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After the completion of the Mishkan in the Sinai desert on the first day of the month of Iyar in the second year since the Exodus, God commands Moshe to conduct a census of the entire nation. He is to count everyone according to their family groupings and their tribal associations. The census is a head-count done through the medium of the half shekel given by each man for the upkeep of the Mikdash.
The use of the phrase עדת בני ישראל relating to the census signals that the counting was done in order to determine the number of people who could be counted as faithful to the national mission of Torah observance. The word עדת parallels the phrase פיקודי that was used in the first mention of a census detailed in Ex 30:12. An עדה is a group of people who on their own and without external pressure have come together for a common ייעוד , a joint mission. Both of these words connote solidarity in accepting and achieving a mission, a common goal.
The word עדת is from the root י-ע-ד which means "to arrange" to meet together. The word פיקודי is from the root פ-ק-ד which means "to invest with a purpose or responsibility".
The instructions for this census project a unique characteristic that is to be part of the Jewish makeup. The instruction to Moshe speaks of family, משפחה, and tribe, בית אב. These twin identifications stress the uniqueness of each sub-group. The nation, בית ישראל as a whole, was to retain the specific characteristics of each family and each tribe. There was not to be a "melting pot" effect whereby the differences in skills, habits and even personalities were to be integrated into a single body politic. This diversity was to be a strength in preserving the nation, as each person/family/tribe was encouraged to maintain a unique identity and to develop their skills, and no one would be forced to change identity in order to fit a single image.
The word משפחה is from the root ש-פ-ח which means "to join family" and become part of it. The word בית is from the root ב-י-ת which means "to contain and protect." The word אב is from the root א-ב-ה which means "to submit" and conform to leaders' demands."
The concept of maintaining a unique identity goes further than the identities of families and tribes, an idea that is underlined by the requirement of מספר שמות, number of names. As each male head ((גולגולת presented his half-shekel, he announced his name and his family and tribal association. He therefore projected to himself and to others his particular standing and his individuality, as well as his identity as part of the larger family and tribe. And by giving the half shekel, he declared, as well, his commitment to being part of the national mission.
The word מספר is from the root ס-פ-ר "to combine separate items and tally sums." The word שמות is from the root ש-ו-ם "to arrange in place." A name places a thing in the consciousness of a person. The word גולגולת is from the root ג-ל-ל "to rotate" something. A person's head or skull is a rounded object.
The Jewish nation was in fact a single household (בית ישראל) and children (בני) of a single person (ישראל\יעקב). Irrespective of numbers and family ties, the nation would be united in a single mission and a single destiny. However, diversity, whether tribal, familial, or individual, , must be nurtured in order to allow for differences in character, talents, and professions.
Copyright © 2014, Matityahu Clark. All Rights Reserved. This is an excerpt from the forthcoming Hirsch At Your Table, a collection of brief divrei torah based on R. Samson Raphael Hirsch’s Torah Commentary.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
