Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat Shalom

Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Nasso

Parshat Naso: The Flow of Paradox
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Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh at Inner.org

[...] The thread that ties all three meanings of Naso in our parshah is paradox. Paradox is one of the most basic concepts in human thought in general, and specifically in Judaism. A paradox lies beyond the rules of logic and thus gives us a chance to better understand the limitations of our human minds, while concurrently helping us to get something of a sense for what is beyond human. For this reason, in the Jewish philosophical tradition, God is recognized as the greatest paradox of all.

The Hebrew idiom designating “paradox” (נְשִׂיאַת הַפָכִים ) also stems from the same root as Naso. Literally, this idiom means “lifting opposites,” implying that the ability to sustain a paradox (mental or otherwise) reflects an ability to hold and simultaneously carry apparent opposites in order to unite and synthesize them. 

This is the implied reason that the Hebrew word for “marriage” (נִשׂוּאִין ) stems from the same root as Naso. In marriage, two that are separate are joined into one. Marriage requires each partner to carry this paradox. The secret ingredient of marriage and of all the meanings of Naso we have seen is this ability to lift up and synthesize opposites thereby creating a holy and profound union that can reflect God, the ultimate paradox.

You may be interested to know:

Thanks to an avid student of Harav Ginsburgh, there is a wonderful site that includes a wonderful selection of the Rav's articles in Italian. If you know anybody who speaks Italian, what a great way to introduce them to the inner dimension of Torah and Judaism.

We welcome the Etz Chayim website to our family of foreign language websites, together with www.dimensiones.org (Spanish) and www.galenai.fr (French).