Parshas Bamidbar - Chag HaShavuos 5785
- Torah Tavlin
- May 29
- 2 min read
שאו את ראש כל עדת בני ישראל למשפחתם לבית אבתם במספר שמות כל זכר לגלגלתם (א-ב)
Sefer Bamidbar opens with Moshe Rabbeinu being commanded to count Bnei Yisroel. At first glance, it seems like a straightforward national census. However, the Ramban brings a Medrash that Moshe did not simply ask each head of household how many members were in their family. Rather, every individual passed before him to be counted personally. Why was this necessary?
R’ Yakov Bistritz zt”l explains that this counting was not just about numbers; it was about identity. Every person in Klal Yisroel was counted, individually, one-by-one, to teach us a powerful message, that each and every single Yid matters, each and every single Yid has a unique tafkid, a distinct role and purpose that only he or she can fulfill. We often hear this concept mentioned and we nod in agreement, yet we must ask ourselves: do we really live by it? Do we diminish our own value, thinking we aren’t as important, learned, or spiritual as others?
In order to answer this, let us relate a story that is very enlightening, about the holy Ribnitzer Rebbe, R’ Chaim Zanvil Abramowitz zt”l. Late one night, the Rebbe was waiting to start Maariv but insisted on having a minyan of people who hadn’t yet davened. One man there had davened earlier, but decided to stick around assuming it would be quite difficult to find a tenth men at that late hour. When asked if he had davened yet, he denied having done so. That was not a smart idea as the holy Ribnitzer saw right through him, and refused to include him in the minyan. At first, the man was embarrassed that the Rebbe had caught him in a lie. But then it struck him that his Tefillah of Maariv, simple and unassuming, was indeed special. It had unique value before Hashem.
We say in the Shabbos and Yom Tov Shemonah Esrei as follows: “V’sein Chelkeinu B’Torasecha - Grant us our portion in Your Torah.” What this means is that every individual Jew has a personal chelek, a unique piece of Torah, that only he can reveal. This is why every single member of Klal Yisroel was required to be present at Kabbolas HaTorah thousands of years ago on Har Sinai. One doesn’t need to publish a groundbreaking sefer on esoteric topics, or deliver dazzling shiurim replete with exciting chiddushim in order to have an individual place in Hashem’s Torah. On the Yom Tov of Shavuos, we all re-accept the Torah. Take a moment to reflect on your worth. Appreciate what you bring to Torah and to Klal Yisroel. No one else can do what you can do. You count, not just as a number, but as a soul with infinite value.