“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.”
4 Nissan
Today is the day of Reuven. The ability to see, symbolized by his name, to find oneself so firmly connected that one need not convince oneself of it – this is indispensable.
However, the quality of clear sight sometimes fails, leaving no room for another perspective. This is the reason Reuven lost his birthright. He seethes and boils over when witnessing injustice – this is reflected in both the blessing and criticism from his father Yaakov, but he cannot act otherwise. Equally significant is that after his “failure” with Bilhah, the Torah emphasizes that having lost the birthright, he remains a son of Yaakov.
Clarity of vision is necessary, but only after taking one’s place following the quality of Yehudah: the ability to acknowledge the insignificance and limitation of one’s own understanding.
