MAY 18 • 2023 | 87
SPIRIT
The Key to Continuity
T
he smiting of the Egyptian
firstborn that began on
the eve of the Exodus
comes full circle this week.
This portion recounts how
God removed the Israelite first-
born from the honored position
as His chosen servants,
replacing them with
the tribe of Levi.
Until then, the
Israelite firstborn had
been God’s own pos-
session, favored and
beloved. Now, they
are stripped of their
status and relegated to
the ranks of common
Israelites.
What had they done
to warrant such an
ignoble demotion?
What terrible sin had
the first sons of Israel committed
to have earned this degradation?
The text is silent. Nor does the
Torah provide any indication as
to what entitled the Levites to
the promotion to the inner circle
of God’s court. Firstborn and
Levites alike must have been baf-
fled by this sudden switch.
The Bible’s assault on primo-
geniture, the right of the first-
born, begins in Genesis. Cain,
the original firstborn, is spurned
by God when the Lord rejects
his sacrifice in favor of brother
Abel’s.
From then on, story after
story recalls how the eldest son
is deprived of his natural birth-
right. Ishmael is passed over in
favor of Abraham’s second son,
Isaac; Isaac’s son Jacob will usurp
Esau’s blessing. Fourth-born
Judah will become the forefather
of Israel’s monarchy while first-
born Reuben will disappear into
obscurity.
Psychologists suggest that
firstborn children are more
responsible than their junior
counterparts, providing a ready
explanation of God’s initial
choice of the firstborn to be His
servants. Charged with ensuring
the continuity of Israel’s religious
life, God elected the most consci-
entious candidate.
Alternatively, the Levites’
temperament was not
anchored in responsibility, but
passion. Fierce and fiery, they
fought the worshippers of the
Golden Calf, taking up arms
against their own people to
defend God’s honor when it
was violated in Shechem.
Moses, too, was a zeal-
ous Levite who confronted
Pharoah “with hot anger”
and shattered the Ten
Commandments “in burning
rage.
”
To whom should be entrusted
the task of ensuring Jewish conti-
nuity, the steady and dependable
or the intense and impassioned?
Perhaps the Torah is teaching us
that different times call for differ-
ent leaders. Forty years of steady
leadership united the former
fragmented slaves into a cohesive
people. As that era of bondage
and wandering drew to a close,
a new frontier arose before the
nascent people of Israel.
Set against the frontier of a
new land and identity, the chal-
lenge of a new kind of conquest
and growth was about to begin.
This frontier demanded leaders
capable of lighting the people’s
way with inextinguishable pas-
sion for, and commitment to,
God’s truths.
It appears that God reconsid-
ered whom he wished to lead His
people into this new existence.
Rabbi Eric Grossman was the head of
school at Frankel Jewish Academy in
West Bloomfield. This article originally
appeared in the JN on May 13, 2010.
TORAH PORTION
Rabbi Eric
Grossman
Parshat
Bamidbar:
Numbers
1:1-4:20;
I Samuel
20:18-42.
CANTOR SAMUEL
GREENBAUM
— Certified Mohel —
855ABoy@gmail.com
Office: (248) 547-7970
Answering all of your anesthetic
& aftercare needs.
(248) 417-5632
Skill, Sensitivity and Tradition
come together to create your special Bris.
Pre-order
your Graduation
Party Trays!
FATHER’S
DAY is
June 18th
BBQS ARE BETTER WITH
VIENNA HOT DOGS!
VIENNA HOT DOGS!
On Star’s beautiful
already low-priced trays
$5 OFF
Expires 6/14/2023. One Per Order.
Not Good Holidays. 10 Person
Minimum. With this coupon.
DELIVERY AVAILABLE
“…one of America’s finest
carryout-only delicatessens!
Star’s reputation
has never wavered!”
— Danny Raskin
STAR
STAR
DELI
DELI
COMPARE OUR LOW PRICES WITH ANY DELICATESSEN IN TOWN!
SALAD TRAY
$17.99
per
person
per
person
DAIRY TRAY
$25.99
SALAD TRAY W/ LOX & CREAM CHEESE
$21.99
per
person
MEAT TRAY
$16.99
per
person
TEMPORARY HOURS:
8AM-7PM EVERYDAY
Carry-Out, Delivery & Curb Side Available
Prices subject to change
24555 W. 12 MILE ROAD
Just west of Telegraph Road • Southfield
248-352-7377
www.stardeli.net
Support Local
Businesses