Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this Aliyah, the Torah sets apart the Shevet of Levi, including the Kohanim, from the rest of Klal Yisrael regarding the inheritance of the land. Because they are dedicated to the avodah of Hashem, they do not receive a physical portion or inheritance in Eretz Yisrael. Instead, Hashem is their portion, and they are sustained through the holy gifts that Klal Yisrael is commanded to give them.

The Aliyah goes on to detail the specific matnos kehunah, the priestly gifts, that must be given to the Kohanim from the animals that are slaughtered, as well as the first portion of the agricultural produce and the wool. These gifts are a direct result of Hashem choosing the Kohanim from all the tribes to stand and serve in His Name for all generations.

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

לֹאNotיִהְיֶהthere shall beלַכֹּהֲנִיםto the Kohanimהַלְוִיִּםthe Levitesכָּלallשֵׁבֶטthe tribe ofלֵוִיLeviחֵלֶקa portionוְנַחֲלָהand an inheritanceעִםwithיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאִשֵּׁיthe fire-offerings ofיְהוָהHashemוְנַחֲלָתוֹand His inheritanceיֹאכֵלוּן׃they shall eat

רַשִׁ״י

כלallשבטthe tribe ofלוי.Leviבֵּיןwhetherתְּמִימִיןunblemished onesבֵּיןor whetherבַּעֲלֵיpossessors ofמוּמִיןblemishesספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

חלק.a portionבַּבִּזָּה:in the spoil

רַשִׁ״י

ונחלה.and inheritanceבָּאָרֶץin the landשםthere:

רַשִׁ״י

אשיthe fire-offerings ofה'.Hashemקָדְשֵׁיthe holy things ofהַמִּקְדָּשׁ:the Sanctuary

רַשִׁ״י

ונחלתו.and His inheritanceאֵלּוּthese areקָדְשֵׁיholy things ofהַגְּבוּלthe border–תְּרוּמוֹתheave-offeringsוּמַעַשְׂרוֹת,and tithesאֲבָלbutנַחֲלָהan inheritanceגְּמוּרָהcompleteלאnotיהיהshall there beלוto himבקרבamongאחיו;his brethrenוּבְסִפְרֵיand in Sifreiדָּרְשׁוּthey expounded–ונחלהand an inheritanceלאnotיהיהshall there beלוto him—זוֹthis isנַחֲלַתthe inheritance ofשְׁאָר,the restבקרבamongאחיוhis brethren—זוֹthis isנַחֲלַתthe inheritance ofחֲמִשָּׁה.fiveוְאֵינִיand I do notיוֹדֵעַknowמַהwhatהִיא,it isוְנִרְאֶהand it seemsלִיto meשֶׁאֶרֶץthat the land ofכְּנַעַןCanaanשֶׁמֵּעֵבֶרwhich is from acrossהַיַּרְדֵּןthe Jordanוָאֵילָךְand onwardנִקְרֵאתis calledאֶרֶץthe land ofחֲמִשָּׁהfiveעֲמָמִין,nationsוְשֶלand that ofסִיחוֹןSihonוְעוֹגand Ogשְׁנֵיtwoעֲמָמִין,nationsאֱמוֹרִיAmoriteוּכְנַעֲנִי,and Canaaniteוְנַחֲלַתand the inheritance ofשְׁאָרthe restלְרַבּוֹתis to includeקֵינִיKeniteוּקְנִזִּיand Kenizziteוְקַדְמוֹנִי,and Kadmoniteוְכֵןand likewiseדּוֹרֵשׁit expoundsבְּפָרָשַׁתin the section ofמַתָּנוֹתgiftsשֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּthat were saidלְאַהֲרֹןto Aaronבמדברin Bemidbarי"ח18"עַל"thereforeכֵּן·לֹאnotהָיָהshall there beלְלֵוִיto Leviוְגוֹ'"etc."לְהַזְהִירto warnעַלconcerningקֵינִיKeniteוּקְנִזִּיand Kenizziteוְקַדְמוֹנִי.and Kadmoniteשׁוּבagainנִמְצָאit was foundבְדִבְרֵיin the words ofרַבִּיRabbiקְלוֹנִימוּסKalonymusהָכֵיthusגָּרְסִינָןwe readבְּסִפְרֵי:in Sifreiונחלהand an inheritanceלאnotיהיהshall there beלו.to himאֵלּוּthis isנַחֲלַתthe inheritance ofחֲמִשָּׁה,fiveבקרבamongאחיוhis brethrenאֵלּוּthis isנַחֲלַתthe inheritance ofשִׁבְעָה,sevenנַחֲלַתthe inheritance ofחֲמִשָּׁהfiveשְׁבָטִיםtribesוְנַחֲלַתand the inheritance ofשִׁבְעָהsevenשְׁבָטִים;tribesוּמִתּוֹךְand becauseשֶׁמֹּשֶׁהthat Mosheוִיהוֹשֻׁעַand Yehoshuaלֹאdid notחִלְּקוּdivideנַחֲלָהan inheritanceאֶלָּאexceptלַחֲמִשָּׁהto fiveשְׁבָטִיםtribesבִּלְבָד,aloneשֶׁכֵּןfor soמֹשֶׁהMosheהִנְחִילgave inheritanceלִרְאוּבֵןto Reuvenוְגָדand Gadוַחֲצִיand half ofשֵׁבֶטthe tribe ofמְנַשֶּׁה,Manassehוִיהוֹשֻׁעַand Yehoshuaהִנְחִילgave inheritanceלִיהוּדָהto Yehudahוְאֶפְרַיִםand Ephraimוְלַחֲצִיand to half ofשֵׁבֶטthe tribe ofמְנַשֶּׁה,Manassehוְשִׁבְעָהand the sevenהָאֲחֵרִיםothersנָטְלוּtookמֵאֵלֵיהֶןby themselvesאַחֲרֵיafterמוֹתthe death ofיְהוֹשֻׁעַ,Yehoshuaמִתּוֹךְbecause ofכָּךְthisהִזְכִּירit mentionedחֲמִשָּׁהfiveלְבַדseparatelyוְשִׁבְעָהand sevenלְבַד:separately

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וְנַחֲלָהand an inheritanceלֹאnotיִהְיֶהthere shall beלּוֹto himבְּקֶרֶבamongאֶחָיוhis brothersיְהוָהHashemהוּאHeנַחֲלָתוֹis his inheritanceכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֶּרHe spokeלוֹ׃to him

רַשִׁ״י

כאשרasדברHe spokeלו.to him"בְּאַרְצָם"in their landלֹאnotתִנְחָל,you shall inheritאֲנִיI amחֶלְקְךָ"your portion"במדברBamidbarי"ח18:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וְזֶהAnd thisיִהְיֶהshall beמִשְׁפַּטthe due ofהַכֹּהֲנִיםthe priestsמֵאֵתfromהָעָםthe peopleמֵאֵתfromזֹבְחֵיthose who slaughterהַזֶּבַחthe slaughteringאִםwhetherשׁוֹרan oxאִםwhetherשֶׂהa sheepוְנָתַןand he shall giveלַכֹּהֵןto the priestהַזְּרֹעַthe shoulderוְהַלְּחָיַיִםand the cheeksוְהַקֵּבָה׃and the stomach

רַשִׁ״י

מאתFromהעם.the peopleוְלֹאand notמֵאֵתfromהַכֹּהֲנִיםthe priestsספרי;SifreiחוליןChullinקל"ב132b:

רַשִׁ״י

אםwhetherשורan oxאםorשה.a sheepפְּרָטexcludingלְחַיָּה:a wild beast

רַשִׁ״י

הזרע.The shoulderמִןfromהַפֶּרֶקthe jointשֶׁלofאַרְכֻּבָּהthe kneeעַדuntilכַּףthe bladeשֶׁלofיַדthe shoulderשֶׁקּוֹרִיןthat they callאשפלד"וןespaldaחוליןChullinקל"ד134:

רַשִׁ״י

הלחיים.the cheeksעִםwithהַלָּשׁוֹן.the tongueדּוֹרְשֵׁיinterpreters ofרְשׁוּמוֹתsymbolic textsהָיוּwereאוֹמְרִיםsayingזְרוֹעַthe forelegתַּחַתin place ofיַד,the handשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidבמדברBamidbarכ"ה25"וַיִּקַּחand he tookרֹמַחa spearבְּיָדוֹ",in his handלְחָיַיִםcheeksתַּחַתin place ofתְּפִלָּה,prayerשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidתהיליםTehillimק"י106"וַיַּעֲמֹדand stood upפִּינְחָסPinchasוַיְפַלֵּל",and prayedוְהַקֵּבָהand the mawתַּחַתin place of"הָאִשָּׁהthe womanאֶלtoקֳבָתָהּ"her stomachבמדברBamidbarכ"ה25:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

רֵאשִׁיתThe first ofדְּגָנְךָyour grainתִּירֹשְׁךָyour wineוְיִצְהָרֶךָand your oilוְרֵאשִׁיתand the first ofגֵּזthe shearing ofצֹאנְךָyour sheepתִּתֶּןyou shall giveלּוֹ׃to him

רַשִׁ״י

ראשיתThe firstדגנך.of your grainזוֹthisתְּרוּמָה,is terumahוְלֹאand notפֵּרֵשׁdid it specifyבָּהּin itשִׁעוּר,a measureאֲבָלbutרַבּוֹתֵינוּour Rabbisנָתְנוּgaveבָהּin itשִׁעוּרa measure–עַיִןan eyeיָפָהgenerousאֶחָדoneמֵאַרְבָּעִים,from fortyעַיִןan eyeרָעָהstingyאֶחָדoneמִשִּׁשִּׁים,from sixtyבֵּינוֹנִיתaverageאֶחָדoneמֵחֲמִשִּׁים,from fiftyוְסָמְכוּand they supportedעַלuponהַמִּקְרָאthe verseשֶׁלֹּאthat notלִפְחֹתto decreaseמֵאֶחָדfrom oneמִשִּׁשִּׁיםfrom sixtyשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidיחזקאלYechezkelמ"ה45שִׁשִּׁיתa sixthהָאֵיפָהof the ephahמֵחֹמֶרfrom a chomerהַחִטִּים,of the wheatשִׁשִּׁיתa sixthהָאֵיפָהof the ephahחֲצִיis halfסְאָה,a seahכְּשֶׁאַתָּהwhen youנוֹתֵןgiveחֲצִיhalfסְאָהa seahלְכֹרfor a korהֲרֵיbehold it isאֶחָדoneמִשִּׁשִּׁים,from sixtyשֶׁהַכֹּרfor the korשְׁלוֹשִׁיםis thirtyסְאִיןseahsתלמודTalmudירושלמיYerushalmiתרומותTerumosפ"דchapter 4:

רַשִׁ״י

וראשיתAnd the first ofגזthe shearing ofצאנך.your flockכְּשֶׁאַתָּהwhen youגּוֹזֵזshearצֹאנְךָyour flockבְּכָלin everyשָׁנָהyearתֵּןgiveמִמֶּנָּהfrom itרֵאשִׁיתthe firstלַכֹּהֵן,to the Kohenוְלֹאand notפֵּרֵשׁdid it specifyבָּהּin itשִׁעוּר,a measureוְרַבּוֹתֵינוּand our Rabbisנָתְנוּgaveבָהּin itשִׁעוּרa measureאֶחָדoneמִשִּׁשִּׁים,from sixtyוְכַמָּהand how manyצֹאןsheepחַיָּבוֹתare obligatedבְּרֵאשִׁיתin the first ofהַגֵּז?the shearingחָמֵשׁfiveרְחֵלוֹת,ewesשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidשמואלShmuelאIכ"ה25וְחָמֵשׁand fiveצֹאןsheepעֲשׂוּיוֹת.preparedרַבִּיRabbiעֲקִיבָאAkivaאוֹמֵרsaysרֵאשִׁיתfirstגֵּזshearing–שְׁתַּיִם,twoצֹאנְךָyour flock–אַרְבָּעָה,fourתִּתֶּןyou shall giveלוֹto him–הֲרֵיbeholdחֲמִשָּׁהfiveעי'seeספריSifreiוחוליןand Chullinקל"ה135:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

כִּיBecauseבוֹhimבָּחַרhas chosenיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godמִכָּלfrom allשְׁבָטֶיךָyour tribesלַעֲמֹדto standלְשָׁרֵתto serveבְּשֵׁםin the name ofיְהוָהHashemהוּאheוּבָנָיוand his sonsכָּלallהַיָּמִים׃the days

רַשִׁ״י

לעמדto standלשרת.to ministerמִכָּאןfrom hereשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noשֵׁרוּתserviceאֶלָּאexceptמֵעוֹמֵדstandingספרי;SifreiסוטהSotahל"ח38:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

This Aliyah establishes that the Kohanim and Levi'im have no territorial portion or inheritance in Eretz Yisrael, as Hashem is their inheritance. Instead, they are supported by the fire-offerings of Hashem and the designated matnos kehunah. Specifically, when a person slaughters an ox or a sheep, he is required to give the Kohen the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. Additionally, the Torah commands us to give the Kohen the first of our grain, wine, and oil, which is terumah, as well as the first shearings of the sheep, because Hashem chose them and their children to serve in His Name forever.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is mechadesh a beautiful yesod here regarding Shevet Levi. The pasuk says they do not get a chelek and a nachalah in the land of Eretz Yisrael like the other shevatim. Instead, "Hashem hu nachalato", Hashem Himself is their portion. Because they are completely dedicated to standing and serving in the name of Hashem, they do not have the normal worries of working the land. Instead, the rest of Klal Yisrael brings them the zeroa, lechayayim, and keivah, and the reishis gez.

Lichoira, we have to ask ourselves: is this lifestyle of "Hashem hu nachalato" only meant for one specific shevet in the Midbar or the Beis HaMikdash? The Rambam famously writes that this is not just for Shevet Levi. Any single Yid whose heart moves him to separate himself and stand before Hashem to serve Him and to know Him is sanctified as kodesh kodashim, and Hashem becomes his portion forever. When a Yid makes the ratzon to put Hashem at the center of his life, Hashem provides for him and takes care of his needs, just as He did for the Kohanim.

This is our avodah today. We get so caught up in the daily grind, worrying about our parnassah, our fields, and our physical assets. The Torah is telling us: make yourself a little bit like Shevet Levi. When you set aside time for learning and davening, clear your head of all your worldly worries. Realize that your ultimate security and your true portion is not your business or your bank account, but Hashem Himself.

Today, when you sit down to learn or stand up to daven, turn off your phone and put away your worldly worries for just thirty minutes. Say to yourself: "For these thirty minutes, I am like Shevet Levi. Hashem is my portion, and I trust Him to take care of the rest."