Bs”d
Parshas Naso (5761)
Rashi 5:12 explains the sequence of the parsha of the gifts one must give to the Kohanim and parshas Sota is that if one withholds his obligations of the ‘manas kehuna’ he will subsequently end up going to the Kohain because of his wife’s disloyalty. At first, the connection of these two seems entirely out of proportion. A person should be subject to such an ugly, terrible, tragic episode of his wife being suspected of disloyalty in such a fashion for not bringing gifts to the Kohain?
The root of the issue is to understand and appreciate what is behind the obligation to the Kohain. It is a very serious feeling of gratitude to Hashem for what he has been blessed with. The issue of gratitude is one of the most basic and important requirements of a human being. To be negligent of his obligations to Hashem is violating the essence of his relationship to his Creator. In turn, his beloved wife violates their relationship.
The ‘kaaras kesef’ which the Nesi’im brought, Rashi (7:!9) explains has the numerical value of 930 which is the same numerical value of the lifespan of Adam HaRishon. What does this have to do with the Nesi’im?
This gift brought by the Nesi’im was an act of gratitude to Hashem for bringing Adam HaRishon into the world. This is hakaras hatov!!
HAVE A WONDERFUL Shabbos.