The Dnipro Jewish Community reminds you that from the first to the twelfth day of the month of Nissan, it is customary to read the passage listing the gifts brought by each of the tribal princes (Nesi’im) on the corresponding day of the month during the dedication of the altar, and then to recite the prayer “May it be Your will…” On the thirteenth day, the passage “These are the gifts…” is read, but the prayer “May it be Your will…” is not recited.
“Nasi” – The Offerings of the Tribal Princes of Israel
One year after the Exodus, on the first of Nissan, the dedication of the portable Sanctuary began. The dedication lasted twelve days, during which offerings were brought daily to the Mishkan, delivered by the prince of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
In memory of this, it is customary during the days of the month of Nissan preceding Pesach to read daily the passage from the Torah describing the offerings of the prince of a different tribe.
Our website provides the text of the prayers from the Siddur “Tehillat Hashem” published by “F.R.E.E. Publishing House.”
1 Nissan
On the first of Nissan, we begin reading the Torah passages describing the dedication of the Sanctuary by the tribal princes. Naturally, on the first day, we recall the tribe of Yehudah, after which we are all called Yehudim (Jews).
However, the offering of the tribe of Yehudah is preceded by the distribution of the Levites’ equipment for transporting the Sanctuary through the desert. In the Torah’s account of this, it is stated that the descendants of Kehat, who were tasked with transporting the Ark of the Covenant, would not receive wagons. The Ark – the repository of the Tablets – had to be carried on their shoulders.
This day marks the beginning of the month of redemption, Nissan. The path to freedom begins with liberation from all the “wagons” onto which we have loaded our Torah, dressing it in certain social, political, academic, and intellectual garments. This is, of course, more convenient, and perhaps the accretion of details distinguishing “our” Torah from “others'” is inevitable. But the exodus from slavery begins with setting aside all these “wagons” and carrying the Torah on our shoulders, that is, with love and awe.
The offering of Yehudah comes first. For the first step in serving the Almighty is acknowledging His sovereignty over the entire world and over oneself, which is inherent in the name Yehudah. This is the essence of the “Modeh Ani” prayer (“I thank You”), with which every Jew begins each day.
