Behaloscha-2015

· In Behaloscha and previously in Bamidbar, there is something mysterious happening to the Leviim, as seen in the following quotes.

· Behaloscha 8:11 – “Aharon shall wave the Leviim as a wave-offering before Hashem from Bnei Ysorel, and they will be entrusted to do the worship of Hashem.  … You shall set the Leviim before Aharon and before his sons, and lift them up as a wave-offering to Hashem.  You shall separate the Leviim from among Bnei Yisroel and the Leviim shall be Mine. After this is done the Levim shall come to work in the Tent of Meeting, …, and you shall lift them up as a wave offering.  For they are given.. to Me from among Bnei Yisoefl in place of those who open the womb – every firstborn of Bnei Yisroel – I have taken them to be Mine.  For every firstborn of Bnei Ysirel is Mine, … on the day in which I slew every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I have sanctified them to be Mine.  I have taken the Leviim instead of all firstborn of Bnei Yisroel, and I have given the Leviim to be given as a gift to Aharon and to his sons from among Bnei Yisroel to do the duties of Bnei Ysroel in the Test of Meeting… And Aharon lifted them as a wave offering.”

· Bamidbar  3:11 “ Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying “Behold, I have taken the Leviim from among Bnei Yisroel instead of the firstborn…, and therefore the Leviim shall be Mine.  For all the firstborn are Mine, since on the day I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified to Me all the firstborn of Bnei Ysiroel … they shall be Mine.”

· Bamidbar  3:39 – “The number of all the Leviim whom Moshe and Aharon counted …every male from one month and above was 22,000.  Hashem said to Moshe count every male firstborn of Bnei Yisroel from the age of one month and above….  You shall take the Leviim for Me.  … instead of every firstborn of Bnei Ysorel..  Moshe counted (and) … Every male firstborn accounting to the number of names of one month and above …was 22,273.” 

· Bamidbar  3:44 – “Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying, Take the Leviim instead of every firstborn of Bnei Yisoel, …  And the redemption of the 273 that are in excess of the number of Leviim from the firstborn of Bnei Yisroel.  You shall take 5 shkalim apiece from each individual.  …You shall give the money to Aharon and to his sons as a redemption for those numbers are in excess of the Leviim.”

· What we know:

o Something happened the night of Pesach to the firstborn that is relevant here.

o The firstborn are being exchanged for the Leviim

o The 273 firstborn were redeemed for 5 Shkalim

o These shkalim were given to the Aharon and his sons

o Aharon lifted the Leviim

o The Leviim are now going to work in the Mishkan, assiting the Kohanim

· Questions:

o What happened to the firstborn the night of Pesach that is relevant here?

o What does it mean that the firstborn are being exchanged for the Leviim

o How did this transfer take place?

o Why is a firstborn redeemed for 5 shkalim

o Why is it given to the Kohane?

o Why as a result do the Leviim work in the Mishkan for the Kohanim?

· Kedushin 22b – May be a clue to what is going on. “R. Shimon says – Hagbah Koneh Becal Macom – Lifting affects acquisition in every place.”

· Possible answers

o On the night of Pesach, Hashem declared that all the firstborn were being acquired by Himself – they were only saved by the blood of the Korban Pesach – the Malech Hamaves went through Mitzrayim killing all the firstborn that didn’t have blood on the doorpost.

o Hashem intended to give the Bechorim as assistants to the Kohanim in the Mishkan

o When the firstborn sinned at the Egel, and the Leviim didn’t – Hashem intended to transfer this status onto the Leviim, and have the Leviim work for the Kohanim instead.

o Aharon used a Kinyan Hagbah to acquire the Leviim, and release the firstborn.

o The 273 extra firstborn still belonged to the Kohanim as assistants – so they gave 5 shkalim to free themselves from this responsibility

o In Parsha Behar, the value of a boy from one month to 5 years is 5 shkalim – they did Hagbah with the oldest ones first, leaving over only those who were under 5 years old – and these were then redeemed for 5 shkalim

o So the extra firstborn are being freed from having to work for the Kohanim in the Mishkan – that’s why the money is given to the Kohane, who they were supposed to work for

1. On night of Pesach, Hashem declared that all the firstborn were being acquired by Himself – they were only saved by the blood of the Korban Pesach – the Malech Hamaves went through Mitzrayim killing all the firstborn that didn’t have blood on the doorpost.

2. Hashem intended to give the Bechorim as assistants to the Kohanim in the Mishkan

3. When the firstborn sinned at the Egel, and the Leviim didn’t – Hashem intended to transfer this status onto the Leviim, and have the Leviim work for the Kohanim instead.

4. Aharon used a Kinyan Hagbah to acquire the Leviim, and release the firstborn.

5. The 273 extra firstborn still belonged to the Kohanim as assistants – so they gave 5 shkalim to free themselves from this responsibility

6. In Parsha Behar, the value of a boy from one month to 5 years is 5 shkalim – they did Hagbah with the oldest ones first, leaving over only those who were under 5 years old – and these were then redeemed for 5 shkalim

7. So the extra firstborn are being freed from having to work for the Kohanim in the Mishkan – that’s why the money is given to the Kohane, who they were supposed to work for