The very name of our portion Naso, encapsulates a central Jewish idea which resonates, especially during the difficult times in Israel today.

On the one hand, the word naso may be related to masa, which means "burden."  From this perspective, naso means to be weighted down, to feel the pressure of the world.  Naso could also mean to lift or to be above.

While these definitions may be viewed as conflicting, they actually encompass a common message.

As a rabbi, I am constantly awed by individuals who seem to be so average, and yet, when faced with adversity, are able to reach beyond and overcome.  This amazing phenomenon gives me strength to continue to believe, despite the fact that there is so much pain and suffering in the world.

This may be the confluence of naso as burden and naso as to lift.  It is often the case that precisely when one feels burdened and weighted down, one finds the inner strength to rise above and to exceed one's grasp.

The ability of people, to do that which they never ever thought they could is an expression of the image of God in all of us.  As God is infinite and endless, so too do we, created in the image of God, have the power to do the extraordinary.

We, here in America, should learn through our sisters and brothers in Israel.  As they face adversity, we cannot allow ourselves to become the Jews of silence.  We must learn from them the message of courage and fortitude, and in the face of crisis, speak out. 

Sometimes I think that there are no great people in this world.  Rather there are only great challenges.  When they arise, ordinary people reach deep down to accomplish the extraordinary.  The word naso reflects this most incredible phenomenon.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Avi Weiss