[Avodah] Bamidbar "We're Still In The Wilderness"

[Cantor Wolberg]

Bamidbar is also known as Chumash Hapekudim, the book of Censuses. A  
Census is, indeed, the opening subject of the Parsha. Three principles  
in conducting a Census are guidelines for dedication to Torah:
First, the Census teaches us that each individual must be counted  
since each individual counts and because each person is   
different 
.                                                                                                                                                                            I 
  came across the following saying with a slightly different twist:   
"Everything that can be counted doesn't necessarily count; everything  
that counts can't necessarily be counted."  (Of course, "Everything"  
in this saying doesn't necessarily refer only to people, otherwise it  
would contradict the above concept in the Torah).

Second, each person was counted and identified with his or her family  
(LeMishpechotam). The Census teaches us the importance of family in  
Jewish identity.  The secret of our continuity is the family.

Third, the person counted in the Census was identified with his Degel,  
his flag, representing his Shevet, his tribe. To really know a person,  
you had to know him, his family and his Shevet. The Shevet was an  
important ingredient in the make-up of each Jew.  We've heard the  
expression of "waving the flag" which sometimes has negative  
connotations. However, for the Jew, there was great pride in "waving  
the flag."

Thus the Censuses of the Sidrah of Bamidbar teach us that the basic  
building blocks for a genuine Torah life and society are 1) the unique  
individual, 2) the family unit and 3) significant communal groups.   
Without these, it would be next to impossible to really accept the  
Torah.

We should also remember that it was in the wilderness we accepted the  
Torah and today we share that very theme with our ancestors, since we  
are still in the "wilderness."

ri
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