B’Ha’Alot’Kha
Parshat Beha’alotecha
In this portion we read about the special dedication ceremony for the Levites. When that is concluded the people prepare to move the camp from Mt. Sinai to Moab. When the Ark was to be moved and to be rested, a special formula had to be recited We still recite these lines today in the Torah service. The portion concluded with the people’s complaints and rumors of rebellion.
First Aliyah - Numbers chapter 8, verse 1-8:14 pp. 605-606
The menorah is dedicated for use in the mishkan - the portable sanctuary, and the Levites are consecrated for service.
Second Aliyah - 8:15-26 pp. 606-608
The Levites are to serve in the mishkan in place of the first born of the community, as a reminder of the death of the first born Egyptians. From the age of 25 to 50 years old the Levites are to serve.
Third Aliyah - 9:1-14 pp. 608-609
In the first month of the second year out of Egypt God reminds the people to observe the Passover holiday. If, however, one were to be ritually unclean or was far away from home, then one could partake of the Passover sacrifice on the 14th day of the second month - known as Pesach Sheni, the second Passover.
Fourth Aliyah - 9:15-10:10 pp. 609-611
God resided among the community as a cloud; whenever the cloud rose they were to travel, whenever it rested they were to camp. Moses is commanded to make two silver trumpets as signals for war, gatherings, or reminders of holiday.
Fifth Aliyah - 10:1-34 pp. 611-613
On the 20th day of the second month of the second year out of Egypt, the cloud rose and the people traveled.
Sixth Aliyah - 10:35-11:29 pp. 613-617
The first two verses of this aliyah - the verses recited today in the Torah service - are bracketed by inverted nuns. According to statements found in the Talmud this means that these verses were placed here out of order. It could also mean that they were entered here from another source.
The people begin murmuring against God, because they are tired of the desert. They complain that they don’t have any meat to eat. As punishment, God provides meat for one month straight.
Seventh Aliyah - 11:30-12:16 pp. 617-619
Aaron and Miriam are heard by God to be gossiping about Moses. As punishment, Miriam is stricken with Leprosy. Moses prays to God to heal her. After seven days she is healed.
Maftir - 12:14-16 p. 619
Haftorah - Zechariah 2:14-4:7 pp. 620-622
Zechariah prophesied to the people after the return from Babylonian exile. He encouraged the people to rebuild the Temple. The connection with the Torah reading is Zechariah’s vision of the menorah (which was dedicated in the Torah reading) as the source of God’s light.
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