Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, we continue learning about the special avodah of the Levi'im. After their purification process and being designated as an elevation offering, they are finally ready to enter the Mishkan to perform their sacred service. Hashem explains that the Levi'im are formally assigned to Him in place of the firstborn of Bnei Yisrael, whom Hashem had consecrated to Himself when He smote the firstborn in Mitzrayim.

We also learn about the age limits set for the Levi'im in their service. The Torah establishes the years during which they are fit for the heavy labor of the Tent of Meeting, and at what age they must retire from this physical work and transition to assisting their brothers by standing guard.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וְאַחֲרֵיAnd afterכֵןthatיָבֹאוּshall comeהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesלַעֲבֹדto serveאֶת—אֹהֶלthe Tent ofמוֹעֵדMeetingוְטִהַרְתָּand you shall purifyאֹתָםthemוְהֵנַפְתָּand you shall waveאֹתָםthemתְּנוּפָה׃as a wave offering

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

כִּיForנְתֻנִיםgivenנְתֻנִיםgivenהֵמָּהthey areלִיto Meמִתּוֹךְfrom amongבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelתַּחַתin place ofפִּטְרַתthe opening ofכָּלeveryרֶחֶםwombבְּכוֹרthe firstborn ofכֹּלallמִבְּנֵיfrom the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלָקַחְתִּיI have takenאֹתָםthemלִי׃for Myself

רַשִׁ״י

נתניםGivenנתנים.givenנְתוּנִיםgivenלְמַשָּׂא,for carryingנְתוּנִיםgivenלָשִׁיר:to sing

רַשִׁ״י

פטרת.opening ofפְּתִיחַת:the opening of

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

כִּיForלִיto Me isכָלeveryבְּכוֹרfirstbornבִּבְנֵיamong the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבָּאָדָםamong manוּבַבְּהֵמָהand among beastבְּיוֹםon the dayהַכֹּתִיof My smitingכָלeveryבְּכוֹרfirstbornבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimהִקְדַּשְׁתִּיI consecratedאֹתָםthemלִי׃to Me

רַשִׁ״י

כיForליto Meכלeveryבכור.firstbornשֶׁלִּיMineהָיוּthey becameהַבְּכוֹרוֹתthe firstbornבְּקַוby the line ofהַדִּין,justiceשֶׁהֲגִנֹּתִיbecause I protectedעֲלֵיהֶםthemבֵּיןdistinguishing betweenבְּכוֹרֵיthe firstborn ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimוְלָקַחְתִּיand I tookאוֹתָםthemלִיfor Me—עַדuntilשֶׁטָּעוּthat they erredבָעֵגֶל,with the Calfוְעַכְשָׁוand now"וָאֶקַּחand I tookאֶת—הַלְוִיִּם":the Levites

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וָאֶקַּחAnd I tookאֶת—הַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesתַּחַתinstead ofכָּלeveryבְּכוֹרfirstbornבִּבְנֵיamong the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וָאֶתְּנָהAnd I gaveאֶת—הַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesנְתֻנִיםas presentsלְאַהֲרֹןto Aaronוּלְבָנָיוand to his sonsמִתּוֹךְfrom amongבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלַעֲבֹדto performאֶת—עֲבֹדַתthe service ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּאֹהֶלin the Tent ofמוֹעֵדMeetingוּלְכַפֵּרand to atoneעַלforבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelוְלֹאso there notיִהְיֶהwill beבִּבְנֵיamong the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelנֶגֶףa plagueבְּגֶשֶׁתwhen drawing nearבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶלtoהַקֹּדֶשׁ׃the Sanctuary

רַשִׁ״י

ואתנהAnd I have givenוגו'.etc.חֲמִשָּׁהFiveפְעָמִיםtimesנֶאֶמְרוּare mentionedבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבְּמִקְרָאin a verseזֶה,thisלְהוֹדִיעַto make knownחִבָּתָן,their belovednessשֶׁנִּכְפַּלthat is repeatedאַזְכְּרוֹתֵיהֶןtheir mentionsבְּמִקְרָאin a verseאֶחָדoneכְּמִנְיַןcorresponding to the number ofחֲמִשָּׁהthe fiveחֻמְשֵׁיbooks of theתוֹרָה,Torahוְכָךְand soרָאִיתִיI sawבִּבְ"רַ:in Bereishis Rabbah

רַשִׁ״י

ולאand notיהיהthere shall beבבניamong the children ofישראלYisraelנגף.a plagueשֶׁלֹאso that notיִצְטָרְכוּthey will needלָגֶשֶׁתto approachאֶלtoהַקֹּדֶשׁ,the Sanctuaryשֶׁאִםfor ifיִגְּשׁוּthey approachיִהְיֶהthere will beנֶגֶף:a plague

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיַּעַשׂAnd didמֹשֶׁהMosheוְאַהֲרֹןand Aharonוְכָלand allעֲדַתthe congregation ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלַלְוִיִּםto the Levi'imכְּכֹלaccording to allאֲשֶׁרthatצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁהMosheלַלְוִיִּםconcerning the Levi'imכֵּןsoעָשׂוּdidלָהֶםto themבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

ויעשAnd didמשהMosheואהרןand Aaronוכלand allעדתthe congregation ofוגו'.etc.מֹשֶׁהMosheהֶעֱמִידָןpresented themוְאַהֲרֹןand Aaronהֱנִיפָן,waved themוְיִשְׂרָאֵלand Israelסָמְכוּplacedאֶת—יְדֵיהֶם:their hands

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיִּתְחַטְּאוּAnd they purified themselvesהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesוַיְכַבְּסוּand they washedבִּגְדֵיהֶםtheir clothesוַיָּנֶףand wavedאַהֲרֹןAharonאֹתָםthemתְּנוּפָהas a wave-offeringלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָהHashemוַיְכַפֵּרand made atonementעֲלֵיהֶםfor themאַהֲרֹןAharonלְטַהֲרָם׃to purify them

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וְאַחֲרֵיAnd afterכֵןthatבָּאוּcameהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesלַעֲבֹדto performאֶת—עֲבֹדָתָםtheir serviceבְּאֹהֶלin the Tent ofמוֹעֵדMeetingלִפְנֵיbeforeאַהֲרֹןAharonוְלִפְנֵיand beforeבָנָיוhis sonsכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁהMosheעַלconcerningהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesכֵּןsoעָשׂוּthey didלָהֶם׃to them

רַשִׁ״י

כאשרAsצוהcommandedה'Hashem…כןsoעשו.they didלְהַגִּידto tellשֶׁבַחthe praise ofהָעוֹשִׂיןthose who performedוְהַנַּעֲשֶׂהand those performedבָהֶן,upon themשֶׁאֶחָדthat oneמֵהֶםof themלֹאdid notעִכֵּב:delay

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

זֹאתThisאֲשֶׁרis that whichלַלְוִיִּםapplies to the Levitesמִבֶּןfrom the age ofחָמֵשׁfiveוְעֶשְׂרִיםand twentyשָׁנָהyearsוָמַעְלָהand upwardיָבוֹאhe shall enterלִצְבֹאto joinצָבָאthe legionבַּעֲבֹדַתin the service ofאֹהֶלthe Tent ofמוֹעֵד׃Meeting

רַשִׁ״י

זאתThisאשרwhichללוים.belongs to the Levitesשָׁנִיםyearsפּוֹסְלִיםdisqualifyוְאֵיןbut notהַמּוּמִיןblemishesפּוֹסְלִיםdisqualifyבָּהֶםthemספרי;SifreiחוליןChullinכ"ד24:

רַשִׁ״י

מבןFrom a son ofחמשfiveועשרים.and twentyוּבְמָקוֹםand in a placeאַחֵרanotherאוֹמֵרit says"מִבֶּן"from a son ofשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyשָׁנָה"years"במדברBamidbarד'4,הָאBeholdכֵיצַד?how is thisמִבֶּןfrom a son ofכ"הtwenty-fiveבָּאhe comesלִלְמֹדto learnהִלְכוֹתthe laws ofעֲבוֹדָהserviceוְלוֹמֵדand he studiesחָמֵשׁfiveשָׁנִיםyearsוּבֶןand a son ofשְׁלֹשִׁיםthirtyעוֹבֵד,performs serviceמִכָּאןFrom hereלְתַלְמִידfor a studentשֶׁלֹּאwho did notרָאָהseeסִימָןa signיָפֶהgoodבְּמִשְׁנָתוֹin his studyבְּחָמֵשׁin fiveשָׁנִיםyearsשׁוּבagainאֵינוֹhe does notרוֹאֶהseeספרי;SifreiחוליןChullinכ"ד24a:

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וּמִבֶּןand from a son ofחֲמִשִּׁיםfiftyשָׁנָהyearsיָשׁוּבhe shall returnמִצְּבָאfrom the service ofהָעֲבֹדָהthe workוְלֹאand notיַעֲבֹדhe shall workעוֹד׃anymore

רַשִׁ״י

ולאand he shall notיעבדserveעוד.moreעֲבוֹדַתthe service ofמַשָּׂאcarryingבַּכָּתֵף,on the shoulderאֲבָלbutחוֹזֵרreturnsהוּאheלִנְעִילַתfor the closing ofשְׁעָרִיםgatesוְלָשִׁירand for singingוְלִטְעֹןand to loadעֲגָלוֹת,wagonsוְזֶהוּand this isוְשֵׁרֵתand he shall serveאֶת—אֶחָיוhis brothers—עִםwithאֲחוֹהִי,his brothersכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:like its Targum

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

וְשֵׁרֵתAnd he shall ministerאֶת—אֶחָיוhis brothersבְּאֹהֶלin the Tent ofמוֹעֵדMeetingלִשְׁמֹרto guardמִשְׁמֶרֶתthe chargeוַעֲבֹדָהbut serviceלֹאhe shall notיַעֲבֹדperformכָּכָהsoתַּעֲשֶׂהyou shall doלַלְוִיִּםto the Levitesבְּמִשְׁמְרֹתָם׃in their charges

רַשִׁ״י

לשמרto keepמשמרת.the chargeלַחֲנוֹתto encampסָבִיבaroundלָאֹהֶלthe tentוּלְהָקִיםand to erectוּלְהוֹרִידand to dismantleבִּשְׁעַתat the time ofהַמַּסָּעוֹת:the journeys

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah describes how Moshe, Aaron, and all of Bnei Yisrael carried out Hashem's command to purify and dedicate the Levi'im, who washed their clothes and were presented by Aaron as an elevation offering to make expiation for them. Once purified, the Levi'im began their service in the Tent of Meeting under the direction of Aaron and his sons. Finally, Hashem commands Moshe regarding the age requirements for the Levi'im, initiating them into the work force from the age of twenty-five, retiring them from active labor at fifty, and permitting them thereafter only to assist their brothers in guarding the sanctuary.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

My dear talmid, look at how the Torah describes the life of a Levi. When a Levi reaches the age of fifty, he retires from the heavy physical labor of carrying the Mishkan, but the Torah says he does not stop serving. Instead, he transitions to a new role: he stands guard, he guides, and he assists his younger brothers. Hashem is teaching us a profound lesson about our own avodah. In life, our strengths and situations change. There are times when we can carry heavy loads, and times when our energy or circumstances shift. A Yid never retires from serving Hashem; we simply change how we serve.

Sometimes we feel down because we cannot do a certain mitzvah or learn with the same intensity as we did in our younger years, or perhaps a new life circumstance like parnassah or family needs has shifted our schedule. The yetzer hara wants you to think that if you cannot do what you used to do, your service is no longer valuable. But the Torah shows us the opposite. The older Levites who stood guard and supported others were just as essential to the Mishkan as those carrying the heavy vessels. Every stage of life has its own beautiful, holy mission.

Today, look at your current situation without comparing it to the past or to anyone else. Ask yourself: "What is the unique avodah that Hashem wants from me right now, with the strength and time I have today?" Embrace that specific role with joy, knowing that this is exactly where Hashem wants you to stand guard.