Who Knows One?
This week we begin a new book of the Torah, the book of Bamidbar. The actual word ‘bamidbar’ translates as ‘in the desert’, however it is often referred to as ‘Numbers’. This is because the Jewish people are counted right at the beginning of this book and several times thereafter. We count both the tribes individually and the total of the Jewish people.
The most precious things in our lives are accounted for. We count things that are important to us, sometimes we'll count them over and over again. G-d counts the Jewish people to show them how precious they are in His eyes. Counting tells us nothing about the object. Whether it is an expensive car, or a flower by the side of the road, each of them are just one object.
When we look at a community we need to see both the communal and individual aspects. On one hand we are all part of a bigger collective, one gigantic Jewish community. On the other hand we each have our own unique qualities that we bring to the table and every single person is important. Every single individual should see and feel the need to show up and be present since we all have a vital role to play from the greatest to the smallest.
I look forward to the budding community we are cultivating here in the Park Cities, where every single one of you matter.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Baruch Hecht
