June 13, 2019 / 10 Sivan, 5779 • Parshat Naso
Issue 565
Dedicated in loving memory of Mrs. Miriam Friedman

G-d told Moses, "Take a census of the clan of Gershon."

Bamidbar 4:22


Ever since the Giving of the Torah, each of us possesses an innate, subconscious love of G-d. This love of G-d is far more intense that any love of G-d that we can achieve on our own, by using our conscious intellect to focus on some reason to love G-d. When this innate love of

G-d is revealed, it can "sanctify" us, i.e., re-orient us toward fulfilling G-d's positive, wholesome desires for us rather that satisfying our self-serving, negative material drives.

These two effects of the Giving of the Torah are alluded to in the name "Gershon." This name is derived from the Hebrew verb le-garesh, which means both "to drive out" and "to bring out" (i.e., "to reveal"). By revealing our innate love of G-d, we drive out our former negative, self-serving orientation.

--From Daily

WisdomVolume 2