What are the advantages and disadvantages of selecting just one tribe rather than one individual from each family?</li> | + | <li>R"Y Behor Shor suggests that the choice was practical in nature.  Though originally the firstborns had been selected for the position, Hashem decided that it was better that the service to be confined to a family line and consolidated into one tribe.<fn>He further points out that the the fact that firstborns were given a double portion of the land would hinder them from devoting themselves entirely to service of Hashem.</fn> What are the advantages and disadvantages of selecting just one tribe rather than one individual from each family?  For elaboration, see <a href="Selection of the Priests and Levites" data-aht="page">Selection of the Priests and Levites</a>.</li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
| + | </category> | ||
| + | <category><p>Sefer Bemidbar opens with a census of the nation</p> | ||
| + | <p> </p> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
</page> | </page> | ||
</aht-xml> | </aht-xml> | ||
Version as of 22:54, 24 May 2017
Shabbat Table Topics – Parashat Bemidbar
Choseness
When and why was the tribe of Levi chosen to be the priests and Levites? Was the selection merit-based? If so, for what actions?
- See Jubilees who claims that they were rewarded for Levi's avenging of Dinah's honor in Shekhem, Shemot Rabbah who implies that it was the special character of Moshe's family which elevated the tribe, and Rashi who points to the Levite's non-participation in the Sin of the Golden Calf. Which of these approaches do you find most compelling? Which do you find problematic? According to Rashi, why should Aharon have merited the priesthood?
- R"Y Behor Shor suggests that the choice was practical in nature. Though originally the firstborns had been selected for the position, Hashem decided that it was better that the service to be confined to a family line and consolidated into one tribe.1 What are the advantages and disadvantages of selecting just one tribe rather than one individual from each family? For elaboration, see Selection of the Priests and Levites.
Sefer Bemidbar opens with a census of the nation
