We will read on Shabbos that Hashem tells Moshe Rabeinu:
שְׂא֗וּ אֶת־רֹאשׁ֙ כׇּל־עֲדַ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖ם לְבֵ֣ית אֲבֹתָ֑ם שֵׁמ֔וֹת כׇּל־זָכָ֖ר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָֽם׃
“Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by families following their fathers’ houses; a head count of every person according to the number of their names”
Surely there is a deep meaning and reason for this “census”, which is explained by numerous commentators. I would like to suggest the following small addition.
This Parsha is usually read just before Shavuot and there might be a connection.
The counting of each individual is a reminder that each person has aunique purpose for which he was created. In fact this means that nobody else could fulfil this (often unknown to us) special aim in life.
In this context: When I was appointed to the Rabbinate position I still hold B”H, I decided to start a regular Talmud Shiur. Most participants have a good Torah background, and have studied Gemara before. I was concerned however that one nice member of the Kehila, who grew up in the Soviet Union, and had absolutely no exposure to Jewish studies, will never understand the Shiur and will be upset and feel dejected. To my surprise, soon after the launch of the Shiur, this member started to be involved. It did not take long before he was able to ask well pointed questions. Today, he often contributes to the Shiur in a meaningful way.
That is – because everyone has a part in the Torah, which is unique to him.
Shabbat Shalom, Chag Sameach and Chodesh tov!
Rabbi Chaim Michael Biberfeld