Parashat HaShavua - Bamidbar

When studying Parashat Bamidbar, the search for meaning can prove challenging.  The vast majority of the Torah portion describes a census in painstaking detail - who oversaw the census for each tribe, how many men of fighting age were in each tribe, in what configuration did the tribe camp, etc.  As if this challenge weren’t daunting enough, careful readers of the Torah will recall that a similar census took place in the last few chapters of Shemot, further begging the question of why this additional census was necessary at all.

My teacher, Rabbi Yehuda Amital offers an insight that sheds light on the deeper meaning of the census that opens Bamidbar.  R. Amital observes that the census of Bamidbar is conducted “by their families, by their households.”  What is the significance of this phrase?  R. Amital explains:

On the one hand, every one of us is a human being, and thus similar to everyone around him.  On the other hand, each person has his or her own personality and characteristics, and as such is a whole world in his own right. (“By Their Families, By Their Households,” sermon from 2005)

According to R. Amital, counting individuals - especially when done for military purposes - risks reducing individuals to mere numbers, erasing their unique personalities and character traits. By instructing Moshe to count the people, “by their families, by their households,” God was reminding him to treat every member of his people as a unique individual, who comes from their own particular background.

At the same time, a census also reminds us that every individual is one miniscule component of a larger nation and society and bears responsibility to that society.  R. Amital points to Hillel’s famous dictum (Pirkei Avot 1:14), “If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am for myself alone, then what am I?” While people must advocate for their individual needs, they should never limit themselves to only caring about their own wellbeing. They must always remain sensitive to societal needs even if that demands some measure of sacrifice from them. 

Hence, the manner in which Moshe conducted the seemingly mundane matter of counting the people reminds us to pursue the appropriate balance between valuing our own individual traits and putting aside our individual needs for the benefit of the greater good.  

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Ezra Frazer
High School Limudei Qodesh Teacher