Shevet Levi

Found 11 Search results

  1. "This is the Blessing with Which Moshe Blessed..."

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    The parasha opens with Moshe's farewell address to Bnei Yisrael and his blessings to the tribes. The blessings of the tribes of Levi and Yosef are disproportionately longer than the others. Why are these two specific tribes given a longer blessing?

  2. 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.

  3. Chapters 20 and 21: The Cities of Refuge and the Cities of the Leviim

    Rabbi Michael Hattin

    This lesson will discuss the command regarding cities of refuge, and the link the texts creates between the Levites and the assignment of these cities, as well as the other responsibilities of the Levites.

  4. "At That Time Hashem Distinguished the Tribe of Levi"

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    The selection of the Leviim includes two aspects: Secondary assistance to the primary servers of God – the Kohanim - and primary servers of God on the basis of their actions at the sin of the Golden Calf. The second aspect is prominent in the description of the Leviim in the Book of Devarim, despite the fact that it has no practical implication.

  5. The Census of the Leviim (Audio)

    Prof. Jonathan Grossman | 19 minutes

    What is the reason for a census at the beginning of Sefer Bemidbar? And why is Levi not included in the general count? This shiur examines the significance of the census narratives in the parasha, uncovering messages about the role of the tribe of Levi and how they are meant to relate to Bnei Yisrael. 

  6. Korach and the Power of Democracy

    Rabbi Alex Israel | 39 minutes

    One troubling aspect of Parshat Korah is that the rebellion never dies down. That seems to be because there are real issues here - Moshe and Aharon seem to have all the closeness to God, and the people do not share in the leadership or decision-making. So what was the problem with Korach? Is it possible for non-Leviim to attain holiness? The example of Shmuel ha-Navi provides a key.

  7. Moshe vs. the Rebels: A Challenge on Two Fronts

    Rabbi Elchanan Samet

     Parshat Korach combines two stories that are unrelated to each other: the complaints of Korach on one hand, and the complaints of Datan and Aviram on the other. Are these really two different stories, or just one story occurring in two places? This article deals with this question and with other difficulties through content and other literary devices. 

  8. “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.

  9. The Status of the Tribe of Levi

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    Parshat Bamidbar reflects two different aspects of the selection of the Levi’im. The first selection, described in chapter 1, arises from the sanctity of the tribe of Levi as a whole, as it was sanctified for God's service in the wake of the sin of the golden calf. According to the other perspective, as reflected in chapter 3, the source of the holiness of the Levi’im is actually the prior selection of the firstborn; the Levi’im are simply the replacement for the firstborn. Through a close analysis of the text we can understand the nature of the differences in these perspectives, and understand the unique role of the Levi’im. 

  10. Parshat Behaalotcha Part 1: The Menora and the Purification of the Levi’im

    Rabbi Jonathan Snowbell | 26 minutes

    This podcast begins the first section of Parshat Behaalotcha with the commandment to Aharon to light the menorah in the Mishkan. We then discuss the commandments to the Leviim and compare them with the commandments to a person afflicted with Tzaraat.

     

    Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com

  11. Complete Dedication

    Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz