The Book of Bamidbar has been termed the Book of Numbers due to the many numberings of the families, tribes and the camps that occurs throughout, but especially, in the beginning of the book. Obvious questions are: why does the Torah have to record the censuses at such length and given the eternal nature of the Torah what do we learn from these elaborate censuses today.
In the 1960's Marshall McCluen coined a very popular phrase: "the medium is the message." In other words, what we communicate is intrinsically connected to the manner in which we choose to transmit information. The medium is not neuter, it not only affects the message, but in its farthest application it actually becomes one with the message.
One of the messages of the lengthy census in this Torah portion is to emphasize the essential importance and sanctity of the individual, the family, the tribe, the encampments of three tribes in each of the directions surrounding the Tabernacle and the overall importance of the entity of all the people of Israel together as one unit. These ever larger circles of influence each have their own dynamic and each individual operates continually within all these various contexts, whether aware of them or not. Although the Torah could have summarized the census in a very brief manner it instead chose to make the "medium the message." If every individual, family, tribe, camp and the entire community is truly important, then the Torah wanted to take the time to make that very clear.
This teaching is especially crucial in today's world where it is becoming increasingly hard for individuals to remain close, both physically and emotionally to family. So many people feel cut off from a larger community, from common goals and purpose greater than themselves and their immediate needs and desires. Despite the scientific and communications revolutions and the creation of the "world village," more individuals than ever feel isolated, jaded, confused and unsatisfied with life. Learning how to balance our various loyalties and attachments in a constantly changing world is no small achievement. Especially after the Holocaust, where Jews were literally branded with numbers, it is crucial to reclaim the sanctity of the individual. Yet as Hillel said: If I am not for myself - who will be? And if I am only for myself - what am I?" The Torah by creating a very clear context of identities assists us in realizing how the individual ultimately stands alone while simultaneously identifying and participating fully in family, the work place, religious community, the Jewish people and all of humanity.
A very vivid example of the importance of the individual and the group which I and many others experienced was the way Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach would conduct Kiddush Levanah, the monthly sanctification of the moon, which ordinarily can be recited in around ten minutes. He would instead take hours. At one part of the ceremony it is customary to say to three individuals "shalom aleichem!(peace onto you)" to which they respond "aleichem shalom!(onto you peace)." Usually everyone does it at more or less the same time. Reb Shlomo instead would have each individual greet everyone and in response everyone in unison would greet them in return. Sometimes it would take a very long time, yet everyone would have their chance to shine and the group provided the energy to make everyone feel important and loved. Somehow time stood still in light of the greater goal.
Another example was the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schnersohn, who for years would stand once a week for eight to ten hours without sitting in order to personally hand out dollar bills to encourage charity and to give blessings. Each Sunday thousands of people from all over the world would come and wait in line for hours in order to be in the presence of the Rebbe for a matter of seconds. The Rebbe felt it was of utmost importance that he personally make contact with individuals for even a moment. In truth, throughout the ages there were countless examples of Jewish spiritual leaders who did similar things.
This portion contains the secret of emotional and spiritual balance, of finding our place in within ourselves, in the home, in society, and within the planet as a whole. When we learn to operate within all these contexts we find our place in relationship to our Creator, who placed us in this reality for the purpose of making all the proper rectifications.
