Parshat Naso: Carried by Music
May 29, 2026
Numbers 4:25
וְנָ֨שְׂא֜וּ אֶת־יְרִיעֹ֤ת הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ וְאֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמִכְסֵ֛ה הַתַּ֥חַשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָלָ֖יו מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְאֶ֨ת־מָסַ֔ךְ פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
They shall carry the cloths of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with its covering, the covering of dolphin skin that is on top of it, and the screen for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting
Our parsha begins with a description of the responsibilities of the Levites. This tribe occupied a unique place within Israel. They were not Kohanim, responsible for the daily sacrifices, nor were they members of the other tribes who could not touch the holy Tabernacle objects. Instead, they raised up the Tabernacle, carried it from place to place, and prepared the space for the priests to officiate. They stood between the priesthood and the people, connected to both.
Noteworthy is the fact that, in addition to their other responsibilities, only the Levites were permitted to be Temple musicians. When the First and Second Temples stood, music permeated those holy walls. Sacrifices were accompanied by music, and Jewish pilgrims ascended the steps of the Temple with music.
Music has the power to do what these Levites did. Their job was to carry the Tabernacle and raise it up wherever the people camped. Music likewise elevates. It can take a mundane activity and lift it to a level unreachable in silence. Music also connects. Just as the Levites connected the Israelites to the Temple, music can open a path back to a tradition that may have long been forgotten.
Perhaps this is why the Levites were chosen for this sacred task. Their calling was not merely to carry holy objects, but to help others draw closer to holiness itself. Long after the Temple’s destruction, the right melody, at just the right moment, still has the power to connect us to one another and elevate us in our quest to draw closer to God.