All should count

 B’midbar

Num. 1:1 - 4:20

 

Précis: B’midbar is an amalgamation of the narrative of wilderness wanderings (including the stories of the spies, Korach’s rebellion, Balaam’s donkey, and the sin of Moses), sacrificial requirements, the establishment of Israel’s moving camp, and census data.

                As B’midbar (“in the wilderness”) begins, Moses is directed to take a census (“take the number”) from which the English name (Numbers) of the Book derives. A detailed listing of the numbers of each tribe follows; each tribe is apportioned a particular location in the camp. A listing of the Levitical families then follows, together with the beginning of a discussion of their duties.                

                B’midbar, according to Rabbi Plaut, continues the narrative from Exodus (which was largely interrupted by Leviticus), and begins about a year after the liberation, covering the wandering in the desert. He notes that details are provided for only the first and last years, with the “middle” 38 left mostly to our imaginations. The focus of the Book appears to “point to this moment when Israel is poised to take possession of its inheritance.” 

 

 Num. 1:1 - 2 “And Adonai spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai… saying, ‘Take the sum of the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their father’s houses, according to the number of names, every male, by their polls.’”

 

            The parasha begins with the taking of a census by Moses, and yet it is not really a total census: it counts men only, and only of those men who are of fighting age.  It does not count women, children, or the "mixed multitudes" who joined with Israel at the time of the Exodus.

            The tradition of counting ourselves, as I’ve mentioned before, is often cast in negative terms by the Sages. I submit that they are correct in a way they probably would never understand. These days, we often omit many from our "census.'' When we count Jews, we must count every Jew: male, female, old, young, those within our LGBQ+ community, as well as those who identify as Jewish. We also need to count the “ger” (stranger) who lives among us. All are created in the image of God, and all should “count.”