B"H

Thursday, Iyar 27, 5786 (42nd day of the Omer) / May 14, 2026

With this week’s Torah reading of Parshat Bamidbar, we begin the fourth Book of the Torah, the Book of Numbers. The Parsha begins with, G-d commanding Moshe in the Sinai desert, to count the Jewish people. 

This is the third counting, in just over a year. At the Exodus, they were 600,000 men.  A half year after the Exodus, G-d told Moshe to count them and their total was 603,550, men over 20. Now, a year after the Exodus, G-d wanted them counted and again, their number was again 603,550.

Q.   G-d obviously knows everything. He knew their count, without having to have them counted.   What was the purpose of these counts, especially when they were counted already?

A.    Our sages explain that these counts were “to express G-d’s love for the Jewish people.”  This was especially important, when only 40 days after receiving the Torah, they made the Golden Calf.  To express G-d’s great love for His people even after all they did, G-d wanted them counted.

Q.    How does counting express G-d’s love for the Jewish people?

A.    When a person counts something again and again it shows that it’s very valuable to the owner.  One will count and re-count precious stones and diamonds, especially after some were lost, to know exactly how many are left.  One doesn’t spend time counting and re-counting something which has no value. Thus, these counts of the Jewish people were an expression of G-d’s love for His people.

Q.   Parshat Bamidbar is read on the Shabbat before the holiday of Shavuot, the holiday when we celebrate receiving the Torah. What is the connection between this Parsha and Shavuot?

A.    Our sages tell us that had even one Jew been missing at Mount Sinai at the Giving of the Torah, G-d would not have given the Torah.  The Torah was given to every Jew alike.  The significance of every Jew and their share in the Torah is expressed with the reading of Parshat Bamidbar. G-d wanted every Jew counted.  The most righteous person and the simplest person were both equal, each of them was counted as one. The lesson is that no one can claim Torah more than the other and no one should feel inferior or not worthy to study Torah. We all have an equal share in Torah.

Q.    Why does the Torah specify that the counting took place in the Sinai desert?

A.   The Torah tells us that the counting took place “Bamidbar Sinai" ("Sinai desert") to impress upon us the purpose and quality of the Torah. The Torah was given to transform “Midbar” (desert and wilderness) into "Sinai" (purpose and holiness). We should not be transformed by our surroundings, but rather WE should transform our surroundings. We were given Divine power to refine and finish

G-d’s creation.  As our sages say, “G-d created a physical world, and it is up to us to transform it into a spiritual one.” This is the power of Torah – to transform “wilderness” into “Sinai.”

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY