Rambam - Sefer HaMitzvos: Positive Mitzvah 23;<br>Negative Mitzvah 72;<br>Positive Mitzvot 32, 36: Positive Mitzvah 23; Negative Mitzvah 72; Positive Mitzvot 32, 36

Positive Mitzvah 23: The Service of the Levites
Numbers 18:23 "But the Levites shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting"

The service of the Levites in the Beit HaMikdash involves many different jobs.

Among them is closing the Temple gates.

They are also commanded to play musical instruments and sing in harmony with the service in the Beit HaMikdash.

To this very day, some of the same songs which the Levites sang are recited in our prayers.

Negative Mitzvah 72: Priests and Levites are prohibited from carrying out each other's service
Numbers 18:3 "They shall not approach so that they shall not die, neither they nor you"

Both, Priests and Levites serve in the Beit HaMikdash.

There are specific duties that are entrusted to the priests and other duties entrusted to the Levites. The priests are forbidden from doing any service assigned to the Levites; and likewise the Levites are forbidden from doing any service assigned to the priests.

Positive Mitzvah 32: Honoring the Priests
Leviticus 21:8 You shall sanctify him...he shall be holy to you"

Mr. White and Mr. Lawrence are neighbors.

They both take an early bus to work every day.

They spend their day at their jobs and often arrive home at the same time.

Mr. White works in a department store while Mr. Lawrence works for the State Department.

Because Mr. Lawrence has such an important job, people treat him with extra respect.

The priests carry out the service of HaShem in the Beit HaMikdash.

Therefore, we are commanded to regard them in a special way and treat them with honor and respect.

Positive Mitzvah 36: Rotating the service in the Beit HaMikdash
Deuteronomy 18:7-8 "Then, he shall serve in the name of the L-rd, his G-d as all his brothers, the Levites, do...They shall have like portions

Ari is in third grade. He likes school and finds many of class activities fun and enjoyable.

There are many projects and displays in his classroom that must be cared for.

The weather chart has to be arranged daily, the gold fish have to be fed, the plants watered, books passed out, stars stuck on bulletins and much more.

In order to take care of all these projects, Ari's teacher appoints monitors. All the pupils take turns doing the different activities and in this way everyone gets a chance.

The priests and Levites represent the Jewish people, carrying out the service of HaShem in the Beit HaMikdash.

This is a great honor and privilege.

They are commanded to make sure that all priests and Levites have equal opportunities to serve in the Beit HaMikdash.

The priests and Levites were divided into twenty-four groups and organized in work shifts which rotated weekly.

In creating the whole of existence, G-d made forces that reveal Him and forces that oppose Him -- He made light and He made darkness. One who does good brings in more light. One who fails, feeds the darkness. But the one who fails and then returns transcends that entire scheme. He reaches out directly to the Essential Creator. Beyond darkness and light. And so, his darkness becomes light.

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From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com