Triennial Cycle III: Numbers 7:1-89
Humash Etz Hayim, page 805
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25, page 812
- (Num. 7:1-89) The Nesi’im. The chieftains of each of the twelve tribes bring a joint gift, carts and oxen, for the transportation of the Tabernacle when it is disassembled for travel. Then, on 12 consecutive days, they each bring identical individual gifts for the Tabernacle.
Engaging in Personal Prayer
When he was a child, the seer of Lublin lived near a forest. Almost daily the young boy ventured off into the woods by himself. His father, who was basically a tolerant and understanding man, didn’t want to interfere with his son’s daily excursions, but he was concerned because he knew forests could be dangerous.
One day the father pulled his son aside. “I notice that every day you go off into the forest,” he said. I don’t want to forbid you to go there, but I want you to know I am concerned about your safety. Why is it that you go there, and what do you do?”
“I go into the forest to find God,” was the boy’s simple response.
His father was deeply moved. “That’s beautiful,” he said “And I’m pleased that you’re doing that. But don’t you know? God is the same everywhere.”
“God is,” the boy answered, “but I am not.” Wolpe, Three Times Chai
Although each offering was identical, each was unique to the person who brought it. The order of the tribes seems random, implying no greater status to those who came first. To each tribe, God dedicated one day and on that day there was no gift like its gift. The sincerity of each offering was in no way diminished by the fact that another chiefton had brought an identical offering one day earlier. For that reason, the Torah describes each offering in detail. Similarly, although people recite the same prayers, each worshiper’s experience of those prayers is unique and personal.
The midrash states that on the day the tabernacle was dedicated, something happened that never had happened before. The Sh’khinah, the Presence of God, descended from heaven and took up residence in the world (Num R. 12:6) Etz Hayyim Commentary
What is service of the heart? It is prayer. Baylonian Talmud, Taanit 2a
Prayer should not be recited as if a man were reading a document.
R. Aha said: A new prayer should be said every day.
Jerusalem Talmud; Berakhot 38a
Words of prayer are commitments, We stand for what we utter…The word of prayer is like a pledge in the making.
Heschel, Man’s Quest for God, 27
Once a watchmaker came to town and all the Jews brought their watches to be repaired. He looked at one watch and told the owner, “Leave it with me and I will repair it.” The next person gave a watch, and the watchmaker looked at it and said, “This I cannot repair. Take it home and use it for scrap.” The owner of the watch said, “Why can you repair his watch and not mine?” The watchmaker said, “His watch was wound every day. It is running too slow, but with a few adjustments I can make it run properly. Your watch has not been wound in a long time. It is rusty inside. I cannot repair it.
Abraham Joshuah Heschel
New Resource: Comins, Making Prayer Real