THE LEVIIM AND THEIR FUNCTIONS
God informs Moshe about the roles and duties of the families of Gershon and Merari, from the tribe of Levi. The family of Gershon was responsible for transporting the curtains and fabric coverings of the Tabernacle when it was dismantled for relocation. The family of Merari was in charge of the structure of the Sanctuary—that is, the wooden beams and pillars. The number of members from the family of Kehat, aged 30 to 50 and eligible for service, was 2,750. The family of Gershon had 2,630 individuals in that age group, and Merari had 3,200. Thus, the total number of eligible Levites assigned to dismantling, transporting, and rebuilding the Tabernacle was 8,580.
PURITY AND IMPURITY
God instructs the Jewish people regarding the laws of ritual purity and impurity, explaining that ritually impure individuals must temporarily leave the camp of Israel until they are purified.
RESTITUTION AND REPENTANCE
The Parasha also discusses the matter of restitution in the case of theft, and the required Temple offering for someone who steals from another person and then swears falsely to maintain their innocence. It also clarifies the laws of restitution when the victim of the theft is no longer alive. Another very important topic in our Parasha is the verbal confession—spoken to oneself—of sins committed, as part of the process of Teshuvah, or repentance.
OTHER SPECIAL CASES
The Parasha also describes the case of the Sotah, a ritual ceremony in the event of suspected adultery by a wife. It also mentions the laws of the Nazir, an individual who takes upon himself additional restrictions beyond those prohibited by the Torah—for example, refraining from drinking wine. In this Parasha we also find the Priestly Blessings (Birkat Kohanim), which continue to be recited to this day.
THE INAUGURATION OF THE TABERNACLE
The longest section of this Parasha—which, by the way, is the longest in the entire Torah—describes the inauguration of the Tabernacle and the voluntary offerings brought by the leaders of each tribe at that time. For example, wagons and oxen to transport the Tabernacle from place to place. God instructs Moshe to accept these offerings, which the Torah describes individually. The final verse of the Parasha mentions how God would communicate with Moshe, His voice emanating from between the two Cherubim that rested upon the Holy Ark.
