Building a Nation

Rabbi Avraham Navah
Campus Rabbi, Kadima Hebrew Academy

Parshat Bamidbar: Numbers 1:1-4:20
Haftorah: Hosea 2:1-2:22

Every week when I teach my students the weekly parasha I ask what is the Torah teaching us this week? What is the relevant message? How can we connect the words of the Torah to our own time and place?

The reading of this week's parasha is the beginning of the Book of B'midbar (Numbers) which covers the period from the second year after the Israelites left Egypt, until they were ready to enter the land of Israel. A 38 year period that describes Israel's journey in the desert compares to the short two year period that encompasses the previous two books. The Book of Exodus describes Israel's slavery and redemption, both physical and spiritual, and the Book of Leviticus teaches about holiness, purity and ethics.

We can find three important themes in this parasha: Unity among the people, assigning of leadership, and the establishment of order. All three will guarantee stability, harmony and peace among the community.

The building of unity among the community according to the first chapter of the book begins with taking a census. The census testifies to the physical existence of a united community. It demonstrates the willingness of each individual to be counted officially, with pride, as a member of the group with the commitment to accept its rights and obligations and be ready to participate in the efforts to achieve its common goals. It is with a clear intention, that the language the Torah uses to describe the census is "Seou et rosh kol adat b'nie Israel" - lift up the head of the members of the community of Israel, to emphasize the willingness and the pride to be counted as a member of the community.

Now that we know who are the committed members of the community and its total numbers, the Torah instructs each of the tribes to nominate a Nassi- a leader for each community. The word Nassi (lofty) carries with it certain qualities demonstrating that the person must be of a higher stature, above the norm, and should be looked up to by the people. A leader is only a leader if there is consent among the people for his/her leadership, and only then can he/she accomplish their mission. To be looked up to, nominated leaders must show enormous enthusiasm, ceaseless energy, dedication to the cause, and present a clear plan. They must demonstrate fairness and not show favoritism, and avoid arrogance and exhibit humility. All this will guarantee that the people will fully support their leaders and their efforts to achieve their goals.

To create order and to avoid confusion and misunderstanding among the members of the community, the parasha continues with the process of creating one large united force by arranging the camp in a certain order, so each of its members would know his unique place and his boundaries. Each camp with his own flag, symbol, and identity to recognize, allow and accept the diversity and distinction in every individual camp within the united people of Israel. When we know our place, we become more realistic and sensible about our strengths and limitations so we can allow space for others with dignity and respect. This will create harmony and tranquility in the community and among its members.

The Torah describes in this parasha the requirements and the process of organizing and building a functional and practical united nation that will guarantee its growth and existence. The message is clear and relevant to the building process of our nation of Israel which just celebrated its 61st birthday, but is still in the early days of our complete redemption-"Bereshit tzmichat ge'oulateinu." In these challenging times, this same message applies and should be adopted by every Jewish community, school and organization. 

Shabbat Shalom