Bemidbar

5763

“Hashem spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after their exodus from the land of Egypt, saying: "Take a census of the entire assembly of the Children of Israel according to their families, according to their fathers' household…” (Numbers 1:1-2)

The book of Numbers, the fourth book of the Torah, is, in one way or another, about numbers. Not necessarily about censuses, although these are also present, but basically about different ways of counting.

With one foot in the land of Israel, God commands Moses to find out, “who is in” and “who is out”, whom can we count on, and whom can’t we count on.

The book of Numbers will clarify for us who is a leader and who is lea, who will inherit the land and who won’t, who will go to war and who will stay home.

The book of Numbers will also describe in detail the duties of the different components of the Jewish people: the Priests, the Levites and the Israelites.

The book of Numbers will tell us that everybody has a place, that everybody belongs somewhere. As we read in this Torah portion:

"The Children of Israel shall encamp, each man by his banner according to the insignias of their fathers' household…” (Numbers 2:2)

The book of Numbers, by describing different unfortunate incidents, will make clear the point that not everybody is equal. When it comes to prophecy, Moses is above Aaron and Miriam. When it comes to Priesthood, Aaron is above Korach. When it comes to leadership, Joshua is chosen, and not Pinchas. Different families of Levites have different roles; different tribes encamp on different sides.

Everybody has a place, but not everybody has the same place. Understanding this principle constitutes one of the most difficult challenges for modern Jews today.

This is one of the ways in which the way of the Torah differs from the American way. The American way tells us that everybody is equal. The way of the Torah tells as that not everybody is equal. American society is a democratic one. Torah society is not.

Moreover, the Torah tells us that the diversity within us allows us to contribute to the whole in different ways. God created us differently, and we should use our distinctive and unique gifts to enrich our families, our congregations, our communities.

Today we are honoring Ben Tonik, Raymond Schram and Harriet Schram, three long time members of Beth Israel Synagogue, as each of them has reached a special birthday: 90, 75 and 65 years. We are thankful to Ben, Raymond and Harriet that they decided to make us part of their joy.

Ben, Raymond and Harriet have brought to Beth Israel their unique gifts and contributions. Harriet has contributed to Beth Israel through her fundraisings efforts, which include, among others, the Kroger Coupons and the Entertainment book. Harriet was chosen by the Beth Israel sisterhood as the volunteer of the year and by Beth Israel synagogue as the “Torah Bride”, a high recognition to long time volunteers.

Ben and Raymond, from a different place, make sure that we have always a Minyian: Saturdays and Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays, Yharzeits and holidays, sunshine and rain. Each time we are 8 for a Minyian, if Ben and Raymond are not there yet, we know that we can count on a Minyian.

Our Rabbis taught (Avot 4:1): “Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot…”

Ben, Raymond and Harriet are rich, maybe not according with the American way, but according to the way of the Torah.

As we start the book of Numbers with its several accountings, we count our blessings and we thank God for allowing us to use our unique gifts to enrich our families, our congregations and our communities

Lechayim to Ben, Raymond and Harriet and Lechayim to Beth Israel!