As I may have mentioned, we recently attended our granddaughter’s Bat Mitzva. 

She was one of the last girls in her class to celebrate. I was wondering how they would mark the occasion. 

When one has a child in the Mitzva circuit it can be quite stressful, especially if your child is one of the last in the class. One has to grapple with how to do something different, how to make the event stand out. 

This conundrum may create a great deal of pressure on the celebrants. 

This week’s Torah portion is called Nasso, and it discusses the inauguration of the Tabernacle, the portable Sanctuary that was the place that the Jewish people did their service and connected to Gd. 

A part of the inaugural ceremony was the bringing of offerings to Gd by the Princes of each of the Twelve Tribes. 

The offering was extensive and it took 6 verses to describe what each Prince was bringing. 

In our studies, we have hammered home the point that every word in the Torah is critical and mindfully placed. When we peruse a verse, if we notice a superfluous word or letter, a misplaced tense or gender, we immediately stand at attention. 

These inconsistencies are flags to us that their are messages to be found and we must begin to investigate. 

So an extra letter would catch our attention, right?

Going back to our Bnai Mitzva, if anyone has this week’s Torah portion, you must be empathetic. 

Because this is the longest Torah portion of them all, clocking in at 176 verses. 

What is really curious is that 72 of the verses say exactly the same thing. 

There is 6 verse section describing the offering of the Prince, and it is repeated verbatim 12 times with only the name of the Prince changing. 

If one word would attract our attention, this is a veritable waving of a red flag begging a question!

There is much discussion in the commentaries why this is so.

Rabbi Frand, a contemporary teacher of Torah in Baltimore, shares a pertinent perspective. 

He explains that after the first Prince, Nachshon Ben Aminodov (famous for taking the initiative and walking first into the Red Sea till it split)brought his offering, the next Prince was faced with a dilemma.

If he would bring something nicer, bigger, shinier, or more expensive, he would be beginning a cycle of “can you top this?” 

Each subsequent Prince would be stressed out and feel the need to outdo the one he followed. 

Instead of escalating a competition, Netanel Ben Tzuar, the next Prince in line, 

 did something groundbreaking. 

He brought exactly the same thing as his predecessor. 

And after him, all the rest of the Princes followed suit and in turn, brought exactly the same offering. 

This tactic which was used to avoid hatred and jealousy and instead promote unity, found favor in Gd’s eyes. 

The rule is that offerings brought by an individual may only be offered during the weekdays. Only offerings which are on behalf of the entire community may be brought on Shabbat. 

Because this offering was promoting unity and community, Gd considered it a communal offering and it was allowed to be brought on Shabbat. 

The 12 offerings of the Princes were therefore brought consecutively, without breaking for Shabbat. 

Now we can understand why the Torah lists each offering separately. 

It was a time when we showed up as our best selves, promoting unity instead of jealousy. 

Sensitivity of that nature that needs to be noted! 

That is a Mitzva to be celebrated!

Shabbat Shalom and so much love!