Timeless Torah

Say good-bye to the Third Book of the Torah, and hello to the Fourth, often referred to as the Book of Numbers. This title is quite apt, as this Biblical volume begins with a census of the Jewish people….This follows another counting in the final verses of the Third Book….whereby one counts one’s cattle and designates each tenth one as Kadosh (sacred). When it comes to the counting of people, we must realize that each and every one is Kadosh.

The inherent holiness and importance of each individual emanates from the G-dly soul which we all possess. Should one feel that intellectually, spiritually or in any other character trait ,he is inferior, the Torah makes it clear that personal achievements are not always what count.

A striking example of this basic, “Equality of Jewishness” may be found in the religious obligation of Minyan. Ten adult males are required for a quorum. If one is missing, be he a simple lad just turned Bar Mitzvah, the service cannot be conducted though the other nine be great scholars.

This weekly Torah portion and its message are always read on the Shabbat prior to the holiday of Shavuot which commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Our Sages note that had one Jew been missing from that event, all the others would have been denied the experience.

Each year at this time, every Jew must stand up and be counted. Even those who shrug their shoulders and maintain, “I don’t belong to that party,” don’t realize that by virtue of their Divine soul, they are already full-fledged members of G-d’s chosen people.

Whether you are the teacher or the student, spiritual giant or novice, each one of us can never be less than one.