Lifting, over and over again
Torah Portion Naso (Numbers 4:21-7:89), Priestly Blessing, Notes for a d'rash offered at Fabrangen Havurah, Washington, DC, 30 May 2026, 14 Sivan 5786
Comments on Parshat Naso often draw attention to the repetitive list of identical offerings from each and every tribal chieftain in its last chapter. What if that account of offerings is not redundant, but meant to emphasize a theme word that repeats an astonishing amount of times throughout this Torah portion, expanding in meanings and nuances?
I'm not fluent in Hebrew, so it's easy to miss this pattern of theme words. I can read and sound out the Hebrew letters and vowels, and that's enough to support a search through the BDB Dictionary, (available here on the Sefaria website under References!) The BDB also shows where those words can be found in Torah readings, so it's a fun way to learn about meanings that could otherwise get lost in translation.
First, I noticed that the word nasi, meaning chieftain, shares the same Hebrew root -- nun, shin, aleph -- with the word naso, meaning take (in the sense of taking a census, or literally "lifting heads"), and with the word yisa, meaning to bestow favor, from the Priestly Blessing.
It soon became amazing how many times this Torah portion repeats words sharing this same Hebrew root of nun, shin, aleph.
1) First, beginning in chapter 4 with the meaning take an enumeration (Literally, "lift up heads") naso, (Numbers 4:22):

(כב) נָשֹׂ֗א אֶת־רֹ֛אשׁ בְּנֵ֥י גֵרְשׁ֖וֹן גַּם־הֵ֑ם לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתָ֖ם לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃

(22)Take a census of the Gershonites also, by their ancestral house and by their clans.

In chapter 6, the Priestly Blessing includes the word yisa, meaning bestow favor literally "lift up face," in a metaphorical sense, because it is refering to God lifting up God's face. (Nu 6:26):

(כו)יִשָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ {ס}

(26) GODbestow favor upon you and grant you peace!

2) The same root is repeated seven times meaning porterage (in the sense of carrying and physical burdens), as follows:
...and porterage,ul'masa (Nu 4:24):

(כד) זֹ֣את עֲבֹדַ֔ת מִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֑י לַעֲבֹ֖ד וּלְמַשָּֽׂא׃

(24) These are the duties of the Gershonite clans as to labor and porterage:

...and they shall carry, v'nas'u (Nu 4:25):

(כה)וְנָ֨שְׂא֜וּ אֶת־יְרִיעֹ֤ת הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ וְאֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד מִכְסֵ֕הוּ וּמִכְסֵ֛ה הַתַּ֥חַשׁ אֲשֶׁר־עָלָ֖יו מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְאֶ֨ת־מָסַ֔ךְ פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

(25)they shall carry the cloths of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with its covering, the covering of dolphin skin that is on top of it, and the screen for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting;

...all their porterage, (repeated twice within this same verse), l'chol-masa'am, and, et kol-masa'am (Nu 4:27):

(כז) עַל־פִּי֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן וּבָנָ֜יו תִּהְיֶ֗ה כׇּל־עֲבֹדַת֙ בְּנֵ֣י הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּ֔י לְכׇ֨ל־מַשָּׂאָ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדָתָ֑ם וּפְקַדְתֶּ֤ם עֲלֵהֶם֙ בְּמִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת אֵ֖ת כׇּל־מַשָּׂאָֽם׃

(27) All the duties of the Gershonites, all their porterage and all their service, shall be performed on orders from Aaron and his sons; you shall make them responsible for attending to all their porterage.

...their porterage tasks, mismeret masa'am (Nu 4:31):

(לא) וְזֹאת֙ מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת מַשָּׂאָ֔ם לְכׇל־עֲבֹדָתָ֖ם בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד קַרְשֵׁי֙ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן וּבְרִיחָ֖יו וְעַמּוּדָ֥יו וַאֲדָנָֽיו׃

(31) These are their porterage tasks in connection with their various duties for the Tent of Meeting: the planks, the bars, the posts, and the sockets of the Tabernacle;

...list by name the objects that are their porterage tasks, mismeret masa'am (Nu 4:32):

(לב) וְעַמּוּדֵי֩ הֶחָצֵ֨ר סָבִ֜יב וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֗ם וִיתֵֽדֹתָם֙ וּמֵ֣יתְרֵיהֶ֔ם לְכׇ֨ל־כְּלֵיהֶ֔ם וּלְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדָתָ֑ם וּבְשֵׁמֹ֣ת תִּפְקְד֔וּ אֶת־כְּלֵ֖י מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת מַשָּׂאָֽם׃

(32) the posts around the enclosure and their sockets, pegs, and cords—all these furnishings and their service: you shall list by name the objects that are their porterage tasks.

...all who were subject to duties of service and porterage related to the Tent of Meeting, [va'avodat] masa (Nu 4:47):

(מז) מִבֶּ֨ן שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה וְעַ֖ד בֶּן־חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה כׇּל־הַבָּ֗א לַעֲבֹ֨ד עֲבֹדַ֧ת עֲבֹדָ֛ה וַעֲבֹדַ֥ת מַשָּׂ֖א בְּאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

(47) from the age of thirty years up to the age of fifty, all who were subject to duties of service and porterage relating to the Tent of Meeting—

...their porterage was by shoulder (bakateif) yisa'u (Nu 7:9):

(ט) וְלִבְנֵ֥י קְהָ֖ת לֹ֣א נָתָ֑ן כִּֽי־עֲבֹדַ֤ת הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ עֲלֵהֶ֔ם בַּכָּתֵ֖ף יִשָּֽׂאוּ׃

(9) But to the Kohathites he did not give any; since theirs was the service of the [most] sacred objects, their porterage was by shoulder.

3) Once with the meaning bestow favor in Nu 6:26 (Literally "lift up face")

(כו)יִשָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ {ס}

(26) GODbestow favor upon you and grant you peace!

4) Repeating seven times with the meaning of chieftains, plural (as in people lifted to leadership positions), as follows:
...chieftains of Israel nesi'ei, 2x in same verse (7:2),

(ב) וַיַּקְרִ֙יבוּ֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל רָאשֵׁ֖י בֵּ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם הֵ֚ם נְשִׂיאֵ֣י הַמַּטֹּ֔ת הֵ֥ם הָעֹמְדִ֖ים עַל־הַפְּקֻדִֽים׃

(2) the chieftains of Israel, the heads of ancestral houses, namely, the chieftains of the tribes, those who were in charge of enrollment, drew near

...a cart for every two chieftains, and an ox for each one..., hanesi'im (7:3)

(ג) וַיָּבִ֨יאוּ אֶת־קׇרְבָּנָ֜ם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה שֵׁשׁ־עֶגְלֹ֥ת צָב֙ וּשְׁנֵ֣י עָשָׂ֣ר בָּקָ֔ר עֲגָלָ֛ה עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י הַנְּשִׂאִ֖ים וְשׁ֣וֹר לְאֶחָ֑ד וַיַּקְרִ֥יבוּ אוֹתָ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃

(3) and brought their offering before GOD: six draught carts and twelve oxen, a cart for every two chieftains and an ox for each one.
When they had brought them before the Tabernacle,

The chieftains also brought... (2x in the same verse), the chieftains were presenting... hanesi'im (Nu 7:10),

(י) וַיַּקְרִ֣יבוּ הַנְּשִׂאִ֗ים אֵ֚ת חֲנֻכַּ֣ת הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ בְּי֖וֹם הִמָּשַׁ֣ח אֹת֑וֹ וַיַּקְרִ֧יבוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִ֛ם אֶת־קׇרְבָּנָ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃

(10)The chieftains also brought the dedication offering for the altar upon its being anointed. As the chieftains were presenting their offerings before the altar,

...from the chieftains of Israel, mei'eit nesi'ei yisra'el (7:84)

(פד) זֹ֣את ׀ חֲנֻכַּ֣ת הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ בְּיוֹם֙ הִמָּשַׁ֣ח אֹת֔וֹ מֵאֵ֖ת נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל קַעֲרֹ֨ת כֶּ֜סֶף שְׁתֵּ֣ים עֶשְׂרֵ֗ה מִֽזְרְקֵי־כֶ֙סֶף֙ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֔ר כַּפּ֥וֹת זָהָ֖ב שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵֽה׃

(84) This was the dedication offering for the altar from the chieftains of Israel upon its being anointed: silver bowls, 12; silver basins, 12; gold ladles, 12.

...for the altar from the chieftains of Israel... n'si'eim (Nu 7:84)

(פד) זֹ֣את ׀ חֲנֻכַּ֣ת הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ בְּיוֹם֙ הִמָּשַׁ֣ח אֹת֔וֹ מֵאֵ֖ת נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל קַעֲרֹ֨ת כֶּ֜סֶף שְׁתֵּ֣ים עֶשְׂרֵ֗ה מִֽזְרְקֵי־כֶ֙סֶף֙ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֔ר כַּפּ֥וֹת זָהָ֖ב שְׁתֵּ֥ים עֶשְׂרֵֽה׃

(84) This was the dedication offering for the altar from the chieftains of Israel upon its being anointed: silver bowls, 12; silver basins, 12; gold ladles, 12.

In the singular, chieftain is repeated 12 times, as follows:
...one chieftain each day, nasi (Nu 7:11),

(יא) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה נָשִׂ֨יא אֶחָ֜ד לַיּ֗וֹם נָשִׂ֤יא אֶחָד֙ לַיּ֔וֹם יַקְרִ֙יבוּ֙ אֶת־קׇרְבָּנָ֔ם לַחֲנֻכַּ֖ת הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ {ס}

(11) GOD said to Moses: Let them present their offerings for the dedication of the altar, one chieftain each day.

chieftain of Issachar, nesi (7:18),

(יח) בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י הִקְרִ֖יב נְתַנְאֵ֣ל בֶּן־צוּעָ֑ר נְשִׂ֖יא יִשָּׂשכָֽר׃

(18) On the second day, Nethanel son of Zuar, chieftain of Issachar, made his offering.

the chieftain of the Zebulunites, nasi (7:24),

(כד) בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י זְבוּלֻ֑ן אֱלִיאָ֖ב בֶּן־חֵלֹֽן׃

(24) On the third day, it was the chieftain of the Zebulunites, Eliab son of Helon.

...the chieftain of the Reubenites, nasi (7:30)

(ל) בַּיּוֹם֙ הָרְבִיעִ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י רְאוּבֵ֑ן אֱלִיצ֖וּר בֶּן־שְׁדֵיאֽוּר׃

(30) On the fourth day, it was the chieftain of the Reubenites, Elizur son of Shedeur.

...the chieftain of the Simeonites...nasi (Nu 7:36)

(לו) בַּיּוֹם֙ הַחֲמִישִׁ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י שִׁמְע֑וֹן שְׁלֻֽמִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־צוּרִֽישַׁדָּֽי׃

(36) On the fifth day, it was the chieftain of the Simeonites, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

...the chieftain of the Gadites...nasi (Nu 7:42)

(מב) בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י גָ֑ד אֶלְיָסָ֖ף בֶּן־דְּעוּאֵֽל׃

(42) On the sixth day, it was the chieftain of the Gadites, Eliasaph son of Deuel.

...the chieftain of the Ephraimites...nasi (Nu 7:48)

(מח) בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י אֶפְרָ֑יִם אֱלִֽישָׁמָ֖ע בֶּן־עַמִּיהֽוּד׃

(48) On the seventh day, it was the chieftain of the Ephraimites, Elishama son of Ammihud.

...the chieftain of the Manassites...nasi (7:54)

(נד) בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה גַּמְלִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־פְּדָהצֽוּר׃

(54) On the eighth day, it was the chieftain of the Manassites, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

...the chieftain of the Benjaminites...nasi (Nu 7:60)

(ס) בַּיּוֹם֙ הַתְּשִׁיעִ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן אֲבִידָ֖ן בֶּן־גִּדְעֹנִֽי׃

(60) On the ninth day, it was the chieftain of the Benjaminites, Abidan son of Gideoni.

...the chieftain of the Danites...nasi (Nu 7:66)

(סו) בַּיּוֹם֙ הָעֲשִׂירִ֔י נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י דָ֑ן אֲחִיעֶ֖זֶר בֶּן־עַמִּישַׁדָּֽי׃

(66) On the tenth day, it was the chieftain of the Danites, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

...the chieftain of the Asherites...nasi (Nu 7:72)

(עב) בְּיוֹם֙ עַשְׁתֵּ֣י עָשָׂ֣ר י֔וֹם נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י אָשֵׁ֑ר פַּגְעִיאֵ֖ל בֶּן־עׇכְרָֽן׃

(72) On the eleventh day, it was the chieftain of the Asherites, Pagiel son of Ochran.

...the chieftain of the Naphtalites...nasi (Nu 7:78)

(עח) בְּיוֹם֙ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֣ר י֔וֹם נָשִׂ֖יא לִבְנֵ֣י נַפְתָּלִ֑י אֲחִירַ֖ע בֶּן־עֵינָֽן׃

(78) On the twelfth day, it was the chieftain of the Naphtalites, Ahira son of Enan.

It's possible to explore further by searching through the BDB Dictionary for
other Torah portions including this theme-word. There are hundreds of entries, but here is just one example.

(ז) הֲל֤וֹא אִם־תֵּיטִיב֙ שְׂאֵ֔ת וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תֵיטִ֔יב לַפֶּ֖תַח חַטָּ֣את רֹבֵ֑ץ וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ תְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּמְשׇׁל־בּֽוֹ׃

(7) Surely, if you do right,There is uplift.But if you do not do right

Sin couches at the door; Its urge is toward you,Yet you can be its master.”

Ibn Ezra's comments on Gen. 4:7 illuminate the idea of uplift or help, or what can be understood, or imagined, in the sense of favor or blessing, in the literal sense of lifting up the face. This can also give insight into the word yisa in the Priestly Blessing (Nu 6:26) My own sense of the story in Genesis 4:7 is that God is sharing in lifting Cain's burden. I think God wants Cain to realize that he can begin choose to practice turning his own mind away from comparing himself to his brother Abel with envy and resentment, and turn his mind, his attention to doing good. That's how Cain could lift himself up and out of shame and despair. I think God wants to help Cain to learn how to use his own abilities, how to have autonomy. To do that God has to leave room for Cain to choose and act with responsibility for the consequences. I don't think God wants to punish or defeat Cain. I think of it more like the gentle and patient guidance that a horse whisperer uses to build a relationship with a wild horse, and teach it to tolerate a partnership of riding. A wild horse is natually afraid of humans, because humans have two eyes in front, like other predators that horses must fight or flee to survive. A horse whisperer does not use forceful and oppressive dominance, or try to "break" the spirit of a wild horse. Instead the horse is given the opportunity to choose to learn to trust the human, through a process of consistent care, safety, and communication. Ibn Ezra comments on the word s'eit, meaning uplift, which shares the same Hebrew root -- nun, shin, aleph -- with the word yisa:

(א)הלוא. ופי' שאת על דעת מפרשים רבים שאת עונך, והנכון בעיני שאת פנים, כי כתוב בתחלה "ויפלו פניו" וזה דרך בושה כטעם ואיך אשא פני וטעמו אם עשית טוב תשא פניך, וכן "כי או תשא פניך ממום" (איוב יא טו):

(1) SHALL IT NOT. Many commentators explain se’et (be lifted up) to mean thy sins will be forgiven. However, it appears to me that se’et means thy face will be lifted up. For it is previously written, and his countenance fell (v. 5). And his countenance fell indicates shame, as in how then should I hold up my face (esah panai) (II Sam. 2:22). The meaning of our verse is: if you will do good, then you will lift up your face. Surely then shalt thou lift up thy face (tissa fanekha) without spot (Job 11:15) is similar.

...yisa, God bestow favor upon you...(literally, "God lift up God's face" and grant you peace...

(כד) יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יְהֹוָ֖ה וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ {ס}(כה) יָאֵ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧ה ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ {ס}(כו)יִשָּׂ֨א יְהֹוָ֤ה ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ {ס}

(24) GOD bless you and protect you!(25) GOD deal kindly and graciously with you! (26) GODbestow favor upon you and grant you peace!

...by letting them share the burden with you (Ex. 18:22)

(כב) וְשָׁפְט֣וּ אֶת־הָעָם֮ בְּכׇל־עֵת֒ וְהָיָ֞ה כׇּל־הַדָּבָ֤ר הַגָּדֹל֙ יָבִ֣יאוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְכׇל־הַדָּבָ֥ר הַקָּטֹ֖ן יִשְׁפְּטוּ־הֵ֑ם וְהָקֵל֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יךָ וְנָשְׂא֖וּ אִתָּֽךְ׃

(22) let them judge the people at all times. Have them bring every major dispute to you, but let them decide every minor dispute themselves. Make it easier for yourself by letting them share the burden with you.

In conclusion, here are a few questions and notes to inspire further exploration of this theme, in other Torah stories and in daily life.
What kinds of experiences interest you that involve lifting in some way, whether physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual?
Why might repetitive actions, such as lifting, be supportive of the ways you learn?
How does this Torah portion raise your curiosity?
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Here are some more places in Torah to explore meanings stemming from the Hebrew root -- nun, shin, aleph:

נֹצֵ֥ר חֶ֙סֶד֙ לָאֲלָפִ֔ים נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֣ד ׀ עֲוֺ֣ן אָב֗וֹת עַל־בָּנִים֙ וְעַל־בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃

extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgivinginiquity, transgression, and sin—yet not remitting all punishment, but visiting the iniquity of parents upon children and children’s children, upon the third and fourth generations.”

Sfat Emet, Rebbe Yehudah Leib Alter, (1847-1905), born in Poland, was the 2nd Rebbe of the Gerer Chassidim.
When the ancient Israelites wandered thought the wilderness for forty years, a certain group of Levites were given the privilege of carrying the Holy Ark. "How heavy it must have been," someone commented, "with those massive stone tablets inside it!" "No," a Levite answered. "The Ark carried those who bore it." (Sotah 35a)
Moses speaks to the Israelites in Deut. 1:9...

וָאֹמַ֣ר אֲלֵכֶ֔ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִ֖וא לֵאמֹ֑ר לֹא־אוּכַ֥ל לְבַדִּ֖י שְׂאֵ֥ת אֶתְכֶֽם׃

And I said to you at that time, saying:
I am not able, I alone, to carry you;

Cain speaks to God in Gen. 4:13...

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר קַ֖יִן אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה גָּד֥וֹל עֲוֺנִ֖י מִנְּשֹֽׂא׃

Kayin said to YHWH:
My iniquity is too great to be borne!

Moses speaks to God in Nu. 14:19...

סְלַֽח־נָ֗א לַעֲוֺ֛ן הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה כְּגֹ֣דֶל חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וְכַאֲשֶׁ֤ר נָשָׂ֙אתָה֙ לָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם וְעַד־הֵֽנָּה׃

pray grant-pardon for the iniquity of this people, as your loyalty is great,
just as you have been bearing [it] for this people
from Egypt until now!

נֹצֵ֥ר חֶ֙סֶד֙ לָאֲלָפִ֔ים נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֺ֛ן וָפֶ֖שַׁע וְחַטָּאָ֑ה וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֣ד ׀ עֲוֺ֣ן אָב֗וֹת עַל־בָּנִים֙ וְעַל־בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃

keeping loyalty to the thousandth [generation],
bearing iniquity, rebellion and sin,
yet not clearing, clearing [the guilty],
calling-to-account the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons and upon sons’ sons, to the third and fourth [generation]!

Abraham and his nephew Lot agree to go separate ways in Gen. 13:6...

וְלֹא־נָשָׂ֥א אֹתָ֛ם הָאָ֖רֶץ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת יַחְדָּ֑ו כִּֽי־הָיָ֤ה רְכוּשָׁם֙ רָ֔ב וְלֹ֥א יָֽכְל֖וּ לָשֶׁ֥בֶת יַחְדָּֽו׃

And the land could not support them, to settle together,
for their property was so great that they were not able to settle together.

Jacob instructs his servants how to approach to his brother Esau in Gen. 32:21...

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֕ם גַּ֗ם הִנֵּ֛ה עַבְדְּךָ֥ יַעֲקֹ֖ב אַחֲרֵ֑ינוּ כִּֽי־אָמַ֞ר אֲכַפְּרָ֣ה פָנָ֗יו בַּמִּנְחָה֙ הַהֹלֶ֣כֶת לְפָנָ֔י וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן֙ אֶרְאֶ֣ה פָנָ֔יו אוּלַ֖י יִשָּׂ֥א פָנָֽי׃

you shall say: Also—here, your servant Yaakov is behind us.
For he said [to himself]:
I will wipe [the anger from] his face
with the gift that goes ahead of my face;
afterward, when I see his face,
perhaps he will lift up my face!

This learning is dedicated to one of my teachers, Joseph Rosenstein, and his students, with gratitude for their chevruta study and inspiration. The following quote is from his book, Reflections on Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers): Not Just What My Rebbe Taught Me, c. 2022 by Joseph G. Rosenstein, Shiviti Publications, p. 388 -- [Note: All highlighting in this drash is my added emphasis, not in the original texts.]
"Almost all of the phrases listed in Mishnah 6:6 already appear or are alluded to in the original five chapters of Avot...One phrase needs additional commentary precisely because it doesn't appear in Avot. That phrase, which occurs near the end of Mishnah 6:6...is "nosei b'ol im chaveiro" which I have translated here as "who shares in bearing another's burden" and provided the explanation above that "he assumes responsibility for alleviating at least some of the suffering of those whom he encounters." Note that he is not expected to bear the other's burdens, but, literally, "to carry the 'ol' with the other;" for this reason, the translation here speaks of "sharing" the burden, and not of "carrying" the burden. The word "ol" means "yoke," the kind that we place on beasts of burden, and the implication is that the other person is burdened by his circumstances, with no possibility of being released from that burden. Our obligation, according to this phrase, is to help alleviate the burden that encumbers another person. Sometimes the burden is alleviated by "g'milut chasadim" -- doing deeds of lovingkindness, like providing food or shelter, but sometimes other types of assistance are needed -- providing the person a substantial loan, helping the person find an appropriate job, helping them obtain appropriate medical assistance, "adopting" an elderly person who is alone, helping others to complete tasks that they are unable to complete themselves."