Shiurim

Back to Shiurim List

Messages from the Counting

By: SFW Students & Alumna
Jessica Bruder ('08)

Sefer Bamidbar is often called Chumash Hapekudim-literally the Chumash of counting (see Yoma 3a, 68b, and Sota 36b). The reason for this is found in the very first parsha of the sefer. Parshat Bamidbar is replete with numerous countings that seem often trivial as well as superfluous. We know that the Torah uses a minimal number of words. This leaves us with an obvious question: what is the message that the Torah is trying to point out to us by supplying such an expansive description of the counting?

To find an answer to this question, we turn to Nechama Leibowitz, who brings down two ketaim from the Ramban, who so skillfully answers this question. The Ramban supplies an insight as to the reasons why Moshe was commanded to count Bnei Yisrael. He says that the reason for the recording of the counting and its details is for military reasons. Moshe needed to determine who would be eligible and able to fight in the upcoming war to capture Eretz Yisrael. This would explain why those being counted are only males the age of 20 and above, the ideal ages to fight in wars, as told to us by Chazal (see Pirkei Avot-5:21-“ben esrim lyrdoph”). This reminds us that we cannot be “somchin” on the nisim of Hashem. Additionally, Ramban in Devarim 20:8, tells us that Hashem does indeed provide miracles, but only for those who move through their life as if they will not be guided by them.

Both statements of the Ramban teach us that one needs to maintain the delicate balance between trusting Hashem, and at the same time avoiding the danger of relying too much on Him and His miracles. He goes on to further describe that Moshe needed to count individuals in order to emphasize that the counting was personal. This implies that each individual has his own special unique contribution to make to bnei yisrael. This is an integral part in our achieving the greater goal of the klal. This concept can be applied to Sfirat Ha’omer. As Rav Pinkus, zt’l, so beautifully writes in his sefer, one needs to not passively count the omer, as a countdown to the final goal of Shavuot and Matan Torah. Rather, this precious and limited time period is an opportunity through which one must work to improve himself in order to be zoche to this great gift Ha’kodesh Baruch Hu has given us. This time must not be a slow and tedious countdown, but something we see as a gift; a time where one must use every second to his own advantage-a time to grow and improve his middot.

This concept teaches us the importance of each individual’s growth, which is in essence his own contribution to klal Yisrael that helps us towards our ultimate achievement-the Torah. One must not simply wait around for the miracle and gift of Matan Torah, even though we know the ending: Shavuot will always come and we will inevitably get the Torah - that would be relying on Hashem’s mercy, and relying on a miracle. Each individual’s tikkun and growth, is another wrung on the ladder of klal Yisrael. This is the ladder that leads us up to our greatest potentials.