In honor of Parshat Ki Tisa (which describes, inter alia*, how the leviim didn’t participate in Chet HaEgel and instead heeded Moshe’s cry, “whoever is for Hashem, join me,” – Shmot 32:26-29), this blog’s editorial board proudly presents:
Our Sh’fuchim:** The Life and Times of an Early 21st Century Wife and Mother of Leviim
1) First of all, I should confess that I didn’t discover YZG’s, er, levitical status until several weeks after we got engaged. (Note that this was even after I found out about his non-gebrokts tendencies…)
It was a Shabbat morning, and to my surprise, YZG was called up to the Torah for – wait for it… – Levi.
After davening, we had the following exchange:
Me: {asks casually} You’re a levi?
YZG: {astonished} You didn’t know that?!
Me: {defensively} How should I have known? It’s not the kind of thing that usually comes up in conversation.
YZG: Yeah, but STILL…
2) Actually, there was a lot I didn’t know about being a levi.
I mean, I had no idea that leviim have to deal with all sorts of complex issues on a daily basis (Reason #5888 for Making Aliyah: Birkat Kohanim seven days a week), including:
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Missing part of davening to go wash the kohanim’s hands.
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Situations where there is one overworked levi for dozens and dozens of kohanim.
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Situations (such as our shul) where the leviim far outnumber the kohanim.
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Sinks which aren’t designed for hand washing.
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Kohanim who refuse to hold their hands over the sink and thus drip water on themselves and the leviim.
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Does a levi get an aliyah if there are no kohanim present during laining?
And on a related note, the aforementioned editorial board would like to wish a very, very happy birthday to the wonderful levi who is now known across the country for his expert laining of Parshat Ki Tisa BA”H!
“כִּי שָׁמְרוּ אִמְרָתֶךָ וּבְרִיתְךָ יִנְצֹרוּ.”
“For they observed Your word, and Your covenant they preserved.” (Devarim 33:9)
“Shevet Levi is the chosen one of the tribes and is suited for the service of the House of Hashem… Because of their great stature and their skillful actions and the grace of their merit… They are men of pure heart who are known for their sterling traits and their venerable wisdom…” (Sefer HaChinuch 408)
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* The time had come for the now (more or less) annual “Try and Use Inter Alia in a Sentence and Hope That You’re Doing So Correctly Celebration”. Feel free to join in… :-)
** Sh’fuchim – שפוכים – That which was spilled (plural). [See also my blog name post.]
