The commandments and instructions of the Torah are eternal. Even those given for a specific time contain enduring guidance for every Jew's service to G-d, in every place and at every time.
Our Torah portion, Naso, begins with a special command given to Moses in the desert — to count the families of the Levites. G-d says to Moses: “Take a census of the Gershonites...” - which when translated literally can be read as, “Lift up the head of the Gershonites.”
This command was a preparation for the Levites' role in the service of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). They were already over thirty years old, and until that point had not participated in the Mishkan's work. To empower them to take on this sacred task, God commanded: “Lift up the head” — a phrase that implies raising and uplifting.
A Spiritual Desert
From this we learn a lesson for every Jew’s spiritual service. At times, when a person honestly reflects on their deeds and spiritual state, they may feel that they are like a desert — just as a desert is desolate and uninhabitable, so too their inner spiritual condition feels barren and abandoned, unfit to be a dwelling place for G-d.
A person might conclude that there’s no hope of change. After all, they are already an adult, and they’ve spent many years in this state. The Talmud says that if one sins and repeats the sin, it becomes to him as if it were permitted. So how can a person change, when their negative habits have become second nature?
Change is Always Possible
To this, our Torah portion responds: the Levites, too, were already adults—over thirty—and had not yet been involved in the holy service of the Mishkan. Yet, G-d gave them the power to enter the sacred work and transform the desert into a place of settlement. And indeed, throughout the Israelites’ years in the desert, this is what happened in practice.
Every Jew—once they resolve that from now on they will “stand before G-d to serve Him”—regardless of their past behavior or current state, will receive Divine strength to purify themselves from all undesirable things. They can bring the light of G-d into their soul, to the point that G-d says of them, “And I will dwell within them.”
Turn from Evil and Do Good
Serving G-d has two general components: “turn from evil” and “do good.” These two aspects are hinted at in the two Levitical families—Gershon and Kehat. The name Gershon comes from the root meaning "to expel," alluding to the removal of evil (sur meira).
Kehat, on the other hand, comes from a root meaning “to gather,” alluding to positive action (aseh tov).
Their respective tasks in the Mishkan reflected this: the sons of Gershon carried the coverings, which provided protection—symbolizing avoidance of evil—while the sons of Kehat carried the sacred vessels—representing positive spiritual activity.
Gershon was older than Kehat, hinting that spiritual service begins with “turn from evil,” and only afterward comes “do good.” Just like when organizing a room, one must first clean out the dirt before bringing in beautiful furniture.
Through these two modes of service, a person transforms both themselves and their environment into a dwelling place for G-d.
(from the teachings of the Rebbe, Likkutei Sichot, vol. 13, p. 18)
