בס”ד
The Torah portion of Parshat Nasso is usually read on the Shabbat immediately following the holiday of Shavuot. Its very name, “Nasso,” which means “to lift up” or “to elevate,” perfectly expresses the incredible spiritual height that Torah study imparts to a person, leading to profound upliftment and elevation. The Talmud tells a story about Rabbi Yosef, who would hold a festive meal on Shavuot. He’d say, “If not for this day, there would be many Yosefs in the marketplace.” Rashi, the prominent commentator, explains this to mean: “If not for this day, through which I studied Torah and became elevated, I would be just one of many people named Yosef in the marketplace. What makes me different from them?”
The special quality of Torah study, especially for Noahides within the framework of the Seven Noahide Commandments, is that it creates a complete unity between a person’s intellect and G-d’s wisdom, which is found within the Torah. When a person’s mind grasps the Torah’s thoughts, it leads to a perfect merging of human intellect with G-d’s wisdom. This truly elevates the person to the highest possible level. The head, being the highest and most important part of the human body, becomes elevated and lifted by the Torah to a high degree.
It is important to note that while studying the Seven Noahide Commandments is a great virtue for Noahides, nevertheless, other parts of the Torah that deal specifically with Jewish commandments are generally not permitted to be studied in a way of delving deeply into them. There is no specific commandment for Noahides to study Torah as it is for the Jewish people. With that being said, the Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 59b) notes that a non-Jew who learns about the Seven Noahide Commandments is analogous to a high priest in the Holy of Holies!
This is the general elevation that comes from the giving of the Torah. Parshat Nasso then emphasizes an additional aspect of this elevation. There’s an added emphasis on the “lifting of the head” for all members of the Tribe of Levi. It’s known that anyone “whose spirit moves them, and who understands with their own mind to separate themselves to stand before G-d to serve Him and worship Him” – they are considered to be on the level of the Tribe of Levi. This applies to all mankind.
This happens because G-d’s Torah penetrates the intellect, so much so that the mind becomes aligned with the Torah’s wisdom. This elevates the person to an immense connection with holiness. Thus, it brings about personal redemption for all who engage in it.
Sources: Rambam Shmita and Yovel 13:13. Tanya chapter 5. Sanhedrin 59b.
By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein
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