Torah: Nr 33-36 JPS
http://www.jtsa.edu/community/parashah/j...
Haftorah: Jer 2:4-28, 3:4; 4:1-2 JPS
http://learn.jtsa.edu/topics/parashah/jp...
Maftir for Rosh Hodesh
http://www.jtsa.edu/community/parashah/j...
Haftorah Rosh Hodesh Av
http://www.jtsa.edu/community/parashah/j...
Aliyot:
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1. Nr 33:1-10
2. Nr 33:11-49
3. Nr 33:50-34:15
4. Nr 34:16-29
5. Nr 35:1-8
6. Nr 35:9-34
7. Nr 36:1-13
OVERVIEW:
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Massei gives a summary of the marches that occured during the Exodus from Egypt, listing the various places where the Israelites strayed. Forty-two places are named relating to forty-two levels of spirituality. After the mention of Aaron's death on Mt Hor, the account of travels becomes more detailed in preparation for entry into the Promised Land. The passage details the boundaries of the land, setting the traditional borders. Moses portions the lands to eleven tribes and establishes the laws of inheritance for the Daughters of Zelophehad (see Nr 27:1-11). Because the Levites do not inherit land as a tribe, they aer given six cities of refuge with pasture land assigned to them. The cities are designated as places of asylum for anyone who committed accidental manslaughter. Scripture distinguishes between accidental death, murder and self-defense.
IN FOCUS
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"You shall not murder...You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor"
II-5 Jethro Ex 20:13
"When a man strikes his slave, male or female, with a rod and he dies there..."
II-6 Mishpatim- Laws of Accidental Homicide/ Manslaughter Ex 21: 20-32
"The towns that you assign to the Levites shall comprise of six cities of refuge that you are to designate for a manslayer to flee to.."
Nr 35:6
"If anyone kills a person, the manslayer may be executed only on the evidence of witnesses, the testimony of a single witness against a person shall not suffice for a sentence of death."
Nr 35:30
CITIES OF REFUGE
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Although Cain is often accused of being a murderer, there is scant evidence that he had any intention of killing his brother. At the time, death had not been a reality. No one had yet died. Perhaps Cain struggled with his brother with unfortunate results, and mystified at his brother's sudden unresponsive state evaded God's questions. Cain is certainly more innocent than the majority of youth toting guns to school and point blank shooting their colleagues and teachers, or those pouncing on the unwary neighbors invited to watch television. It's virtually impossible to claim innocence when the neighbor's daughter is found dismembered in a chest in the back of a car, or discovered pounded to pulp at the bottom of a stairway apparently used for bungie-jumping onto a small child. Death has long since entered the world for a few centuries, and is rehearsed daily on television news, movies and computer fantasy games. The death of a child or sudden loss of a friend, teacher, acquaintance, family member is a harsh shock that cannot be "closed" by the infliction of death penalty. As horrible as such a crime may be, it must be equally horrific to witness capital punishment.
