The fourth book of the bible, for which the entire book is
called, the book of numbers, begins with the command, to count the entire
congregation of the children of Israel, agreeing to their (tribal) families.
Our sages explain many reasons why G-d would want a census
of the Israelites in the wilderness. One
explanation, is to show His love for every individual, and by counting each
soul, every person, this brought out the distinction to the unique mission and
purpose of every individual, and gave
the strength to carry it out.
There are many ways in which to count and take a census of a
people. Every tribe could have been counted separately and then a grand total
made of all the members of each tribe. Alternatively, every person could have
been counted without any affiliation to any other associations. G-d in the
bible specifically instructs the connection of the count to be made “according
to their families.”
This portion in the bible is always read in the synagogues
before the major Holiday - Shavuot,
which commemorates the receiving of the Ten Commandments. This command
emphasizes the importance G-d attaches
to the family, always, and especially as related to becoming a G-dly
receptacle.
A family according to G-d in the bible, consists of two
souls which are inherently two halves of one soul, who are very different from
each other in their characteristics in their functioning and in their
individualistic directions. When these two souls come together and are in
harmony with each other, this accomplishes the new and greater personality and
strength of a healthy family unit. Each one in their own uniqueness complements
and perfects the other to create this most important unit – the family.
G-d commands Moses to
first present matters of the Torah the “House of Jacob” which we are told is a
euphemism for women, and only afterwards to the “children of Israel” which
refers to the men. The women are, the HOUSE of Jacob, because they are the
principle element and what defines a home. There must be the input of the
woman, and the leadership of the man.
Abraham and Sarah, two different individuals, started the
Jewish people when they came together
and dedicated themselves to the same mission.
“They called out – G-d is the Creator of the Universe.” They started
together, the movement of monotheism. Abraham instilled the faith and belief in
the men and Sarah worked with the women.
When G-d created the world, the combination of the first
human existence, is Adam and Eve. “Male and female G-d created them and blessed
them and conferred upon them the name – man” – i.e. human existence.
There is a reason why nature can only produce people through
the togetherness of a male and a female. This important duo, isn’t just
a one-time event, but the nature
of every cell within a person. Every healthy cell includes and represents this
combination to make and be a healthy person.
Children as they grown up need the environment and
atmosphere of a father and a mother. The strength and leadership of the father
and the softness and nurturing of the mother is the necessary balance needed to
pursue a well-rounded successful satisfying and happy life. Any other combination as a setting for a
child cannot raise healthy children, and is unhealthy unnatural and therefore
ultimately counterproductive.
The desire for self-actualization, to reach the individual
potential and get out of life all of its potential is only through the unit of
the family when a man who is very different from a woman blend together – to
form the family unit. The count of the people emphasizing “their families” is
to teach us that a G-dly people is created, functions properly and is on its way to blessed things only when the family unit exists and fulfills
its role.
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