Naso: Balancing Between Heaven and Earth: The Gershon Jew
Liluei Nishmas Ita bas Chanoch Aharon Bistritzky
This week’s parsha, Naso, begins in a peculiar spot. Last week’s parsha, Bamidbar, discusses the counting of the Jewish people and how God commanded Moshe to count the Leviim separately. The Leviim comprised three families: Gershon, Kehot, and Merari. Bamidbar concludes with Moshe counting the Kehot family, who were responsible for bearing the holy articles in the Mishkan, such as the Aron, menorah, Shulchan, and other sacred vessels used for avodah.
Parshat Naso then begins with Hashem commanding Moshe to “count the children of Gershon as well.” The Gershon family was tasked with carrying the curtains and coverings of the Mishkan. Lastly, Hashem commands Moshe to count the Merari family, who were responsible for the Mishkan’s structure, including the planks, bars, pillars, and sockets.
The obvious question arises: Why would the Torah divide the counting of these three Levi families between two parshiot? They are one family, and all the counting should be in one parsha! Additionally, the Torah seems to emphasize something unique about the counting of the Gershon family by using an extra expression not found with the other Levi families: "Count also the Gershon family."
The explanation is as follows: There is a difference between the three Levi families. The children of Kehot were clearly defined as the bearers of spirituality: they carried the holy ark that housed the luchot, symbolizing the Torah, and the menorah, representing light.
On the opposite spectrum, Merari were the physical workers. They carried the loads, building and deconstructing the Mishkan during the Jews’ travels. On the other hand, Gershon was in an awkward position: they were neither involved in the spiritual world of Kehot nor charged with the physical structure like Merari. So, where do they stand, and what purpose do they serve?
Gershon represents the “in-between Jew” who balances spirituality with involvement in the physical world. A Kehot Jew is immersed in spirituality, studying Torah all the time. A Merari Jew is involved in business or physical activity, giving tzedaka from their earnings. The Gershon Jew, however, doesn’t study Torah all day but isn’t devoid of it either. They seek to find time within their mundane life to imbue it with holiness.
For most of us, this is the daily struggle—finding the perfect balance. For Kehot and Merari, the boundaries are clearly defined. But for Gershon, where are those boundaries? Therefore, the Torah makes a break in this discussion, beginning a new parsha with the counting of Gershon, telling us, “Count them too.” Notice them. Realize their importance too. It’s precisely within Gershon's blurred territory and tension that ultimate godliness can be revealed and realized.
Most of us live the role of the “children of Gershon.” Heaven has angels, and our world includes low inanimate objects, but humans are here to be the middle person, constantly suspended between heaven and earth. In this tension, we blend heaven and earth, bringing godliness into the depths. God's essence is found in the undefined, simple Jew. As the Midrash tells us about the location of the Beit Hamikdash in Jerusalem, Hashem's divine presence “rests between His shoulders,” not at the bottom of the mountain nor at its peak, but in the in-between.
Adapted from Life Talks on the Parsha