As God had commanded Moses, he counted them in the wilderness of Sinai.
NUMBERS (1:19)
כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְ-הוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה וַיִּפְקְדֵם בְּמִדְבַּר סִינָי
במדבר א:יט
ka-ah-SHARE tzee-VAH ah-doe-NiE et MOE-she va-yeef-ke-DAME be-MEED-bar see-NIE
The Book of Numbers, called so because one of its major themes is the census of the people. God counted the nation at every turn to demonstrate His love, as a person would count his jewels. Though surely it would have been easier to count the people en mass, the fact that the people were counted as individuals proves the infinite worth of every person. As well, each person has his own uniqueness and personal responsibility to contribute to the community.
Rabbi Tuly Weisz
NUMBERS (1:19)
כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְ-הוָה אֶת מֹשֶׁה וַיִּפְקְדֵם בְּמִדְבַּר סִינָי
במדבר א:יט
ka-ah-SHARE tzee-VAH ah-doe-NiE et MOE-she va-yeef-ke-DAME be-MEED-bar see-NIE
The Book of Numbers, called so because one of its major themes is the census of the people. God counted the nation at every turn to demonstrate His love, as a person would count his jewels. Though surely it would have been easier to count the people en mass, the fact that the people were counted as individuals proves the infinite worth of every person. As well, each person has his own uniqueness and personal responsibility to contribute to the community.
Rabbi Tuly Weisz