Some Words of Torah

I humbly post the following D'var Torah (words of Torah) for your enjoyment. I wrote the following comments on this week's Torah portion for a listserve to which I belong. These comments are in honor of my dad, Jeff, and my new nephew, Judah.

This week’s parasha, Bamidbar is the first parasha of the fourth book of the Torah. Bamidbar, the Hebrew name of the book, means literally “in the desert” which is where the Israelites are preparing to enter. In English we refer to this as the book of Numbers, perhaps because the parasha begins with the commandment from God to Moses to conduct a census of the entire Israelite community. All Israelite males, over the age of 20, are to be counted except for those from the tribe of Levi, who will be counted separately.

Two weeks ago, we read parashat Emor which tells of a different kind of counting: counting the Omer – the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot. This represents the time between the Israelites exodus from Egypt and the revelation of Torah at Mt. Sinai. During the week when we read Emor I was visiting my father, who has been battling cancer for the last 2 years. In preparing for Shabbat I read a particularly poignant D’var Torah that suggested that we think of counting the Omer as a method for taking notice of and appreciating each day. Counting the Omer can be a reminder of how precious time is: by counting each day, we are made all the more aware of each passing moment in time. Spending two weeks with my father was a gift of time for both of us. We were able to value each moment and note that each day is precious and worth counting.

In Bamidbar, which we read just one week before we celebrate Shavuot, Moses is commanded to count the people of the nation of Israel. One reading, according to Rashbam and Rashban, is that the census had a simple strategic purpose; Moses needed to assess the Israelites military strength as they set-off to conquer the land of Israel which explains why only males over 20 are to be counted, and the Levites, who will not bear arms, are counted separately. I prefer an interpretation given in Midrash Numbers Rabbah 2:19: that the people are to be counted to demonstrate God’s love for each individual. The Midrash depicts God as a king with a fabulous treasure, God checks it over and counts it carefully to make sure nothing is lost.

Reading Bamidbar during the period of the counting of the Omer highlights the connection between counting our days and counting our people. While Emor reminds us to be conscious of and appreciative for each moment, Bambidbar emphasizes the importance of each person within our community. Emor’s message of making each moment count is strengthened in Bamidbar as we are reminded to appreciate not just each moment in our life, but each person within each moment. Yesterday, I felt the power of the connection between these ideas as, with great appreciation to God, my brother and sister-in-law welcomed into the world their first child: a son, my nephew. This week my family adds to its numbers; we are thankful for these moments of miracle and feel blessed by the new person who has entered our midst.

May we all have the opportunity to count each day and appreciate those who have joined us on our journey to this moment of Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom.