Care for Our Community 

The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the sanctuary. — Numbers 3:28 

Each week in synagogue, Jews read through the Torah from Genesis to Deuteronomy. The Torah portion for this week is Bamidbar, which means “in the desert,” from Numbers 1:1–4:20. 

Those Who Are Responsible for Our Care 

In this week’s Torah portion, we read a message about the willingness to put ourselves in harm’s way in the service of God’s purposes. Three Levite families—Gershon, Kohat, and Merari—were tasked with caring for and carrying all the pieces and vessels of the Tabernacle. But in Numbers 3:28, one family is referred to: “The Kohathites were responsible for the care of the sanctuary.” 

No similar phrase is used in the listing of the other two Levite families, the families of Gershon and Merari, even though all three families cared for various components of the sanctuary. 

The Jewish sages explain that because the family of Kohath was responsible for carrying the Holy Ark, they were constantly in harm’s way. Any mishandling of the ark could be fatal, as in the story of King David and Uzzah, when Uzzah grasped the ark and was struck down by God. (Read 2 Samuel 6.) 

The family of Kohath, and not the other Levite families, is credited as “those who were responsible for the care of the sanctuary,” because, like the warriors of today, they happily accepted this great danger, considering it an honour, not a burden, in taking a risk in order to serve God.  

Your turn: Let us pray for those who are persecuted around the world, as they risk their lives to serve God.