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Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Chemdat Yamim
- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bamidbar
- Bamidbar
The haftara of Bamidbar contains an apparent internal contradiction: "The number of Bnei Yisrael will be like the sand of the sea" (Hoshea 2:1); "they will be unmeasurable and uncountable." Can they be counted or not? It depends if they do that which Hashem wants or not (Yoma 22b).
It is prohibited to count people unless one does it by counting objects, such as coins or animals, that correspond to them. Why?
There is a dispute between Israel and the nations. Which has precedence: the material or the spiritual? quantity or quality? that which can be counted or that which cannot be counted? "For you are the smallest among all of the nations" (Devarim 7:7). "Whoever saves one life is like he saved an entire world" (mishna, Sanhedrin 4:5). There is even a practical halacha: if bandits threaten a group and there is a choice to save the group by giving up one person, we do not do so (tosefta, Terumot 7:20). There is no way to weigh the individual in contrast to a group; we cannot determine whose blood is redder (see Pesachim 25b). While the nations are interested in numbers, we are not. When the navi says that some 36 people were killed (Yehoshua 7:5), the gemara says it was talking about one tzaddik, who counted like 36.
When one counts with a number, he, by necessity, ignores the people counted. Sometimes an inmate is referred to by number; his name does not appear. The number, which connects between the previous and the next members of the series, is what interests observers. Sometimes you see the picture in an army with the face of the soldier distorted – he is one of a number of people who are to be "fed" to the weapons of destruction.
We remember the days of horror – when we saw the survivors of the atrocities from Europe, who arrived with numbers on their arms. Such horrible numbers, tattooed into their skin! The number killed the person; what happened afterward was just a result.
This is why there must be special care in counting Jews. We count "the number of names" (Bamidbar 1:2) – not just a number, but one that does not blur his name, identity, and uniqueness. It must be made clear that the count is external. It comes to connect the "full worlds" to reach a higher level of community, one that is fit for the dwelling of the Divine Presence. That is why we count with an object – to show that we are not counting the people but the qualitative merging. Perhaps this is why Israelites are called "adam" (Yevamot 61a), as we believe in the individual counting as if he were Adam, who existed on his own. It is different from the approach of others, who ignore the individual.
We are before the giving of the Torah. When we are "His servants," we lose the status of "servants to servants" (Kiddushin 22b). Each one is equivalent to Moshe Rabbeinu. We should not be discouraged when we see how few of us there are. When we accept the yoke of the Divine King, we receive true freedom
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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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.
