Beha'alot'cha: Chapter 11

"This is that which belongs to the Levites"

Synopsis

Rabbi Shimon says that the Levite must serve from age 25 to age fifty, after which his strength is declining and his voice is not as strong. The place to which the Levite is assigned is from strong judgment and must not be flawed by any weakness.

Fifty Fire Grades Levites Strength Year

54. "This is that which belongs to the Levites" (Bemidbar 8:24). Come and behold: the Levite, who is 25 years old, reaches his place and is adorned. He will do service work for 25 years until he reaches the grade of fifty. When he reaches the grade of the fiftieth year and onward, he declines from the strength of fire within him. Since the fire and heat get cooler, he causes damage to the place to which he is connected, WHICH IS THE LEFT.

54. זֹאת אֲשֶׁר לַלְוִיִּם וְגוֹ.' ת"ח, לֵיוָאָה בַּר חָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִין שְׁנִין סְלִיק לְדוּכְתֵּיהּ וְאִתְעַטָּר. וְחָמֵשׁ וְעֶשְׂרִין יִפְלַח עַד דְּסָלִיק לְדַרְגָּא דְּחַמְשִׁין. כַּד סָלִיק לְהַאי דַּרְגָּא דְּחַמְשִׁין שְׁנִין וּלְהָלְאָה, נָחִית מִן תּוּקְפָּא דְּאֶשָּׁא דְּבֵיהּ, וְכֵיוָן דְּאֶשָּׁא וַחֲמִימוּתָא אִתְקָרִר, הָא פָּגִים לְהַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִתְקְשַׁר בֵּיהּ.

Directions Fifty Judgment Singing Torah Year

55. In addition, AFTER FIFTY YEARS, the singing voice is no longer that well connected with him, SINCE IT BECOMES A LITTLE WEAKER. It is necessary that this voice should not be flawed, but rather get stronger, since it stands in a place of strong Judgment and not in a weak one. Therefore, it is important not to degrade that place, THAT IS THE LEFT, to which he is assigned, since it is powerful Judgment and not feeble. It is necessary not to show any feebleness in any direction. Praised is the man that toils in the Torah, knows the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He, and does not deviate to the right or the left. It is written: "for the ways of Hashem are right" (Hoshea 14:10), MEANING ONE WHO FOLLOWS STEADILY IN THE CENTRAL COLUMN.

55. וְעוֹד, דְּקָלָא דְּזִמְרָא לָא אִתְקְשַׁר בַּהֲדֵיהּ כָּל כַּךְ. וְקָלָא בָּעֵי דְּלָא יִתְפְּגָם, אֶלָּא בָּעֵי לְאִתָּקְפָא, דְּהָא בַּאֲתָר דְּדִינָא תַּקִּיף קַיְּימָא, וְלָא בְּחַלְשָׁא. ובג"כ בָּעֵי דְּלָא יַפְגִּים הַהוּא אֲתָר דְּאִתְקְשַׁר בֵּיהּ, דְּאִיהוּ דִּינָא תַּקִּיפָא, וְלָא חַלְשָׁא, וְעַל דָּא לָא בָּעֵי לְאַחֲזָאָה חוּלְשָׁתָא כְּלָל בְּכָל סִטְרִין. זַכָּאָה הוּא ב"נ דְּאִשְׁתָּדַּל בְּאוֹרַיְיתָא, וְיִנְדַּע אוֹרְחוֹי דְקוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא, וְלָא סָטֵי לִימִינָא וְלִשְׂמָאלָא, דִּכְתִיב כִּי יְשָׁרִים דַּרְכֵי יְיָ.'

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