[Avodah] Naso

[Cantor Wolberg via Avodah]

"And God spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and to his children saying, 'This is how you shall bless the Children of Israel, say to them:  May HaShem bless you and guard you; may He enlighten His face towards you and favor you; may He lift His face towards you and give you peace.' [Numbers 6:22-26]

The Talmud [Rosh HaShanah 17b] records an interesting incident in which the convert Bluria came to Rabban Gamliel and pointed out an apparent contradiction. Here in our parsha, the Kohanim bless the people that God should "lift his face" towards them, or favor them -- and yet elsewhere, in Deut. 10:17, we read that God does not "lift his face" to people, that He does not show favoritism. The fascinating answer given is that one is talking about sins between man and God and one is talking about sins between man and his fellow man.

Rebbe Yossi HaKohen taught that when it comes to sins between man and God, God can 'turn His face' towards a person. He can show favor and forgive, even where it isn't warranted. But when it comes to interpersonal sins, God does not lift His face. It is up to the person who has been wronged to lift his or her face towards the offender. 
 
So just as religious or ritual behavior is important, the Torah delivers a clear message that behaving appropriately towards other human beings is equally important. 


Ironically, there is an interesting parallel between next week's Torah portion, Naso, (following Shavuos) which is the largest parsha in the Torah, comprising 176 verses and the 119th Psalm which is also the longest in the Book of Psalms, also comprising 176 verses and in addition, this psalm carries the distinct title, "Torah, the Way of Life."