B'haalot'cha - Numbers 8:1-12:16 - 6/13/25

In Numbers 8:10-12, God instructs Moses regarding the election of the Levites as the priests who run the temple sacrifice:

“You shall bring the Levites forward before the Tent of Meeting. Assemble the whole Israelite community and bring the Levites forward before יהוה. Let the Israelites lay their hands upon the Levites, and let Aaron designate the Levites before יהוה as an elevation offering from the Israelites, that they may perform the service of יהוה.“

Now, God had already designated the Levites as the priests, headed by Aaron as the High Priest, way back in Exodus. And we’ve already read in Numbers a long list of Levitical clans and their census and the tasks each clan is assigned in carrying the Tabernacle through the desert. So why now this ritual with the Israelites?

Clearly, it is necessary, but not sufficient, for God to designate who will serve in God’s Temple. The election of the Levites to this position of leadership in the Israelite community must be ratified by the whole community. Everyone is asked to signal their acceptance by the ritual laying on of hands and symbolically elevating the Levites as if they are a sacred offering to God. In verse 15, we are told this elevation by the community is what qualifies them to serve in God’s Temple.

So, too, do we gather our Beth Hillel community together every year, to give the community assent to new and continuing leadership, to pledge our support for their work, and to affirm the ongoing commitment of each temple member to contribute your own talents, energies, expertise, and enthusiasm to the life of the community. 

Earlier in Numbers, God spelled out in detail what each Levitical clan’s responsibilities were. Every clan had its own specific designated tasks to perform. That way, there was no question about who’s job it was to carry the lampstands, who’s job it was to take down the tent poles every morning and put them back up every night. And by breaking the whole job down into discrete tasks, a possibly overwhelming job became manageable.

The work of building and maintaining community can also be big and overwhelming. But when we break it down into its different elements, with specific committees designated to take the lead on each element, it becomes manageable. The onus, however, is still on each member to do their part, to serve on committees, to volunteer to help out at events and programs, host an Oneg or participate in services, to contribute as you are able to whatever needs doing.

When God told the Israelites to build the Mishkan in the desert, every person took a part in the work, whether contributing their skills and artistry, or donating money or materials. It was a communal labor of love. So, too, have I seen over the course of this year so many of you contributing in so many ways to the life of this sacred community. I know the year to come, and many years to come, will be years of joy and fulfillment, made manifest by the commitment of each of you. Ken yehi ratzon, may it be God’s will.

-Rabbi Bonnie Margulis