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Uncounted Convert</title><link rel="stylesheet"
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content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body>Aspaqlaria has posted a new
item, '<a href="https://www.aishdas.org/asp/uncounted-convert">The Uncounted
Convert</a>'<br>
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<p>The placement of one section of <em>parashas Naso</em> struck me when
reviewing the <em>parashah</em> last week. We just has a <em>parashah</em> and
a half of counting the Jewish People — first the 12 <em>shevatim</em>,
then the <em>levi’im</em>. By <em>sheivet</em> and clan. And each one
given it’s place in the camp.</p>
<p>Immediately after (Bamidbar 5:1-4) there is a short section about the
<em>tamei</em> people who must temporarily leave that camp.</p>
<p>And then there is a section about the sin of stealing from a convert.
(5:5-10) If someone steals, they have to repay an extra fifth as a penalty.
But, if the theft is from a convert who subsequently dies leaving no Jewish
children, there are no heirs to make restitution. Instead the money is given
to a <em>kohein</em> (v. 9) as a representative of Hashem (v. 8).</p>
<p>The convert has no <em>sheivet</em> and no <em>beis av</em>. One might have
thought that, like the <em>tamei</em> person<em>, </em>he was being excluded
as inferior to the born Jew. So the Torah sets up a contrast with those who
were actually, although temporarily, excluded.</p>
<p>The convert’s heir is the Creator Himself. The point the placement of
these <em>pesuqim</em> teaches is that the <em>geir </em>isn’t counted
among the <em>shevatim</em> because he is G-d’s. Not further from Hashem
than the rest of us. Closer. </p>
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Best regards,<br>
micha<br>
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