From s it pointtofivjew Everything looks easy Alm 4 Spirituality TORAH PORTION .4% That s why we take a different perspective 44. t tw.# 0. 46, owl* Z8£9V ON "dA11103.19WW00 01Z *OH ON.B1 UOM1 006Z tuowdnoa6saiespotisa 0M OP@ owl ooh s mpg einsopenivi pug JO Aueq anolt taw eieriofieu lies oi Weal peznepeds e selei 1 ieveui , Jo einsopeAoi Rupej noA times inoqe OdMitn. noA GAV G etuo ruc iNTAkti- apian noA eiv JN Community Forum Featured Blogger: Meet Rabbi Jason Miller His blog is about sports, technology, politics, pop culture, and current events all through a Jewish perspective. Read his latest blog at: http://thejewishnews.com/community Check out his recent blog: 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.