Who’s on First? No One – They Are All Riding a Merry-Go-Round!
These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly portion: #1339 The Sole Practitioner Lawyer and His Jewish Secretary – A Yichud Problem? Good Shabbos!
Who’s on First? No One – They Are All Riding a Merry-Go-Round!
Parshas Naso contains Birkas Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing), immediately followed by the identical korbonos (sacrificial offerings) that each of the twelve nesi’im (tribal princes) brought on consecutive days during the Chanukas Hamizbayach (inauguration period of the altar / the Mishkan dedication).
What is the connection between these two Torah parshios? Why does the Torah place Birkas Kohanim right before the parsha of karbanos shel hanesi’im (the princes’ offerings)? Furthermore, we can specifically ask about the connection between karbanos shel hanesi’im and the very last pasuk of Birkas Kohanim, immediately preceding the karbanos shel hanesi’im, namely the pasuk “v’yasem lecha shalom” (and establish peace for you) (Bamidbar 6:26). What do the karbanos of the nesi’im have to do with shalom?
In addition, why are there certain differences among the otherwise identical korbonos that the nesi’im brought? Every nasi brought exactly the same korban, and yet the Torah spells out the exact same details of the offerings twelve times. When I was a little boy, I used to think that this is the hardest parsha to have as your Bar Mitzvah parsha because, with 176 pesukim, it is the longest parsha to lein! However, when I discovered what is in the parsha, I realized that it is not really so hard to lein because we repeat the same six pesukim twelve times!
Nonetheless, there are slight differences. One difference is that while the Torah identifies each of the final eleven nesi’im as “nasi” (the prince of his specific tribe), by the first nasi (Nachshon ben Aminadav of Shevet Yehudah), the pasuk does not mention that he was the nasi. Another difference is that by Shevet Yehuda, the pasuk begins v’korbano k’a’ras kesef achas (And his offering was one silver bowl…). Ironically, the conjunctive vov does not appear where we might expect it by princes #2-12 (connecting one nasi’s korbon to the next), but rather only by the first nasi from Shevet Yehudah, where we would lease expect it (connecting the entire topic of karbanos shel hanesi’im to Birkas Kohanim). Why would that be?
There is a beautiful Kli Yakar on this pasuk, which says that the “vov” at the beginning of the korbon of the first nasi is indicative of a connection between karbanos shel hanesi’im and the bracha (blessing) of shalom, which appears at the end of Birkas Kohanim, for if there is no peace, there is nothing.
The last Mishna in Shas (at the end of Tractate Uktzin) says that the Ribbono Shel Olam did not find a more appropriate receptacle to hold bracha for the world than shalom. The Medrash says that shalom is so critical that even the deceased need shalom, as it is written “And you will come to your fathers in shalom.” This does not mean that the deceased fight, but rather, if those who are still living fight with one another then the deceased have no peace either. Unfortunately, such stories occur on a daily basis. Someone dies, there is a contested will, the children are not happy with the division and families get into the most bitter of arguments. The Medrash is saying that if these problems of the living are not solved, even the dead will have no peace.
Then the Kli Yakar writes that all the other brachos of Birkas Kohanim are lacking until the bracha of shalom at the end, and then, after Birkas Kohanim concludes with shalom, the Torah immediately begins another parsha, which also involves shalom (that of the korbonos hanesiim). That is why the latter section is connected to the prior section with the connective vov.
However, what is the connection between the korbonos hanesi’im and the idea of shalom? The connection is that it was not so obvious which nasi should be the first one to offer his korbonos. The Medrash says that Reuvain said “I should go first because I am the bechor.” However, the Ribono shel Olam told Reuven that he would not go first because Yehuda was the melech (king) and the melech needs to go first. Reuven then said “Okay, so I will go second.” Again, the Ribono shel Olam told him “No. Yissacher comes after Yehuda because he is the shevet of limud haTorah (Torah learning). Reuven was then willing to settle for third place but again he was told that Zevulun merited the third spot, because he supports Yissacher.
So, it was not so simple. As a matter of fact, the Medrash says that the twelve shevatim correspond with the twelve mazalos (constellations). The mazalos don’t stay in the same Heavenly position. They rotate around and around. Chazal say that even though Yehuda brought the first korban, he wasn’t really first because the rotation of shevatim was like a merry-go-round. When a merry-go-round is rotating, there is no first and there is no second. Each horse in the merry-go-round moves in a circular movement, constantly changing position, just like the heavenly constellations.
The Medrash is saying that this is how they solved the jealousy problem. Even though Nachshon Ben Aminadav went first, he was only first temporarily. That is why, says the Kli Yakar, Yehudah’s korban begins with the conjunctive vov – “v’korbano” (And his korban). Why ‘And’? His was the first korban! The answer is that the ‘and’ does join his korban to the next nasi’s korbon and then to the next one because they were all going around. And that is also why even though it says nasi this shevet and nasi that shevet, by Nachshon ben Aminadav, it does not call him nasi Yehudah. This is because even though someone had to be ‘first’ but in the end, he wasn’t really first, because they were all rotating. That is the “semichus haparshiyos” between “v’yasem lecha shalom” and the parsha of hakravas hakorbonos. If you don’t have shalom, you don’t have anything.
Transcribed by David Twersky; Jerusalem [email protected]
Technical Assistance by Dovid Hoffman; Baltimore, MD [email protected]
This week’s write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissochar Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly Torah portion. A listing of the halachic portions for Parshas Nasso is provided below:
- 059 Sheitel: A Woman’s Obligation to Cover Her Hair
- 103 Birchas Kohanim
- 148 Sotah: The Case of the Unfaithful Wife
- 195 Birchas Kohanim: Who Can and Who Can’t?
- 241 Yichud and the Housekeeper
- 285 Sa’ar B’isha Ervah
- 331 NassoMust A Kallah Cover Her Hair at the Chasunah?
- 375 Ain Osin Mitzvos Chavilos
- 419 Causing the Erasure of Hashem’s Name
- 463 Dee’chui Eitzel Mitzvos
- 507 The Faithful Unfaithful Wife
- 551 Being Motzi a Wife in Kiddush
- 595 Chazonim and Chazanus
- 639 The Unfaithful Wife – Is Ignorance an Excuse?
- 683 Shalom Bayis – How Far Can One Go?
- 727 Singing During Davening – Pro or Con?
- 771 Ashkenazim, Sephardim and Bishul Akum,
- 815 The Laws of Sotah – Still Very Relevant
- 859 Walking Behind a Woman
- 903 Shavuous- Fascinating Halachos
- 947 Birchas Kohanim−Whose Mitzva−The Kohain or Yisroel?
- 990 Cutting Down A Fruit Tree for Home Expansion
- 1034 Ba’alas Teshuva Who Was Not Honest With Her Husband
- 1078 The Elderly Gentleman and the Female Nurse – A Yichud Problem?
- 1121 The Enigma of Shimshon HaGibor
- 1163 Avoiding Yichud: Must the Door be Open or Merely Unlocked.
- 1207 Listening to music – as mutar as you think?
- 1251 Sitting Next to a Woman on an Airplane
- 1295 Davening/Bentching/Making Kiddush in Front of a Woman Who Is Not Properly Dressed
- 1339 The Sole Practitioner Lawyer and His Jewish Secretary – A Yichud Problem?
- 1383 Birchas Kohanim – Whose Mitzva Is It?
- 1427 Giving Yasher Koach to the Kohain After Birchas Kohanim – Why?
- 1471 Birchas Kohanim – Why Only on Yom Tov?
- 1515 Some Fascinating Yichud Shailos
- 1557 Fascinating Facts About Bircas Kohanim That You Probably Never Knew
- 1599 Only One Kohen For Nesias Kapayim – Should He? Must He? Can He?
A complete catalogue can be ordered from the Yad Yechiel Institute, PO Box 511, Owings Mills MD 21117-0511. Call (410) 358-0416 or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.yadyechiel.org/ for further information.
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These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly portion: #1339 The Sole Practitioner Lawyer and His Jewish Secretary – A Yichud Problem? Good Shabbos!
Who’s on First? No One – They Are All Riding a Merry-Go-Round!
Parshas Naso contains Birkas Kohanim (the Priestly Blessing), immediately followed by the identical korbonos (sacrificial offerings) that each of the twelve nesi’im (tribal princes) brought on consecutive days during the Chanukas Hamizbayach (inauguration period of the altar / the Mishkan dedication).
What is the connection between these two Torah parshios? Why does the Torah place Birkas Kohanim right before the parsha of karbanos shel hanesi’im (the princes’ offerings)? Furthermore, we can specifically ask about the connection between karbanos shel hanesi’im and the very last pasuk of Birkas Kohanim, immediately preceding the karbanos shel hanesi’im, namely the pasuk “v’yasem lecha shalom” (and establish peace for you) (Bamidbar 6:26). What do the karbanos of the nesi’im have to do with shalom?
In addition, why are there certain differences among the otherwise identical korbonos that the nesi’im brought? Every nasi brought exactly the same korban, and yet the Torah spells out the exact same details of the offerings twelve times. When I was a little boy, I used to think that this is the hardest parsha to have as your Bar Mitzvah parsha because, with 176 pesukim, it is the longest parsha to lein! However, when I discovered what is in the parsha, I realized that it is not really so hard to lein because we repeat the same six pesukim twelve times!
Nonetheless, there are slight differences. One difference is that while the Torah identifies each of the final eleven nesi’im as “nasi” (the prince of his specific tribe), by the first nasi (Nachshon ben Aminadav of Shevet Yehudah), the pasuk does not mention that he was the nasi. Another difference is that by Shevet Yehuda, the pasuk begins v’korbano k’a’ras kesef achas (And his offering was one silver bowl…). Ironically, the conjunctive vov does not appear where we might expect it by princes #2-12 (connecting one nasi’s korbon to the next), but rather only by the first nasi from Shevet Yehudah, where we would lease expect it (connecting the entire topic of karbanos shel hanesi’im to Birkas Kohanim). Why would that be?
There is a beautiful Kli Yakar on this pasuk, which says that the “vov” at the beginning of the korbon of the first nasi is indicative of a connection between karbanos shel hanesi’im and the bracha (blessing) of shalom, which appears at the end of Birkas Kohanim, for if there is no peace, there is nothing.
The last Mishna in Shas (at the end of Tractate Uktzin) says that the Ribbono Shel Olam did not find a more appropriate receptacle to hold bracha for the world than shalom. The Medrash says that shalom is so critical that even the deceased need shalom, as it is written “And you will come to your fathers in shalom.” This does not mean that the deceased fight, but rather, if those who are still living fight with one another then the deceased have no peace either. Unfortunately, such stories occur on a daily basis. Someone dies, there is a contested will, the children are not happy with the division and families get into the most bitter of arguments. The Medrash is saying that if these problems of the living are not solved, even the dead will have no peace.
Then the Kli Yakar writes that all the other brachos of Birkas Kohanim are lacking until the bracha of shalom at the end, and then, after Birkas Kohanim concludes with shalom, the Torah immediately begins another parsha, which also involves shalom (that of the korbonos hanesiim). That is why the latter section is connected to the prior section with the connective vov.
However, what is the connection between the korbonos hanesi’im and the idea of shalom? The connection is that it was not so obvious which nasi should be the first one to offer his korbonos. The Medrash says that Reuvain said “I should go first because I am the bechor.” However, the Ribono shel Olam told Reuven that he would not go first because Yehuda was the melech (king) and the melech needs to go first. Reuven then said “Okay, so I will go second.” Again, the Ribono shel Olam told him “No. Yissacher comes after Yehuda because he is the shevet of limud haTorah (Torah learning). Reuven was then willing to settle for third place but again he was told that Zevulun merited the third spot, because he supports Yissacher.
So, it was not so simple. As a matter of fact, the Medrash says that the twelve shevatim correspond with the twelve mazalos (constellations). The mazalos don’t stay in the same Heavenly position. They rotate around and around. Chazal say that even though Yehuda brought the first korban, he wasn’t really first because the rotation of shevatim was like a merry-go-round. When a merry-go-round is rotating, there is no first and there is no second. Each horse in the merry-go-round moves in a circular movement, constantly changing position, just like the heavenly constellations.
The Medrash is saying that this is how they solved the jealousy problem. Even though Nachshon Ben Aminadav went first, he was only first temporarily. That is why, says the Kli Yakar, Yehudah’s korban begins with the conjunctive vov – “v’korbano” (And his korban). Why ‘And’? His was the first korban! The answer is that the ‘and’ does join his korban to the next nasi’s korbon and then to the next one because they were all going around. And that is also why even though it says nasi this shevet and nasi that shevet, by Nachshon ben Aminadav, it does not call him nasi Yehudah. This is because even though someone had to be ‘first’ but in the end, he wasn’t really first, because they were all rotating. That is the “semichus haparshiyos” between “v’yasem lecha shalom” and the parsha of hakravas hakorbonos. If you don’t have shalom, you don’t have anything.
Transcribed by David Twersky; Jerusalem [email protected]
Technical Assistance by Dovid Hoffman; Baltimore, MD [email protected]
This week’s write-up is adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissochar Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Series on the weekly Torah portion. A listing of the halachic portions for Parshas Nasso is provided below:
- 059 Sheitel: A Woman’s Obligation to Cover Her Hair
- 103 Birchas Kohanim
- 148 Sotah: The Case of the Unfaithful Wife
- 195 Birchas Kohanim: Who Can and Who Can’t?
- 241 Yichud and the Housekeeper
- 285 Sa’ar B’isha Ervah
- 331 NassoMust A Kallah Cover Her Hair at the Chasunah?
- 375 Ain Osin Mitzvos Chavilos
- 419 Causing the Erasure of Hashem’s Name
- 463 Dee’chui Eitzel Mitzvos
- 507 The Faithful Unfaithful Wife
- 551 Being Motzi a Wife in Kiddush
- 595 Chazonim and Chazanus
- 639 The Unfaithful Wife – Is Ignorance an Excuse?
- 683 Shalom Bayis – How Far Can One Go?
- 727 Singing During Davening – Pro or Con?
- 771 Ashkenazim, Sephardim and Bishul Akum,
- 815 The Laws of Sotah – Still Very Relevant
- 859 Walking Behind a Woman
- 903 Shavuous- Fascinating Halachos
- 947 Birchas Kohanim−Whose Mitzva−The Kohain or Yisroel?
- 990 Cutting Down A Fruit Tree for Home Expansion
- 1034 Ba’alas Teshuva Who Was Not Honest With Her Husband
- 1078 The Elderly Gentleman and the Female Nurse – A Yichud Problem?
- 1121 The Enigma of Shimshon HaGibor
- 1163 Avoiding Yichud: Must the Door be Open or Merely Unlocked.
- 1207 Listening to music – as mutar as you think?
- 1251 Sitting Next to a Woman on an Airplane
- 1295 Davening/Bentching/Making Kiddush in Front of a Woman Who Is Not Properly Dressed
- 1339 The Sole Practitioner Lawyer and His Jewish Secretary – A Yichud Problem?
- 1383 Birchas Kohanim – Whose Mitzva Is It?
- 1427 Giving Yasher Koach to the Kohain After Birchas Kohanim – Why?
- 1471 Birchas Kohanim – Why Only on Yom Tov?
- 1515 Some Fascinating Yichud Shailos
- 1557 Fascinating Facts About Bircas Kohanim That You Probably Never Knew
- 1599 Only One Kohen For Nesias Kapayim – Should He? Must He? Can He?
A complete catalogue can be ordered from the Yad Yechiel Institute, PO Box 511, Owings Mills MD 21117-0511. Call (410) 358-0416 or e-mail [email protected] or visit http://www.yadyechiel.org/ for further information.
Go to Torah.org
Date: June 5, 2025
