Parshat Bamidbar

In this week's Torah portion, the tribe of Levi is chosen by G-d to perform the service in the Mishkan (Sanctuary) and later, in the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple). "Bring the tribe of Levi near," G-d said to Moses. The Levites were chosen to represent the entire Jewish people, and it was through them that G-d's blessing was brought down to the nation as a whole.

The reason for their selection may be better understood in light of the Baal Shem Tov's explanation on the verse in Psalms, "The righteous shall flourish like the date palm; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon":

Ice Water

What's the difference between water and ice? Ice is solid water. Ice is less dense than water. (That's why it floats in a glass of water.)

Actually, "ice" has a technical definition. It's the solid phase (or state) of a substance that is liquid or gas at room temperature. So there can be ammonia ice or methane ice, for instance. But of course when we say "ice" without qualification, we mean water-as-a-solid.

Click here to learn more...