tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post1493684354328587410..comments2023-03-14T06:56:21.208-07:00Comments on The Relevant Parsha: Piggyback Ride, Anyone?Rabbi Yisroel Gordonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06732599880950749051noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post-7681732143396691042008-03-10T17:27:00.000-07:002008-03-10T17:27:00.000-07:00There's a midrash and an interpretation of it from...There's a midrash and an interpretation of it from Rabbi Zev Leff that illustrates your point beautifully. It was the nisi'im who brought the stones for the bigdei kehuna - however, they brought their offerings last, waiting to see what everyone else would bring first. The midrash states that they were rebuked for their laziness and laxity by having the "yud" removed removed from the spelling of nisi'im (Bamidbar Rabbah 12:16)<BR/><BR/>“Rabbi Zev Leff explains the significance of the punishment given to the Princes for their 'laziness' in contributing to the Mishkan. The punishment was that a letter was taken away from the word Princes (Nesi'im -- Nun Sin Aleph Yud Mem), leaving it to read Nisaim (Nun Sin Aleph Mem). The difference between the two words is dramatic. Nesi'im means those who carry. Nisaim means those who are carried. The Princes were taught that they forgot a basic and fundamental lesson: The Ark of the Torah carries those that carry it, not the other way around. A person who donates to a Torah institution or to a Torah scholar should not think "I am supporting Torah." Rather, he should realize that "Torah is supporting me." Therefore, to impress this lesson upon the Princes, their title of "Carriers" was removed and they were called "Those Who Needed To Be Carried."<BR/>(http://www.torah.org/learning/ravfrand/5765/terumah.html)<BR/><BR/>Good news though for the nisi'im: Later, when it came time to bring offerings for the dedication of the Altar, they brought their offerings immediately (Bamidbar 7:10). As the midrash states:<BR/> <BR/>“They took the initiative and brought an offering with alacrity…They thought: this is the opportune moment for us to offer sacrifices in GLADNESS, for the Shechinah has rested upon the work of our hands.”<BR/> <BR/>Note that in Bamidbar 7:10, in the word for “princes”, the “yud” has been restored!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post-71870878586548541572008-03-10T15:18:00.000-07:002008-03-10T15:18:00.000-07:00I saw those pictures. Their rendition of the Eipho...I saw those pictures. Their rendition of the Eiphot's belt seems very different than the impression I got from Rashi. Also, the rings on the bottom of the shoulder straps are hard to make out. <BR/>I saw a drawing in the back of some Chumash where they have the rings embedded into the shoulder strap as opposed to connected to the edge, as I've always imagined it. Who knows? I'll bet either way is kosher.<BR/>For a very clear illustration of the Choshen-Eiphod connection see Encyclopedia Talmudis, vol. 2, s.v. Eiphod.Rabbi Yisroel Gordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06732599880950749051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36649445.post-57991672236104151562008-03-06T17:52:00.000-08:002008-03-06T17:52:00.000-08:00The Temple Institute has a very nice series of pag...The Temple Institute has a very nice series of pages about the priestly garments, with lots of good pictures and drawings:<BR/><BR/>http://www.templeinstitute.org/beged/priestly_garments.htm<BR/><BR/>Shabbat Shalom!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com