Shabbat Parshat Bamidbar

Torah Gems - May 22 2009 / 28 Iyar

This week's Torah Gems were prepared by

Francine Aaron

Shabbat Parshat Bamidbar


The first parsha of the book of Numbers, Bamidbar, discusses the census of the men of military age; the arrangement and order in which the people were to proceed on their journey; and the work of the Levites.

There is an interesting connection between the census and the work of the Levites.The census of the men of military age was to be done personally - by a head count.They were to pass before Moses and Aaron and give their names.This is an extremely respectful way of counting.It is God's way of showing the importance of each individual, and showing that each individual should be looked at carefully and seen clearly.This is appropriate looking.

Concerning the work of the Levites which was to take care of the Tabernacle and its furniture and guard it and carry it, Moses and Aaron are told several times to take great care that only those whose job it is may lookthe Tabernacle and its contents.Chaptergoes into very great detail about how the parts of the Tabernacle were to be wrapped when in transit, so that no danger would befall the Kohatites, whose job it was to carry the Tabernacle.If they were to see the actual items uncovered it would be considered inappropriate looking and the punishment was severe.Why? One commentator (Hirsch) says the danger is that the object might come to be considered more important than the spirit which it represents
- thus losing sight of what really matters. We are shown how extremely important it is to see to the heart of the matter.

In between the census and the work of the Levites, is the arrangement of the group and the order in which they were to journey.They are to proceed in a formation which surrounds the Tabernacle
- each tribe having its specific place in the outer square, and the Levites in the inner square, with the Tabernacle, which is the heart of the people, in the center.God, like a good parent, shows the people how to maintain order, so that they will be seen as a group which knows what it is doing, and a group to be respected and taken seriously, and therefore a group which will succeed.

Shabbat Shalom

Francine Aaron