Driving down a country road, I came upon a succession of white farmhouses, crisp red barns and rolling pastures where beef cattle were grazing: black and red angus, belted Galloways and a few Charolais. It was a scene that reminded me of my childhood and people dear to me. To the descendants of Gershon and Merari, the sight of numerous oxen and carts held a different meaning. These people were part of the tribe of Levi. The Israelites at this time in their history had no permanent temple. They…