This parshah starts our study of the Book of Numbers from the Old Testament. Each Torah portion shares lessons that are relevant to modern day. They provide insights that can help us to be moral and ethical both as individuals and in society as a whole. Below you will find a short synopsis of the Torah portion, followed by various lessons that can be extracted from it and applied to your own life. The portion can be found in its entirety here, Numbers 1:1 – 4:20.
Synopsis of Bamidbar:
A census is completed, counting all the Israelites who left Egypt with Moses in the Passover Exodus, all men 20 years old and up (men who could bear arms). The Levite tribe is given the sacred duties of caring for the Tabernacle, the temporary structure where G-d dwelled when accompanying the Israelites, and attending to the High Priests. A separate census is completed of the Levites, all males one month old and up.
Parshah Thoughts – Modern Day Lessons:
The Significance of Counting
The Torah recounts the census in painstaking and repetitive detail, naming every tribe, exactly what categories were included in the census, how many people in each tribe, and the location of each tribe’s campsite within the total population.
The same sentence is repeated for every tribe, almost word for word, denoting the count. According to various sources, the level of detail provided is meant to remind us that each person is a unique individual, with separate capabilities and strengths than anyone else. Each of us contributes uniquely to the world. Therefore, each individual should be counted separately, no matter how long it takes or how repetitious it may appear at first glance.
Humility: Removing the ego
The Israelites received the Torah in the arid barren desert, not in the lush fruitful destination to which they were headed. There was no distraction associated with material things; likewise, arrogance and the ego were lessened, leaving room to focus on Torah.
The more physical wealth a person has, the easier it can be for arrogance to unknowingly creep in, without even realizing it. Keeping one’s sense of humility among prosperity is essential, in order to recognize a need to grow and improve one’s self. In addition, when we focus on being humble, we can start to focus less on our own needs and more on achieving harmony with our fellow man (and woman), on a more regular basis. We can focus our efforts both on enhancing our inner potential for good as well as our relationships with others, both friends and strangers.
Similarly, think about this: say you meet two people. One smiles at you, gives you a friendly nod, asks you how things are with you, and genuinely cares about your wellbeing. The other also smiles at you; but they focus a bit less on you and a bit more on themselves and are maybe even a tiny bit condescending, perhaps without meaning to be at all. Which person are you more drawn to? Probably the person that focuses more on you than on him/herself – namely, the one who displays humility. This is a cornerstone of human connection; along with a smile and friendly word, exhibiting humility can strengthen your relationships with everyone you meet.
Humility is a cornerstone of human connection…exhibiting humility can strengthen your relationships with everyone you meet.
Haftarah Thought
The haftarah associated with this parshah is Hosea 2:1 – 22. In this section, a metaphorical story is told of a woman betraying her husband with another and bearing illegitimate children. In this allegory, the punishment is fierce, that everything she owns be taken away, that her children be disowned, that she wander forever lost, shamed, with absolutely nothing, to be thrown to the bottommost pits of life before finally being forgiven and loved again.
Think about when you see or bestow punishment on someone who you think deserves it, maybe someone who personally wronged you or someone you think is a despicable human being. Maybe you feel you want to see them suffer as you or others have suffered. You might sneer, smirk, and say, “You deserved what you got, you should be punished, you should suffer. It’s just desserts.” How is this different from the woman who did wrong and was then thrown aside, to be shamed, forgotten, unloved, even harmed? Her image evokes pity and sadness. What about for the person who doesn’t so easily conjure sympathy?
You might say, “It depends on the deed,” or “It depends on if it was intentional.” But – do they truly “deserve it,” meaning the specific punishment we might like to give, the degree of revenge we might like to exact? Even if they don’t show remorse right now, is it not possible that they still could? Does G-d not still love them, giving endless chances for repentance, just as a parent always loves a rebelling child?
When we refuse to treat our fellow with compassion, even when they have angered us, we start down a downhill slope ourselves. So when doling out consequences, it can be wise to attempt to hold fury in check, and try to think of the offender as a child of G-d just like you. (I know sometimes it can be difficult, but at least just taking that step back and taking a moment to breathe can be of help to everyone involved.) We all have a divine spark within us; therefore, we are all worthy individuals, capable of good. Let’s try and remember that, and not let rage or hatred get the better of us.
When we refuse to treat our fellow with compassion, even when they have angered us, we start down a downhill slope ourselves.
For related reading, check these out:
Sources studied:
JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh: The Traditional Hebrew Text and The New JPS Translation, Second Edition. The Jewish Publication Society. 1999.
chabad.org: a wealth of information regarding all things Jewish, with an Orthodox/modern Orthodox point of view.
Torah.org: an array of relevant study material for all parshahs.
Cover image photo credit: IStockPhoto.com/ollega
Wonderful insights! Humility and compassion are both so important.