Naso: Zemer of The Week
Parshat Naso
אַחֵינוּ / Acheinu
Featuring Ramaz Choir Director Mordy Weinstein:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSz_l0t-NR0
אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל
הַנְּתוּנִים בַּצָּרָה וּבַשִּׁבְיָה
הָעוֹמְדִים בֵּין בַּיָּם וּבֵין בַּיַּבָּשָׁה
הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם
וְיוֹצִיאֵם מִצָּרָה לִרְוָחָה
וּמֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה
וּמִשִּׁעְבּוּד לִגְאֻלָּה
הָשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן
Our brothers, the entire House of Israel,
who are in distress or captivity,
whether on sea or on land –
may the Omnipresent have mercy upon them
and bring them from distress to relief,
from darkness to light,
from oppression to redemption,
speedily and soon – and let us say: Amen.
Parshat Naso repeatedly describes the offerings brought by the twelve נשיאים (tribal leaders). Although each offering was materially identical, the Torah repeats each one separately, emphasizing that every individual contribution mattered. The Mishkan was not built through one dramatic act, but through many people bringing themselves into a shared sacred mission.
“Acheinu” expresses the same idea of collective responsibility and interconnectedness. The song focuses not only on individuals in need, but also on the responsibility of the broader Jewish people to see themselves as bound together – Acheinu, “our brothers.”
As emphasized in this week’s Word of the Week:
- communities are sustained through repeated acts of commitment,
- many individuals contribute quietly and steadily,
- and Jewish strength emerges when people see themselves as part of something larger than themselves.
Like the repeated offerings in Naso, “Acheinu” reminds us that every person matters, every contribution matters, and every act of care strengthens the whole
For a more-traditional zemer:
The zemer for this week: יום שבתון
This zemer was written by the author of the Kuzari, R’ Yehuda Halevi. (His name is formed by the acrostic across the zemer’s five stanzas.) He lived from 1075-1140 C.E. Originally from Spain, at the end of his life he finally achieved his lifelong dream of living in Eretz Yisrael.
Central elements of this parsha include the Sotah, the Nazir, and the offerings of the Nesiim.
Some of the zemer’s connections to the parsha:
· 2nd-3rd lines of final stanza:
“שבועה / לבל יעבר בם מקרי רעה” (“An oath / that there not pass among them an incident of evil”) – The central part of the Kohen’s challenge to the potential Sotah was her oath (“שבועת/shvu’aht ha’alah”) about her evil actions (Bamidbar 5:21).
· 2nd line of 2nd stanza:
“אבות ובנים” (“Parents and children”) – If the potential Sotah had not sinned after all, she would be blessed with children (Bamidbar 5:28).
o The parsha includes the blessing that we give our בנים/children each Friday night (Bamidbar 6:24-26).
o 1st line of 2nd stanza:
“בני אמונים” (“Children of the Faithful Ones”) – According to the Bais Yaakov, אמונים/“Emunim” in the zemer refers to our Three אבות/Avot. In the parsha (Rashi to Bamidbar 7:21), the bull, ram, and sheep offerings of the Nesiim correspond to each of the Three Avot.
· Final line of final stanza:
“כאשר נשבעת על מי נח” (“As You promised over the waters of Noach”) – Both water and Noach play roles in our parsha:
o Water was an important ingredient in the testing of the Sotah (e.g., Bamidbar 5:17-18).
o The offerings of the Nesiim included a silver basin, which according to Rashi (Bamidbar 7:19) symbolizes Noach.
§ Also, wine got Noach into trouble after the Flood, much as it got the Sotah into trouble (Rashi to Bamidbar 6:2).
· 1st stanza and chorus:
“יונה מצאה בו מנוח” (“The dove found rest on it [Shabbos]”) – After becoming tamei mayt, the Nazir brings two doves (or two turtledoves) as his korban (Bamidbar 6:10).
Haftorah bonus: Manoach is a key figure in this week’s haftorah. “Manoach” is also mentioned in this week’s zemer.