The word Naso (“נָשֹׂא”) in Gematria is 351, the same value of the terms “Beni Dor Dea’a” in Hebrew (“בני דור דעה”), the generation of knowledge, receiving the Torah. As well as “Davar Galuie Ve’Yadua’a” (“דבר גלוי וידוע”), not hidden and known, as HaShem at this point; and “Rak Echad Ve’Yachid” (“רק אחד ויחיד”), the one and only one, speaking of HaShem. These all alludes to the time right after “Matan Torah” as all knew and saw HaShem. We learn from the words “Elevate the sum of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers’ houses, by their families” as written “נשא את ראש בני גרשון” a profound teachings and prophecy. HaShem was reveling to Moshe that his sons will be spread among the nations, but they will always be elevated. We learn this from the word “Gershon” (“גרשון”), which in Hebrew also mean that they were expelled, forced out of their land. HaShem promise that even in exile, the people of Israel will be counted and elevated.
This Parasha is the longest Parasha in our Torah, with 176 verses. Parashat Naso provides us with many Masachtot in our Gemara, such as Sotah, Nazir, Birchat Kohanim, Nessiim Korbanot, Zav, Viduy and others. It is interesting to point out that the number 176 is the same number of phrases speaking of HaShem and His love to Bnei-Yisrael. The words “HaShem Malkechem” (“ה’ מלככם” – God is your king), “Hu Manhigayienu” (“הוא מנהיגנו” – he is our leader), “LeOlam” (“לעולם” – for ever) all have the same numerical value of 176. There are three places in the Torah that are the longest and they all have 176 verses:
- Parashat Naso – 176 verses
- Baba Bathrah 176 pages
- Tehilim 119 – 176 verses
HaShem speaks to Moshe and instructs him to single out part of the family of Gershon who is fit to perform the holy task of servicing the Mishkan. The question was asked why a specific portion of the family of Gershon was selected (as it written “נשא את ראש בני גרשון”). Gershon was the firstborn in the tribe of Levi and since HaShem first singled out the family of Kehat from the other Levites family, here too HaShem elevated the selected few out of Gershon to take part in the holy task. From Kehat most important leaders of Kehuna and Levitates came out. For example, Moshe, Aharon and Miriam came from Amram who was the son of Kehat. This singling out came to show HaShem’s honorable way of choosing such a group to the service in the Mishkan. The chosen group was thirty to fifty years old, and they carried the holy vessels and parts of the Mishkan. The Midrash teaches us about a miracle that took place while disassembling and caring the holy parts of the Mishkan. The holy parts were weightless and practically carried themselves, just as it happened when Joshua crossed the Jordan River upon entering Eretz Yisrael. The word “Naso” in Hebrew means to elevate and to carry, and Hashem did appoint them to both carry and through their service, HaShem elevated them.
- Levi tribes had three sons, Gershon, Kehat and Mereri.
- Gershon had two sons – Levni and Shimei
- Kehat had four sons – Amram, Izthar (Korach father), Hevron and Uzziel
- Mereri had two sons Machli and Mushi
The Zohar teaches us that the word “Naso” alludes to our Neshamah (soul) as it rises every night to examine our daily activities and record them. The actual method of “Naso”, as counting, also teaches us that the group of Levites chosen by HaShem chose was so righteous that they needed to be vet. These Levites were “hand-picked” by HaShem as they too were “Naso” by HaShem and were elevated by Him in the past and had no sins. By using the act of “Naso” as rise here, HaShem now allowing us to rise up and have our Neshamot (souls) praise him, as we are now “awaken” from our spiritual bondage in Egypt and have the Mishkan, the Torah and HaShem’s clouds of glory amongst us.
Our sages also teach us that here the word “Naso” refers to all the converts whom Yitro brought with him to join Bnei-Yisrael. HaShem elevated them and accepted their conversion, now that they are integrated into the people of Israel. We see how a full Teshuvah can elevate one’s Neshamah and merit the blessings of HaShem.
We notice that each Levites family had a different level of sanctity and holiness with regards to their holy tasks, of carrying a specific portion of the Mishkan. The Kehat family carried the Ark of the Covenant together with the holiest parts of the Sanctuary, therefore they were chosen first. Our Sages teach us that exactly the opposite happened, and the Ark actually carried the Kehat family. Next we have the family of Gershon who carried the tapestries and the hangings of the Mishkan, and therefore they were chosen second. The family of Merari, carried the supporting structure of the Mishkan, and therefore they were counted last. Our sages teach that the Kehat family was always engaged in chesed and good deeds, and as reward they were named and chosen first to have the highest part of servicing HaShem in the Mishkan. From Kehat came Amram (Moshe’s father), and his name means “Am Ram” (“עם רם”), a big and elevated nation.
As Jews we must have two qualities: being humble and submitting to serve HaShem with a happy heart and a will to rush to do a Mitzvah. In the book of Proverbs (“משלי”) King Solomon writes “Simcha LeTzadik Asot Mishpat” (“שמחה לצדיק עשות משפט”), meaning a joy to the righteous to do justice. When we do a Mitzvah with joy in our heart, HaShem rewards us greatly. Just as King David said in Tehilim: “Eivdu Et HaShem Besimch” (“עיבדו את ה’ בשימחה”), meaning serve HaShem in happiness. So too the selected portion of the Levites family did exactly that. They sang to HaShem while doing their holy work in the Mishkan, as it says in verse 23, “work for work” (“לעבוד עבודה”), meaning to sing and work. The word “Simcha” (“שימחה”), happiness, comes from rearranging of the word “Chamisha” (“חמישה”), meaning five, the books of the Torah (“Chamisha Chumshie Torah”) that brings happiness. The word “Chamisha” also alludes to the five senses and their organs: sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing, as we must use each one of them to worship HaShem properly and perform the Mitzvot.
The Levites sang beautiful songs in harmony to all the people of Israel who came to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices in the Beit-HaMikdash. Their beautiful voices made the audiences inspired and they waited patiently in line for their turn to sacrifice their Korban. The Music they sang both at Beit-HaMikdash (the Holy Temple in Jerusalem) and at the Mishkan were due to their specific choosing by HaShem. The question was asked “Why were the Levites selected to sing in the Temple? Because the name Levi means cleaving, creating a path. According to the Zohar (2:19a) “ones soul who heard their singing, at once cleaved to God”. The Levites served at the Sanctuary, were gate keepers of the Temple and singers over the offerings every day, for it is written, “And the Levite, he shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting (Bamidbar 18: 23). The Levites sang daily in the Beit-HaMikdash a special music that also appears in Tehilim and our daily prayers.