Kohanim and Levites

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1. The Election of the Tribe of Levi

   Rabbi Ezra Bick

   The story of Korah ends with the flowering of Aharon's staff. The story is immediately followed by God's commandment to the Priests and Levites. Apparently the flowering of the staff was not only an indication of Aharon's position, but of God's choice of the entire tribe of Levi. Why does this choice require reinforcement? Apparently Aharon's special task stems from his tribe, and the unique role of the tribe stems from the nation. Kedusha belongs to the group as a whole, but each component plays a different role to enhance and support kedusha.

2. From Great Responsibility Comes...

   Avidan Freedman

3. “The Kohanim, the Levi’im”

   Rabbi Dr. Tamir Granot

   Parshat Shoftim details the system of authority and public administration, whereby we learn that the king is commanded to be subservient both to the Torah and to the Kohanim and the Levi’im who are authorized to interpret it. The term “the Kohanim, the Levi’im” in Sefer Devarim is not a synonym for “the Kohanim” in the other Sefarim. Any levi may become a kohen; however, only those who serve in the Sanctuary are actually considered Kohanim. The term “the Kohanim, the Levi’im” indicates the authority and the rights bestowed on some of the Levi’im, who minister in the Sanctuary and who serve as teachers and leaders. The term “kohen” describes the role of ministering, rather than indicating family genealogy. According to Sefer Devarim the Levi’im were chosen because of their actions. When Moshe saw the people worshipping the Golden Calf, he declared, “Whoever is for God – come to me” – i.e., who is ready to serve God and to act as His agents. Only the Levi’im gathered to him, voluntarily; the other tribes did not. The Levi’im fulfilled, by their actions, the condition of being “full of eagerness,” and demonstrated, at the critical moment, their profound desire and readiness to be God’s servants, even where this required great self-sacrifice. The selection of the Tribe of Levi, then, is not dictated from Above, and is not an expression of family affiliation or unique natural qualities. Rather, it is the result of the Tribe of Levi volunteering itself for God.

4. The Vision of the Future Temple

   Part 2 - More Concealment than Revelation

   Dr. Tova Ganzel

   The description of the Temple and the city, has some concrete and precise elements, but at the very same time, lacks some very central details.  

   According to Yehezkel's prophecy, the changes in this Temple include not only the outer structure of the edifice, but also fundamental difference in who enters it. This change relates both to the measure of access afforded the people, but also the division of roles among the various leaders of the nation, and the degree to which they are connected to the Temple.

   The impression arising from Yehezkel’s prophecy is that the Temple is not a spiritual center for the entire nation. The Temple serves the kohanim and leviim, who perform their service within it as representatives of the people, while the only roles that are given to the people are the auxiliary functions and appearances: funding of the sacrifices, prostration, and a partial view of the Divine service.

5. Malachi 1-2

   Matan Al Haperek

   Rabbi David Sabato

   Malachi is the last of the prophets of the Second Temple, and he ends the sequence of prophecy in the Tanakh. His time period is not mentioned explicitly in the book, but based on his prophecies it appears that he prophesied after Chaggai and Zechariah, while the Temple was standing, close to the time of Ezra and Nechemia. Malachi’s identity is not clear, his father’s name is not mentioned, and even the name “Malachi” may only be a description of the prophet as a messenger (malach). Malachi’s prophecies reflect the reality of his time, when the Temple was already built, but the services in it were neglected. The central purpose of the Temple was not realized, and respect for the Temple went down in the eyes of both the people and the priests. Central to his prophecies is his debate with the priests, and his criticism of their attitude to the Temple. An additional problem which arises in the prophecies of Malachi is the trend of the people to divorce the Israeli women and intermarry, which is mentioned in the book of Ezra as well. The concept of covenant is important to the book- between the nation and God, the covenant of the Levites, and the covenant between man and wife. 

6. Harsher Criticism

   Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky

   Echoing the covenant of peace forged with Pinhas, and especially Moshe’s blessings before his death, in this passage Malakhi castigates the priests for their shortcomings not in regard to their role in the sacrificial service, but as Torah teachers. In contrast to a previous era, in which the Levites observed the covenant and feared the Almighty, they have now “turned out of the way of that course.”

   The emphasis on the priests’ lapses as halakhic decisors, although to a degree rooted in earlier Biblical passages, sounds strikingly post-prophetic. All this betokens a clear transition in leadership from priest as primarily focused on the Temple service to one also centered on Torah education.

   In light of the centrality of the familial metaphor, it may be that the dialogue between God and the nation is the perfect organizing principle. Constructed as a series of tense exchanges between quarrelling but loving spouses, the discussion motif offers a realistic snapshot of a marital relationship and is therefore particularly apt.

7. Parshat Bemidbar Part 4: Census of Levi

   Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 26 minutes

   This podcast deals with the question that arise from the census of the tribe of Levi regarding the mathematical discrepancy within the census. Additionally, we address the issue regarding the low number of Leviim, and discuss the relationship between Kohanim and Leviim.

    

   Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

8. Parshat Korach Part 6: The Obligation and Rights of the Leviim

   Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 27 minutes

   This is the final podcast of Parshat Korach, which describes the gifts for the Leviim, and also discusses the relationship between the Kohanim and the Leviim- the similarities and differences between the two groups.

   Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com