Our grandparents warned us sternly against the calamities that would befall us if we counted people directly! This practice, though, is more fundamental than just Bobba’s old custom - it is found in our Parsha this week.
Rashi explains that Bnei Yisrael is counted through the giving of the ‘Half-Shekel’ in order to avoid the ‘Ayin Hara’ - ‘Evil Eye’. When an individual is singled out, the ‘Ayin Hara’ brings attention to the inevitable flaws and failings of the individual and harsh judgement can follow. However, as a Nation, our judgement is based on our common and ‘unique’ strengths as a Jewish People. When we are seen as one united force, it is our goodness that shines forth, with our blemishes fading to the background. I like to think of it like a group of people singing. While there may be many ‘bad voices’ and ‘off notes’ amidst the individuals, the powerful collective voice rises up flawlessly. This holds true whenever we focus on that which unites us, and refrain from the opposite.
Why count at all though? Hashem is all-knowing and is certainly aware of how many Jewish People there are at any given time. And why risk the plague? Why is there a née for a manual census?
It’s clearly not for G-d - and very much intended for us! We are the ones that need to know deeply that, even though we are part of a nation - as individuals - we do, very much, count!
This is clear in the language used in the opening words of the Parsha - “Ki Tissa” - is translated as ‘When you count…” but it literally means, “When you raise up”. Hashem wants us to know that we do count - and the Nation’s strength is based on actualised and driven individuals who are aware of their purpose and potential. Perhaps that is why we are counted through giving. While society will have us believe that we feel better when we get - experientially, we know how much better we feel and how much our self-worth rises when we give! We are uplifted when we uplift and give to something greater than ourselves.
Think how you felt the last time you gave to someone or a cause outside of yourself? On paper, you are now ‘lacking’ but, experientially, you are now flying high - feeling ‘like a million bucks!’
What makes us count? Giving is what makes us count!
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Dvar Torah written b'zchut the safe and swift return of Daniel Shimon Ben Sharon Perez, amidst all the captives, as well as for a refuah shleima for the wounded and for the protection for our courageous chayalim.
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