Reciting the Nasi

INTRODUCTION

The Mishkan built by the Jews in the desert was inaugurated on the 1st of Nissan. Over the course of the next twelve days, the Nesiim (leaders) of the twelve tribes of Israel took turns at supplying the inauguration offerings on behalf of their tribes – one Nasi per day.

As stated in the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, it is customary for each individual to recite the Torah section describing the offering brought by that day’s Nasi – from the 1st through the 12th of Nissan. This is followed by a short prayer (Yehi ratzon), as printed in the Siddur (Tehillat Hashem, pp. 273–276).

On the 13th of Nissan, an additional portion is read, representing the tribe of Levi.