Daily Study: Hayom Yom

The nassi describes the offering brought by the Prince of each tribe during the twelve days of dedication of the Sanctuary.

See Glossary to Tanya I. Ibur is "gestation," the undifferentiated state prior to the appearance of organs. In the Yehi ratzon prayer, we say, "...if I am of the tribe of ____," indicating the possibility of any of the twelve tribes (including Efrayim and Menasheh; excluding Levi). This would seem inappropriate to a kohein or a leivi, who are by definition from the Levi tribe. However, the concept of ibur indicates an initial state of total merger, coalescence - in this context the coalescence of all souls. The kohein then, is not absolutely unrelated to the other tribes of Israel.