Parashat Naso

Parashat: Naso

Haftara: Vaihi Ish Ehad

The Pasuk says, "And the priest shall write these curses in a scroll and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness." (Bamidbar 5:23)

When the Bet-Hamikdash was in existence, a woman who was suspected of infidelity had a means of proving her innocence.  She would come to the Bet-Hamikdash where a priest would give her a special drink in which was placed a section of the Torah with G-d’s name.  If she was guilty, she would miraculously die from it. 

If she was free from guilt, she would benefit from the potion and her innocence would be proven beyond any doubt. 

Although under normal circumstances, it is forbidden to erase G-d’s name, it is permissible in order to make peace between a husband and wife.

In connection with this section of the Torah, the Midrash relates the following incident:  

A certain woman used to attend Rabbi Meir’s lectures.  Once, the lecture took longer than usual and the woman came home late.  Her husband was upset about her tardiness and demanded an explanation.  

When she told him that she had been listening to Rabbi Meir’s lectures, he told her, "I won’t let you back in the house until you spit in Rabbi Meir’s face." 

Rabbi Meir found out about the woman’s fight and knew that she would be very reluctant to carry out her husband’s order.  Therefore he pretended that something had fallen in his eyes and asked the woman to spit in his eyes seven times to cure him.

After the woman spit in his eye, Rabbi Meir told her, “Go tell your husband that you did more than he asked of you.  He told you to spit once, but you spat seven times.”

Upon hearing this, Rabbi Meir’s disciples were greatly angered at the husband’s lack of respect toward their teacher.  They told Rabbi Meir that, had they been informed of this matter, they would have beaten up the insolent fellow.

"Meir’s honor should not be greater than his Creator's honor," replied Rabbi Meir.  The Torah states that even the sacred name of G-d is erased in water to make peace between husband and wife.  

"All the more so should I forgo my honor."

We must follow Rabbi Meir’s example and do all we can to rescue arguments between husband and wife.

from "Love Your Neighbor"