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Living in a Post-Denominational World
1567310
40
May 13 * 2010
Our Passion For God
Is Key To Continuity
Parshat Bemidbar: Numbers 1:1-4:20;
1 Samuel 20:18-42
T
he smiting of the Egyptian
Alternatively, the Levites' tempera-
firstborn (bechorot) that began
ment was not anchored in responsi-
on the eve of the Exodus comes bility, but passion. Fierce and fiery,
full circle this week. Parshat Bemidbar
they fought the worshippers of the
recounts how God removed
Golden Calf, taking up
the Israelite firstborn from
arms against their own
their honored position as His
people to defend God's
chosen servants — replacing
honor. Jacob's son Levi,
them with the tribe of Levi.
the ancestor of the Levites,
Until then, the Israelite
violently defended his
firstborn had been God's
sister's honor when it was
own possession, favored and
violated in Shechem. Moses
beloved. Now the bechorot
too was a zealous Levite
are stripped of their status
who confronted Pharaoh
and relegated to the ranks of
"with hot anger" (Exodus
Rabbi Eric
the common Israelites.
11:8) and shattered the 10
Grossman
What had the firstborn
Commandments "in burn-
Special to the
done to warrant such an
ing rage" (Exodus 32:19).
Jewish News
ignoble demotion? What
To whom should be
terrible sin had the first
entrusted the task of ensur-
sons of Israel committed to have
ing Jewish continuity: the steady and
earned them this degradation? The
dependable or the intense and the
text is silent. Nor does the Torah pro-
impassioned? Perhaps Torah is teaching
vide any indication as to what entitled us that different times call for different
the Levites to their promotion to the
leaders. Forty years of steady leader-
inner circle of God's court (though
ship united the fragmented former
there is much speculation on this topic slaves into a cohesive people. As that
in rabbinic literature). Firstborn and
era of bondage and wandering drew to
Levite alike must have been baffled by a close, a new frontier arose before the
this sudden switch in fate.
nascent people of Israel.
The Bible's assault on the primo-
Set against the frontier of a new
geniture, the right of the firstborn,
land and identity, the challenge of
begins in Genesis. Cain, the original
a new kind of conquest and growth
firstborn, is spurned by God when the was about to begin. This frontier
Lord rejects his sacrifice in favor of
demanded leaders capable of lighting
brother Abel's.
the people's way with inextinguishable
From then on, story after story
passion for, and commitment to, God's
recalls how the eldest son is deprived
truths. It appears that God reconsid-
of his natural birthright that instead
ered whom He wished to lead His
goes to his younger sibling: The first-
people into this new existence.
born Ishmael is passed over in favor
of Abraham's second son, Isaac; and
Rabbi Eric Grossman is Head of School at
Isaac's son Jacob will usurp Esau's
Frankel Jewish Academy, West Bloomfield.
blessing and supplant his elder broth-
er. The fourth-born Judah will become
the forefather of Israel's monarchy,
What characteristics of Jewish
while the firstborn Reuben will disap-
leadership are needed today
pear into obscurity.
to guarantee the continuity of
Psychologists suggest that firstborn
our Detroit Jewish community?
children are more responsible than their
Do the characteristics of the
junior counterparts, providing a ready
current world leaders make
explanation of God's initial choice of the
them suitable to lead? What
bechorot to be His servants. Charged
steps can we take to make sure
with ensuring the continuity of Israel's
our children are passionate
religious life, God elected the most
about Judaism and Israel?
conscientious candidate.