Bulletin Nasso

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Shabbat Parshat Nasso
9 Sivan 5784 • June 15, 2024
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Yahrtzeiten
June 19
June 20
June 21
Anniversaries
Doris Baum
Paulette Margulies
Sharon Castro
Benjamin Kaye
June 16 Rosalee & Jerry Bogo (61)
June 17 Beverly & Andrew Blazar (68)
Judith & Mayer Levitt (62)
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June 14 • 8 Sivan Faye Keyser – Wife of Stephen Keyser
Jerry Ritigstein – Brother-in-law of Shepard Scheinberg
June 16 • 10 Sivan Renee Dorn – Sister of Judy Fant
June 17 • 11 Sivan Dorothy Gordon – Mother of Ben Post
June 18 • 12 Sivan Jacob Rosen – Father-in-law of Norma Rosen
June 20 • 14 Sivan Lillian Stein – Mother of Ralph Stein
Birthdays
jna `skuv ouh
cuy kzn

Torah & Haftarah Readings:
Shabbat NASSO: Numbers 5:11–6:27 (Cycle 2) (Etz Hayim p. 796)
1. 5:11-15 2. 5:16-26 3. 5:27-6:4 4. 6:5-8
5. 6:9-15 6. 6:16-21 7. 6:22-27 M. 7:87-89 (p. 811)
Haftarah: Judges 13:2–25 (p. 813)
Torah Commentary
D’var Torah:
Nachshon the Jumper or Stoner - Bex Stern-Rosenblatt
At the end of our parashah, we jump back in time to watch the heads of
the tribes bring offerings for the dedication of the Mishkan, which we last
read about way back at the beginning of Leviticus. However, here in the
Book of Numbers, we love enumerating people and the listing of these
offerings gives us yet another opportunity to put the Twelve Tribes in
order. This is the fourth time so far in Numbers that the tribes have been
listed. The first two times, the list is organized according to the mother of
each tribe in birth order. But the second two times, Judah jumps rank and
heads the list.
Much has been made of this jump. After all, it is from the Tribe of Judah
that our kings will descend, rather than from the Tribe of Reuben. We see
in the stories of Genesis ample reason to choose Judah and his descendants
rather than his murderous and licentious older brothers. And, after all, we
seem to have a preference for subverting the custom of primogeniture.
The listing in our parashah is a listing of the head of each tribe. The tribe
of Judah is represented by Nahshon ben Aminadav. In our parashah, and
in the Tanakh, Nahshon is a minor character. We know almost nothing
about him. His biggest moments are his inclusion in various lists and his
being distantly related to more well-known characters. Jewish tradition,
however, turns him into a macher. Needing to explain why he jumps the
line, changing the order of the listing of the tribes, midrashim ascribe to
him the qualities that they would most want in a leader.
He is the main character of one of the most famous midrashim. It is the
story of Israel, caught between the Reed Sea and the pursuing Egyptians,
until one brave Israelite walks into the sea and it begins to part. That’s the
story we read in Bamidbar Rabbah, and it’s lovely. We value Nahshon
for taking the initiative, for having faith, for coming from a good family
that brought him up well. We disparage the rest of Israel for lacking these
qualities.
As the story is first told, however, in the Mekhilta and then in Tractate

Sotah, two options are given. The second is the story similar to the one we
read in Bamidbar Rabbah. All the other tribes stood around declaring in
fear that they would not be first to enter the sea. Nahshon jumped right in.
From this act, his tribe, Judah, merited to rule.
However, the first option, expounded by Rabbi Meir, presents very
different values for leadership. In this version, all the tribes are competing
for the honor of being the first tribe to enter the sea. The first to jump
in was Benjamin. For this, Benjamin received the honor of having the
Temple built upon its tribal land. The leaders of Judah, however, did not
let this go easily. Benjamin subverted the correct order. So while the Tribe
of Benjamin was entering the water, the heads of Judah threw stones at
them. For this action, Judah too is rewarded. Judah receives the kingship, a
pun on the word for stoning. In this option, we uphold law and order. We
uphold zealotry and devotion.
This version sees all the Israelites as capable and willing, rather than just
one man out of a whole new nation. This version also sees Israelite tribes
willing to turn to infighting even as they are caught between the sea and
the Egyptian army. This version even rewards that infighting. When we
reflect back on the stories we tell now of Nahshon, what do we value?
What does it take to be a hero today? What might it mean for the hero’s
reward to be the chance to give first?
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