Close To Torah

Hashem told Moshe to count the Jews, “B’Mispar Sheimos, count their names (Bamidbar 1:2).” This language seems odd, counting implies numbers not individual names? Rabbi Shimshon Pincus zt”l tells us that this shows how dearly important we are to Hashem in two ways. A brick in the wall is only important because without it the wall will fall. The brick itself has no individual importance. Similarly, when Bnei Yisrael went to war with Midyan each tribe sent one thousand soldiers. Each soldier was only a number that added up to the necessary total amount of troops needed to win the battle. If one soldier is missing the army is lacking and is not yet an army.

When a family has ten children, each child is a world him or herself. Each child is not just important because they are a member of the total family of ten. Each one has a name not a number. On the other hand if a child is missing there is still a family because the family was not based on a specific total number.

When Hashem wanted a count of the Bnei Yisroel, the Torah says B’Mispar Sheimos. Bnei Yisroel have value in their sum total, which causes Hashem’s Shechina to shine forth. If even one is lacking, then Bnei Yisrael is not Bnei Yisrael and cannot be a resting place for Hashem’s Shechina. Even so, each individual is a treasure in their own right. Each one has their own “name.”

In counting the Jews, the Levi’im were counted from age one month and on. The Torah considers the Levi to be one who performs the service of Hashem from the youngest age!

Reb Moshe Feinstein points out that this is a lesson for our Chinuch, Torah education. The Levi is one who dedicates his life to Torah, as the Rambam writes that Levi represents the people whose life was totally entrusted in Hashem’s hands. They were the Torah leaders of Klal Yisrael. Rambam continues that any person who accepts upon himself to live as a Levi is capable of doing so and Hashem will take great care of him as well.

Reb Moshe says that we see the importance of Chinuch from the youngest age. One should not exclude a child from Torah study stating that he is too young! One should recognize that our young children are highly influenced and moved by watching our actions and attitudes towards Yiddishkeit.

Indeed, studies have indicated that children, even as young infants are able to pick up things and learn powerful scripting lessons from their surroundings.

No thought on this topic would not be complete without a most important clarification: It is never too late! Avraham Aveinu got his Bris at age ninety-nine so that no one should ever say, “I’m too old to change!”

Rabbi Avi Shulman states, people tell me that they can’t change because, ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’. My response is to recognize that we are humans, not ‘dogs’, and Torah, Mitzvos and Emunah aren’t ‘tricks’, they are fulfilling life goals!

May we merit to internalize the beauty of Torah and Mitzvos at any age that we chose to open our hearts and minds!

The Shlah HaKodesh writes that each Yom Tov ties into the Parsha which is read at the time that it falls out. What then does Bamidbar have to do with Shavuos and Kabbalas HaTorah?

Reb Moshe Feinstein explains that the theme of the Parsha and indeed the entire Sefer of Bamidbar is one of counting the Jews. Chazal call Sefer Bamidbar, ‘Chumash HaPikudim, the Book of Numbers’. This signifies that each person is important.

When one approaches Torah, the Yetzer Harah tries to convince him that he is not worthy or great enough to learn. Hence, the Torah comes to teach us that each person counts and has his special and individual lot in Torah.

The first words of the Parsha translate literally as, “lift up the heads of the Jews, i.e., count them”. The unusual terminology expresses our point precisely. Lift their spirits by showing them that they each count and are special!

Bamidbar’s lesson carries us into Shavuos. When we each look inside ourselves and reaffirm our commitment to Limud HaTorah. When we recognize how special and precious we are in Hashem’s eyes, this fuels our dedication to its maximum. May we all have a productive and inspirational Yom Tov!

There are times when it’s easy to do the Mitzvos, and there are times when it’s harder. We often become lax in our observance at such intervals. Taking lesson from the word Bamidbar, we find inspiration to maintain our level of performance even when the going gets tough.

This week we begin the book of Numbers, Sefer Bamidbar. The first Parsha is, interestingly enough, named Bamidbar as well. I’d like to share an original thought that came to mind a couple of years back.

The ‘Gematria’ – or numerical value – of the word Bamidbar is 248. The meaning of the word itself is, ‘in the desert’. These two facts I believe, are alluding to something special.

The 613 Mitzvos, known as ‘Taryag’, are broken down into two groups. The 365 ‘Lo Saseh’ – negative commandments – i.e. a command to refrain from doing a deed (passive), as well as the 248 ‘Aseh’ – positive commandments – i.e. a command to fulfill a Mitzvah (active).

Thus, the message of ‘Bamidbar – in the desert’, is that no matter where one finds themselves, they must always fulfill not only the 365 ‘passive’ Mitzvos, but even the 248 ‘active’ Mitzvos which require that which is stated in the ‘Shema’ prayer, “With all your heart, with all your soul and with all your resources.”

In life there are times when it easy to fulfill that which we are commanded of and to do so with alacrity and desire, however, when the going gets tough, we tend to find ways to cut corners. Hence, the lesson of this week’s Parsha is clear: Even in the ‘desert’ we must give it our all.

Our Sages have taught us that we receive more reward for Mitzvos that are done with pain. The reward is measured by our efforts not only by our actions. So next time we find ourselves in a situation that is tough and perhaps inhibits our performance of the Mitzvos at an optimal level, let’s think of the word Bamidbar and we’ll remember that the setting should have no bearing on our effort.

שאו את ראש כל עדת בני ישראל… (א:ב).

“Count all of the Jews…” (1:2).

Chazal (Bamidbar Rabbah 2:11) tell us that there are ten times in Jewish history that the Jews were counted. The first was when Yaakov and his family went down to Egypt with seventy people. The last counting will take place at the time of Moshiach. The Ramban states that there was a specific purpose and reason for each census. One was for the appointment of a new leader and one followed a large calamity, etc. However, he asks, in this instance, he cannot understand for what purpose Hashem desired a counting?! I would like to share and develop his most enlightening answer with you.

At this point in Jewish history, the Jews were finally free from Egypt, they were given the Torah and were on their way to Eretz Yisrael. Everything was great! The reason that Hashem counted them now was precisely for the purpose of showing them and letting them know their own number. This would help them appreciate all of the great kindness and love which Hashem had bestowed upon them in building them up from a small group of seventy meager people to a grand established nation of six hundred thousand able-bodied men! He wanted them to be moved to recognize Him by contemplating their present large population, which Hashem had developed and built!

Indeed, this is a powerful lesson for life. When we take a step back and take in all of the good that Hashem has provided us with, we are left inspired and recharged!

Chazal tell us that the באר, wellspring, that supplied water in the desert, came in the merit of Miriam. Chazal also tell us that this spring traveled with them and created an intricate water system that delivered water to every single tent individually. In what merit did Miriam bring this life giving arrangement, and why did it come to every door, could they not have went to a central place to receive it? Chazal (Bamidbar Rabbah 1:2) tell us that she earned this tool as a reward for leading the women in song at the time of the miracle of the splitting of the Yam Suf. She wanted to insure that every single person from Klal Yisrael expressed gratitude to Hashem. Thus, Hashem correspondingly granted her water that would allow every Jew to thank Hashem at all times once again!

The Woman of Valor is described as “her mouth opens with wisdom; the teachings of kindness are on her tongue” (Mishley 31:26). The Ralbag provides a beautiful insight in translating this verse. This special and spiritually sensitive woman builds her home on two foundations. Firstly, wisdom and secondly, kindness. Wisdom means the unrelenting dedication to following Hashem’s Torah. Kindness means that she teaches her children to see and recognize all of the kindness that Hashem bestows upon them. She lives her life to thank Hashem. Rav Shlomo Wolbe says that these precise ingredients insure a home’s success. When we create an atmosphere of the love of Torah and appreciation for all of Hashem’s gifts, we will have beauty and success in our home.

Indeed, this is the important lesson of why Hashem counted the Jews then. He set them up in a precise encampment arrangement and now He wanted them to recognize how much he did for them. Let us see all that Hashem does for us and let our hearts and mouths sing His praise!