Bamidbar Dvar Torah

Parshat Bamidbar is the start of the book of Bamidbar, known in English as Numbers. The name makes sense, given that the parsha focuses on a census. According to Rashbam, the census is done to count how many men in Bnei Yisrael are of fighting age, as they will need an army to go into Israel. Ramban takes a different approach, saying that the census occurs so as to show Bnei Yisrael the extent of Hashem’s kindness: when Bnei Yisrael first went down to Egypt, they numbered only 70 people. Now, the men of fighting age alone are 60,000 people.

For the past few weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to be in Israel presenting about Yavneh to students, and heard another explanation for the census: included in the parsha is also instructions for how Bnei Yisrael should set up their camp. 

Bamidbar 1:52 states: “וְחָנ֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אִ֧ישׁ עַֽל־מַחֲנֵ֛הוּ וְאִ֥ישׁ עַל־דִּגְל֖וֹ לְצִבְאֹתָֽם” “The Israelites shall encamp troop by troop, each man with his division and each under his banner.” They are instructed to encamp under their flag. 

Without wind, a flag lies limp. To fly upright, it needs to be waved by someone, or to be waved by the wind. Life–whether it is fighting battles, waving flags, or leading a community–needs us to take an active role. Each member of Bnei Yisrael had their own banner, individual and recognizable as their own. Each of us is our own person, and adds different parts to our community. Yet, to compose all of Bnei Yisrael, we need each and every one of us and the different parts that we add. Without us taking a role, our communities are not going to run on their own. 

At the same time, we need to recognize the role of Hashem in all things. The last pasuk of the Haftorah for Parshat Bamidbar promises what will happen if we do recognize Hashem’s hand: “וְאֵֽרַשְׂתִּ֥יךְ לִ֖י לְעוֹלָ֑ם … בֶּאֱמוּנָ֑ה וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה” “And I will betroth you to Me forever… with faith, and you shall know the Lord” (Hoshea 2:21-22). May we all be blessed to take an active role in our communities, and to encamp under our own banner, while also recognizing that the gift to do so comes from Hashem. Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shavuot Sameach!