Parashat Bamidbar

This week we start the fourth book of the Torah – Bamidbar (or Numbers, as it’s called in English). We clearly see when the English name comes from; the book starts with the counting of the Jewish people. This was not the first census since leaving Egypt nor would it be the last. As Rashi points out this constant counting reflects the Divine love that G-d has for each and every one of us.

We should all be able to relate to that. We’re all very good at counting the things that are important to us. Unfortunately, the things we tend to count are the dollars in our bank account, the square footage of our houses, or the horse power of our cars.

There were two separate countings; one for the 12 tribes, and then a special one for the tribe of Levi. The Leviim who represented the spiritual side of the Jewish people, teaching Torah and attending to the running of the Beit HaMikdash apparently could not be counted along with the rest of the people. The entire nation was counted materially, then the Leviim were counted spiritually.

The Leviim were also counted differently; all Levi’s males were counted from age 30 days, while for the rest of Israel, only males from 20 years old were counted.

There is an important message here for us and how we relate to our life's goals. While one should only worry about material concerns when one reaches adulthood spiritual training must begin immediately upon birth (in Jewish law it was only upon reaching thirty days that there was a solid presumption that the child would actually survive). If one wants to produce a spiritual person one must begin immediately upon birth. We now know that children do begin learning even before the age of thirty days.

Today Jewish communities are much concerned about continuity, worrying about the declining number of Jews (at least in the Diaspora). Throughout our history when we numbered mush less continuity was not a concern. Our spiritual devotion and strength guaranteed our continuity. It is only if we leave our spiritual roots, our Torah that we are in danger of being swallowed by the world at large. As long as we inculcate our youth with a yearning for spiritual growth we will be able to count many accomplishments of our people.

Shabbat Shalom.