V'Zos HaBracha - וזאת הברכה - Honesty and Light
In what are almost his last words
Moshe blesses the tribes of Israel .
The bracha for the tribe of Levi has a special significance because it is the
priestly tribe. It opens with poetic beauty that is never the less cryptic.
Original English Transliteration
וּלְלֵוִי אָמַר To Levi he said
תֻּמֶּיךָ
וְאוּרֶיךָ Your "tumim and
urim" tu-me-chah v'u-re-chah
לְאִישׁ
חֲסִידֶךָ to Your devotee. L-eesh
cha-see-de-chah
The words "tumim and
urim" are difficult. Their first mention in the Chumash is in connection
with the clothes of the High Priest (see Exodus 25:30). In it they are required
to be "given over to" (ונתת)
or placed in the breastplate of justice. They are given no physical description
in a section which deals extensively with physical descriptions, suggesting
that they in fact may not be physical at all.
The word "tumim" (תֻּמִּים) is a form of the word tam (תם)
which means integrity and innocence. Ya'akov avinu is described as a tam.
Rashi explains this as "his heart and his mouth are the same" meaning
he says what he really feels or is that he is honest. The word "urim"
(אורים) is a form of the word light (אור).
The Gemara uses a variant of it, אורייתא,
as an expression of religion. The Gemara (Yoma 73b) also explores, "Why
were they called ‘Urim and Thummim’? ‘Urim’ because it made their words
enlightening, 'Thummim’ because it perfected their words". The word
"ma-shlee-meen" is also the language of shalom, meaning that it is a
path to perfection and peace.
The Sforno explains that the urim
and tumim are an expression of speaking with divine inspiration by the head of
the tribe of the most devoted which was imbued with the presence of the
shechina. The Rabenu Bechai understands the urim and tumim as being clothed in
righteousness and quotes Iyov (Job 29:14), "I clothed myself in
righteousness and it enveloped me like a robe and like a miter was my
justice". So to speak the Chumash is saying that the tribe of Levi is
graced by the light of religion and from them we can learn what Hashem really
feels.
The blessing then mentions the loyalty to Hashem the Levi'im
showed when the rest of the nation of Israel went astray after the golden
calf. The praise is that they placed the word of G-d and their attachment to
religion above family relationships. Because of this loyalty they were made the
priestly tribe. This is more than simply having the High Priest drawn from
their ranks; rather it means that all of them became officers in the hierarchy
of the faith.
As a reward they were to be the
ones to instruct G-d's standards of fairness to the nation. The verse continues
that they will, "place incense in His nose and the burnt offering on the
altar", (Devarim 33:10). The word nose is a Biblical idiom for anger.
However, a pleasant fragrance and a meal with a friend calm anger. So to speak
the Levi'im are to be the advocates of the children of Israel when they sin. Part of their
approach is by creating a warm atmosphere of friendship towards Heaven. In
recompense they are giving a blessing that their work will be favorable before
Hashem and their enemies will be stifled at their inception.
The Levi'im are the formal
aristocracy of the nation of Israel .
What this means is that the blessings come to them first. After that they
disseminate to all of the people. However Israel itself is considered as a
nation of priests. This means that after the light of Above is absorbed by the
entire nation it is intimated to all of humanity.
To view on YouTube click:
Discussion of the "Urim and Tumim", how they
clothe the tribe of Levi in honesty and light, and how this blessing spreads to
Israel
and the world
אנו עמך Anu A-meh-chah We are
Your People sung at 7:59
תרגום
לעברית ע"י Google
http://dyschreiber.blogspot.com/2013/09/36.html
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