Sunday, August 16, 2009

the reminder not to forget the levi

Sandwiched in between the requirement of building a mikdash and offering korbanos therein (12:5-18) and the permissibility of eating meat elsewhere once the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael expand to the point that it becomes difficult to travel to the mikdash constantly (12:20-28) is a pasuk which warns not to forget about the Levi (12:19). Meshech Chochma writes that the connection between this pasuk and the context of the parsha may be explained based on the view of the Rambam (which we recently discussed here) that kohanim and levi'im do not collect terumos/ma'asros in lands conquered outside the promised boundaries of Eretz Yisrael. Terumos/ma'asros are meant to compensate for not receiving a portion in Eretz Yisrael. Since kohanim and levi'im do receive a portion of land conquered outside the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael, they cannot collect teru"m in that territory. Therefore, when the Torah speaks of the expansion of territory, land in which the levi is not supported by termuos and ma'asros, it reminds us not to forget or neglect the levi as he may still need our help and support.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:21 PM

    Interesting question based on this MC:

    As the borders would expand, would there be an obligation to build additional arei leviim or arei miklat for accidental murderers?

    Its interesting that Rashi there states that in golah, a levi is just another one of the aniyei yisroel. If that is the case, then why, loit the RAMBAM would there be a concern not to forget the levi? In Chutz L'oretz, is an ani like anybody else?

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  2. >>>As the borders would expand, would there be an obligation to build additional arei leviim or arei miklat for accidental murderers?

    IIRC the M.C. himself raises this question by the mitzvah of setting aside the cities.

    >>>why, loit the RAMBAM would there be a concern not to forget the levi? In Chutz L'oretz, is an ani like anybody else?

    Imagine a guy on welfare, food stamps, etc. who collects charity -- and people give with open arms. The same guy then gets a job paying minimum wage. People may think that he's working now, he doesn't need our help and forget about him.

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